Sarah Strauss

Sarah Strauss is a Professor at The Global School of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), specializing in environmental anthropology with a focus on climate change, sustainability, and cultural perceptions of health. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania (1997), an MPH in Community Health from San Jose State University (1987), and an AB in Comparative Religion from Dartmouth College (1984). Her career spans academic research, public health, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Research Interests:

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Cultural conceptions of health and environment
• Energy systems and renewable transitions
• Mountain ecosystems (Swiss Alps, Himalayas, Rockies)
• Transnational cultural processes (e.g., yoga globalization)

Notable Projects:

• Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR): USDA-funded study on beetle-kill forests and bioenergy
• Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network (CCAN): NOAA-funded initiative for community resilience
• Rachel Carson Center Fellowship: Research on climate narratives and energy transitions

Awards:

• Fulbright Fellowship (2012-2013) for climate-energy research in India
• Rachel Carson Center Interdisciplinary Fellowship (2016-2017)

Publications: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and books, including Changing the Atmosphere (2014), Cultures of Energy (2013), and Positioning Yoga (2004). Current projects include a book on climate change narratives and interdisciplinary climate adaptation education at WPI.