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Devin: What is your superpower?

Sanjana: Connecting the dots.

Technology is often seen as a solution to the world’s biggest challenges, but it can also be a source of harm. In today’s episode, Sanjana Paul, the Executive Director of Rooted Futures Lab, shared how her organization is bridging the gap between technology and environmental justice to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

Sanjana explained that environmental justice, as a concept, ensures equal protection from environmental harm, regardless of income, race, or geography. She shared a disturbing insight from Dr. Robert Bullard’s research: low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental hazards. “A kid anywhere in the world should be able to breathe and not be breathing in pollution,” Sanjana said.

Rooted Futures Lab is tackling this challenge by merging education, research, and action. A key initiative involves hosting environmental hackathons, where young scientists and engineers learn to develop technologies with environmental awareness at their core. “We see hackathons as a fun and community-centric way to introduce hands-on environmental education,” she explained. These events inspire the next generation of engineers to think critically about the environmental impact of their innovations.

The organization also collaborates with students and researchers to reimagine technologies like refrigeration systems through workshops that focus on reducing environmental harm. Additionally, they are conducting research on digital infrastructure, such as data centers, to analyze their environmental impact and propose sustainable alternatives.

“We should be trying to be better engineers,” Sanjana emphasized. “How can we build transit systems that get us from one place to another without giving a kid asthma?” Her work highlights how technology, when approached thoughtfully, can be used to address systemic inequities and reduce environmental harm.

By focusing on educating future engineers, conducting groundbreaking research, and fostering collective action, Sanjana and Rooted Futures Lab are paving the way for a greener, fairer future.

tl;dr:

Sanjana Paul defines environmental justice and explains its connection to technology and systemic inequities.

Rooted Futures Lab educates young engineers through hackathons to foster environmentally conscious innovation.

Sanjana highlights key projects, including research on digital infrastructure and sustainable design workshops.

She shares how her superpower, connecting the dots, enables her to bridge fields for positive impact.

Sanjana encourages collaboration, curiosity, and deep thinking to address environmental challenges effectively.

How to Develop Connecting the Dots As a Superpower

Sanjana describes her superpower as “connecting the dots.” She shared how her diverse background in electrical engineering, environmental science, and energy policy allows her to see links between seemingly unrelated fields. “These dots may not seem like they connect, but they really do to me,” Sanjana said. Her ability to uncover these connections enables her to address complex challenges, like bridging environmental justice and technology, with a holistic approach.

Sanjana’s work at Rooted Futures Lab exemplifies her superpower. While working in atmospheric sensing, she observed the devastating impacts of extreme weather events and pollution. This inspired her to connect environmental justice with technology, leading to the creation of Rooted Futures Lab. The organization now focuses on educating engineers about the environmental impacts of technology, hosting hackathons, and reimagining infrastructure to align with environmental justice principles.

Tips for Developing the Superpower:

Be Curious: Treat every moment as an opportunity to learn or teach.

Think Holistically: Look for connections between seemingly unrelated fields or ideas.

Engage with Others: Work collaboratively in a community to tackle complex problems.

Slow Down: Take time to reflect on root causes instead of reacting to immediate issues.

Learn from Experts: Seek knowledge from those working in areas you want to understand better.

By following Sanjana’s example and advice, you can make connecting the dots a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

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Guest Profile

Sanjana Paul (she/her):

Executive Director, Rooted Futures Lab

About Rooted Futures Lab: Rooted Futures Lab advances environmental justice in technology through education, research, and action. We support communities and advocates contesting digital infrastructure’s environmental and social impacts through accessible tools, public scholarship, and organizing resources.

Website: rootedfutureslab.io

LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/company/rooted-futures-lab

Biographical Information: Sanjana Paul is an engineer, environmental justice researcher, and systems thinker working at the intersection of infrastructure, climate, and technology. She is a PhD student at MIT, where her research focuses on renewable energy, energy justice, and the electric grid. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Rooted Futures Lab, a research and action collective advancing environmental justice in technology, and the co-founder of Earth Hacks, a nonprofit that uses hackathons as a form of climate action and public learning. Her work has ranged from atmospheric science software engineering at NASA to passing decarbonization policy at the local level. She holds a BS in electrical engineering and physics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s in City Planning from MIT.

LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/sanjana-paul-79081a111

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How Technology Can Advance Environmental Justice