Viraj

Viraj Sawant

Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Viraj Sawant is a 4th year PhD candidate in Environment and Sustainability. His dissertation focus is particulate matter air pollution with the aim of critically understanding the evolution of science that informs policies in the United States. His previous research includes diverse applied policy projects such as the state of global air quality data, environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles for ride-sharing applications, electric bus transition pathway to address environmental justice concerns, climate change & technology transfer.

Viraj has been Senior Practicum Advisor for three years mentoring students for research projects that use life-cycle assessment to measure environmental footprint of various practices in the film & media production industry. He has also been teaching associate or fellow for several environmental science undergraduate classes including introduction to environment, life-cycle assessment, water management, sustainability for food, and energy economics and development.

Viraj has prior work experience in the policy research and development sector in India and corporate experience in energy markets in the United States. He holds a Masters in Energy Economics from Rice University and bachelor’s in Metallurgical Engineering and Material Sciences from IIT Bombay.

Projects

Polluted freeway

Global Landscape of Air Quality Data Report 2022

Pritzker Award Affiliate: Chris Hagerbaumer, Executive Director of OpenAQ, an organization founded by Christa Hasenkopf, who was nominated for the award in 2019.  Impact Fellow: Viraj Sawant (IoES doctoral student) Project objective:…

Smokestack emitting smoke

Local solutions to curb air pollution

Pritzker Award Affiliate: Chris Hagerbaumer, Executive Director of OpenAQ, an organization founded by Christa Hasenkopf, who was nominated for the award in 2019.  Impact Fellow: Viraj Sawant (IoES doctoral student) Project…

film vs. digital: life cycle analysis for hbo

Film vs. Digital: Life Cycle Analysis for HBO

Filmmaking has come a long way since it first emerged in the late 1800s as silent, black-and-white short films. Today, people around the world accept movies and television as a built-in…