Professor Noel Healy's Undergrad Climate Justice Lab Partners with University of Miami

Salem, MA - May 20, 2024 - The Salem State Climate Justice and Just Transitions Lab, led by Professor Noel Healy, professor of geography and sustainability, has established a fruitful collaboration with the University of Miami’s Climate Accountability Lab, headed by Professor Geoffrey Supran. This ongoing partnership has significantly enhanced research and educational opportunities for Salem State students. In May 2024 Professor Healy and Professor Supran secured a new Climate Science Social Network (CCSN) grant from Brown University, where they will be investigating fossil fuel influence within higher education.

Over the 2023/24-year Salem State students, including Nina Fuccione (senior, communications major), Rowan Collins (sophomore, geography major), Laura Swindell (senior, geography major), and Alex Pappas (freshman, geography major), gained valuable research experience working alongside faculty and students from the University of Miami on projects that address climate disinformation, climate justice, and energy policy. This collaboration has enabled undergraduate students at Salem State to participate in cutting-edge research and contribute to initiatives that combat climate misinformation and promote equitable climate solutions. During the same period Nina Fuccione, Rowan Collins, and Laura Swindell all secured paid research internships with Prof. Healy’s research collaborators at the Public Accountability Initiative.

SSU communications major and geography minor Nina Fuccione shared her enthusiasm about the Lab: “Working on multiple projects with Professor Healy, Professor Supran, and the Public Accountability Initiative has been incredibly exciting. I’ve had the unique opportunity to be deeply involved in every stage of the research process—from design and data collection to analysis and participating in the peer-reviewed publication process. This hands-on experience has been invaluable and truly inspiring.”

Professor Geoffrey Supran, based in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, focuses his research on the history of climate disinformation and propaganda by fossil fuel interests. His work highlights the historical and sociological dimensions of the climate challenge and supports initiatives to hold bad actors accountable. In May 2024 Professor Supran testified at US Senate Committee on the budget at a hearing on fossil fuel industry obstructionism.

Professor Noel Healy’s Climate Justice and Just Transitions Lab at Salem State University conducts research on the socio-political aspects of rapid climate change mitigation, climate justice, public policy and inequality, fossil fuel politics, and economic and racial justice in climate and energy policy. On average, the lab secures six undergraduate research students from Salem State each semester.

Over the last year Salem State students have had the opportunity to participate in lab meetings with University of Miami collaborators (Prof. Supran, Dr. Julian Barg, and University of Miami students) while Professor Healy also served on the external committee for a University of Miami thesis project. This partnership continues to advance both institutions' efforts to produce high-impact climate change research.