معرفی
Abby Spinak is a Lecturer in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (GSD). She holds a PhD in Urban Studies and Planning from MIT and has held fellowships at Harvard and Rice University. Her research focuses on energy history, infrastructure politics, and the intersection of economic systems with environmental justice. She teaches courses such as Climate Justice, Experimental Infrastructures, and The Idea of Environment, emphasizing critical perspectives on resilience, equity, and decolonizing design practices.
Education:
- PhD in Urban Studies and Planning, MIT (2014)
- Master's in Anthropology, University of Chicago
- Bachelor's in Anthropology, MIT
Research Interests: Spinak explores how infrastructure shapes social and economic systems, particularly through the lens of energy history. Her current book project, Democracy Electric: Energy and Economic Citizenship in an Urbanizing America, examines the role of cooperative models in U.S. electrification and their implications for democratic governance. She also investigates climate justice, systemic racism in design education, and participatory planning methods.
Awards & Grants:
- Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship (Rice University, 2016–2017)
- Charles Warren Center Fellowship (Harvard University, 2015–2016)
Advising & Projects: Spinak advises students on topics such as anti-racist pedagogy and indigenous solar energy frameworks. She leads the Risk and Resilience area group at GSD and collaborates with community activists to reimagine infrastructure as a tool for social equity.
Labs/Teams: Engaged with the Energy Humanities network and the GSD's Risk and Resilience initiative.
