The TREES Research Lab, an initiative of the Research component, aims to strengthen the work of undergraduate students interested in studying inequalities. This semester, the Research Lab brought together two research groups from the University of Los Andes: the Poverty, Inequality, and Social Mobility Seedbed (GIHPTE) and the Seedbed of the Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America (CODS). Along with the professors leading both groups, Andrés Álvarez, Andrés Sierra, and Juan Camilo Cárdenas, a common theme was identified: the just energy transition.
The energy transition is the process in which the current energy matrix, based on the use of fossil fuels, is replaced by one that uses renewable sources with lower or no carbon emissions. The urgency of this process lies in the effects that high carbon emissions have had on the environment and people.
Now, the concept of a just energy transition adds an extra component to the previous definition. Andrés Álvarez explains it this way: "The idea of a just energy transition involves the concept of justice, and that is a concept under construction. Part of what we want to do in the seedbed is to think about it. What does that 'just' aspect mean?" Álvarez points out the impact that the change in the energy matrix has for various regions and populations, especially in a country like Colombia that is "a producer and exporter of fossil fuels, and a very important part of our economy and public finances depend on that." For their seedbed, it is essential to consider, when studying the energy transition, the inequalities that mark the regions of the country.
Participating in the Research Lab gives students the opportunity to access spaces for discussion and collaborative work to study a topic linked to inequalities in the global South. TREES also offers them spaces to understand the challenges and opportunities of communicating their work to broader audiences. This semester, the members of the seedbeds will receive mentorship focused on improving their communication skills to enhance the reach of their progress, beyond academia. This aspect is tied to the Outreach component of TREES.
Finally, the Research Lab will be responsible for linking the groups and students with people who are working on the chosen theme for the semester. This will allow them to gain new perspectives, as well as to closely understand the elements they should consider and problematize in their projects.
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