Research
Our vision is to fundamentally transform the way engineers design, develop, evaluate, and implement sustainable energy and transportation systems to more equitably serve the human population.
EMBERlab works at the intersection of sustainable energy and transportation, human-centered design, and systems modeling. Equity and justice considerations are at the heart of every research question we ask. The work we do is situated within the problem perspective, the overall lens through which the work is examined that we define in the beginning of every project. We combine quantitative and qualitative methods to study these systems and embed equity in systems-level models at a foundation level.
What do we mean by Equity?
We define an equitable state for an individual as the balance between burdens they can handle, the benefits they need for their wellbeing, and the agency to have control over their own life - all of which may differ from person to person based on their life situation and experiences*. We also define equity as a process in which we explicitly prioritize the needs and voices of people of color, low income, and other underrepresented and underserved communities^.
We see the core tenants of agency as intertwined and integrated. Figure from [Syal, Eggerman, and Gerritsen, 2021]
* Syal, S. M., Eggerman, K., Gerritsen, M., 2021, “True Decommissioning: Removing Internal Combustion Engine Light-Duty Vehicles Permanently, Quickly, and Equitably,” engrXiv, 23 Aug. 2021, https://doi.org/10.31224/osf.io/n2rjs.^ Wording inspired by Sonoma County's Racial Equity and Social Justice Pillar of their 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, https://socostrategicplan.org/racial-equity-and-social-justice/
Discover our Research Areas
Clean Mobility for All
Sustainable Energy Transition
