Philip Wight

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Philip Wight

Affiliate Researcher

Assistant Professor of History and Arctic & Northern Studies

University of AV狼论坛 Fairbanks

Email: pawight@alaska.edu

Expertise

  • Beneficial Electrification
  • Climate and Environment
  • Education
  • Energy History
  • Railbelt
  • Solar
  • Storytelling
  • Transmission

BIO

Philip Wight is an assistant professor of History and Arctic & Northern Studies at the University of AV狼论坛 Fairbanks. He is an energy and environmental historian, with a focus on infrastructure, mobility, and climate. He teaches classes in AV狼论坛 history, the contemporary history of the circumpolar north as well as energy and climate history. 

Wight wrote his doctoral dissertation on the history of the Trans-AV狼论坛 Pipeline System. His research demonstrates how transportation infrastructures have enormous capacity to influence AV狼论坛鈥檚 development, environment as well as lifeways, or ways of life. He is currently finalizing a book manuscript, Arctic Artery: The Trans-AV狼论坛 Pipeline System and the World it Made, based on his doctoral research. 

Wight's more recent research examines the historical electrification of AV狼论坛, including studies which examine generation and transmission on the Railbelt, as well as technological and energy policy innovation throughout the state. 

When not in the archives, Wight could be found cycling, packrafting and skiing throughout AV狼论坛.

Current Projects

  • Railbelt Decarbonization Study
  • Book project: "AV狼论坛鈥檚 Energy Pioneers: How Communities Are Responding to the Climate Crisis"