Author: TheConversation

By Michael E. Webber, Josey Centennial Professor of Energy Resources, University of Texas at Austin; Hugh Daigle, Associate Professor of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, University of Texas at Austin With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains US$370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean electricity generation. One source that’s poised for growth is offshore wind power. Today the U.S. has just two operating offshore wind farms, off of Rhode Island and North Carolina, with a combined generating capacity of 42 megawatts. For comparison, the new Traverse Wind Energy Center...

By Jay Prosser, Reader in Humanities, University of Leeds In recent decades, trans people have achieved limited rights. At the same time, anti-trans views and political backlashes have become more visible and effective in contesting those rights. For example, since 2009, according to the Independent Press Standards Organization, there has been a 400% increase in reporting in trans issues accompanied by “increased hostility” in the media towards transgender people. Meanwhile, politicians are campaigning on opposition to trans rights. A growing number of policies are preventing trans athletes’ participation in sports. And trans issues are at the heart of a...

By Genny Beemyn, Director, Stonewall Center, UMass Amherst When students today fill out their college applications, they are not just identifying as “she” or “he.” More than 3% of incoming college students use a different set of pronouns. That’s according to my analysis of the more than 1.2 million applications submitted for the 2022-23 school year through the Common App, an online application platform used by more than 900 colleges. While 3% may not seem like a lot, it represents nearly 37,000 students. It is also indicative of a growing number of young people who identify outside of a...