David Ciplet is a sociologist focused on issues of globalization, inequality, and environmental justice. From the negotiating halls of the United Nations to community center meeting rooms, his research uses participatory qualitative methods to explore processes of social change in climate change politics. He is concerned with uncovering how climate change and related policies unequally impact socially marginalized groups, and the possibilities for these actors to achieve more environmentally just outcomes through engagement in local, domestic and international policy-making processes. His research also focuses on how particular developments in political economy, geopolitics, and forms of governance shape environmental inequality and possibilities for equitable climate change mitigation and adaptation. David seeks to utilize his research to reach a public audience and to broaden the terms of the climate debate.
keywords
Environmental Justice, Political Economy and the Environment, Global Climate Justice, Energy Access, Globalization and Development, International Climate Politics, Social Movements, Climate Change Adaptation, Global Environmental Governance, Community-Engaged Research and Teaching
Teaching
courses taught
ENVS 3030 - Topics in Environmental Social Sciences
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021
Covers a variety of topics that may include human ecology, environment and society, and quantitative environmental social science. Offered depending upon instructor availability and student demand. Fulfills intermediate social science requirement for Environmental Studies major. Recommended prerequisite: ENVS 1000. Not repeatable for credit.
ENVS 3034 - Foundations of Environmental Justice
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
Explores qualitative social science, forms of environmental inequality, and the underpinnings of environmental justice and social change. Environmental justice is the right to a safe and healthy environment for everyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or other considerations. Students engage in in-depth case study analysis and develop a social science research proposal on an environmental justice topic of their choosing. Previously offered as a special topics course.
ENVS 4100 - Special Topics in Environmental Studies
Primary Instructor
-
Summer 2018 / Summer 2019 / Summer 2020 / Summer 2021 / Summer 2022 / Summer 2023
Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum: offered depending on student demand and specialties of faculty. Applied to specialization requirement for Environmental Studies major. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
ENVS 4800 - Capstone: Critical Thinking in Environmental Studies
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Summer 2024 / Fall 2024
Examines a specific environmental topic in depth, synthesizing information from complex and controversial issues. Different course sections present different topics. Fulfills capstone requirement for Environmental Studies major. Recommended prerequisites: ENVS 1000 and ENVS 3020.
ENVS 4850 - ENVS Honors Thesis Research
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2020 / Fall 2022
To be taken in final academic year prior to graduation. Consists of honors research and thesis preparation under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Department enforced restriction: Requires a minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared ENVS major and approval by departmental honors committee.
ENVS 5100 - Special Topics in Environmental Studies
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
A variety of topics not currently offered in curriculum; offered depending on instructor availability and student demand. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
