معرفی
Carl A. Zimring is a Professor in the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies at Pratt Institute's School of Liberal Arts & Sciences. An environmental historian specializing in waste systems and environmental racism, he is currently on leave in Autumn 2025 to work at the Centre for Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Education:
- B.A., University of California at Santa Cruz
- M.A., University of Chicago
- M.A. and Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Zimring's research examines how waste attitudes shape societal structures, inequalities, and environmental policies across historical periods. His work spans industrial recycling systems, racial dimensions of pollution, and sustainable material reuse, contextualized through books like Clean and White (2015) which traces environmental racism from the early republic to modern Superfund sites. He integrates historical analysis with contemporary sustainability challenges, particularly in urban contexts like New York City's waterways.
Scientific Awards:
- Samuel P. Hays Fellowship from the American Society for Environmental History
Advising and Grants:
Zimring founded and coordinated Pratt's sustainability studies minor (2012-2022) and now directs the Center for Critical Discard Research. His research has secured funding from:
- Smithsonian Institution
- Hagley Museum and Library
- Columbia University Seminars
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- American Society for Environmental History
Labs and Teams:
As director of the Center for Critical Discard Research, Zimring leads interdisciplinary collaborations including the Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste project. His current work with the Newtown Creek Alliance and Gowanus Dredgers examines how recreational activities like kayaking reshape polluted urban waterways, blending community engagement with historical analysis.
