Benjamin Franta

Benjamin Franta

PhD Candidate at Stanford University

Stanford, California, United States500+ connections

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Stanford University

About

I'm a PhD Candidate in History at Stanford University, where I study the history of climate change politics and fossil fuel producers. I have a JD from Stanford Law School and a separate PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard University, where I was also a research fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government. I also have a master's degree in Archaeological Science from the University of Oxford and a bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

At Stanford I hold an Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship, and I'm a former National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow, USAID Research and Innovation Fellow, University of Oxford Clarendon Scholar, and Coe College Williston Jones Scholar.

I'm a cofounder and current Director of Accountability Research for the Climate Social Science Network, a global network of social science scholars doing research on climate politics headquartered at Brown University.

My research and writing has appeared in Nature Climate Change, The Guardian, Project Syndicate, and elsewhere, has been cited in the US Congressional Record, and translated into 10 languages. You can find links to my work below.

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Education

  • Stanford University

    Stanford University

    PhDHistory of Science

    -

    Working with Robert Proctor on the history of climate science, climate denial, and the fossil fuel industry.

    Teaching:
    - World History of Science with Prof. Robert Proctor
    - International History of Nuclear Weapons with Prof. David Holloway
    - Human Society and Environmental Change with Profs. Zephyr Frank, Mikael Wolfe, and Rosamond Naylor
    - Women and Gender in Science, Medicine, and Engineering with Prof. Londa Schiebinger

  • Stanford Law School

    Stanford Law School

    JD

    -

    John Hart Ely Prize in the course Lawyers and Leadership with Prof. Deborah Rhode.

  • Harvard University

    Harvard University

    PhD, SMApplied Physics

    -

    Worked with Eric Mazur on ultrafast laser processing of silicon for photovoltaics. Also worked with Gemma Narisma at the Manila Observatory on climate resilience in the Philippines.

    Teaching:
    The Climate-Energy Challenge with Prof. Daniel Schrag
    Applied Physics 50 (Electricity and Magnetism) with Prof. Eric Mazur

    Other:
    Research Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
    Member of the Harvard…

    Worked with Eric Mazur on ultrafast laser processing of silicon for photovoltaics. Also worked with Gemma Narisma at the Manila Observatory on climate resilience in the Philippines. Teaching:The Climate-Energy Challenge with Prof. Daniel Schrag Applied Physics 50 (Electricity and Magnetism) with Prof. Eric MazurOther:Research Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of GovernmentMember of the Harvard University Center for the Environment's Consortium on Energy and EnvironmentOrganizer of the climate movement group Divest HarvardMember of the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum

  • University of Oxford

    University of Oxford

    MScArchaeological ScienceFirst Class with Distinction

    -

    Worked with Jean-Luc Schwenninger on optically stimulated luminescence dating of glacially-trapped sediment.

  • Coe College

    Coe College

    BAPhysics, MathematicsSumma Cum Laude

    -

    Worked with Profs. Mario Affatigato, Steve Feller, and Jim Cottingham on laser modification of glasses and musical acoustics.

Publications

Patents

Honors & Awards

  • American Geophysical Union Outstanding Student Presentation Award (OSPA)

    American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting

    Awarded to the top 5% of presentations. Presentation: "Facilitating the Green New Deal Through History and Law"

  • Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship

    Stanford University

  • Better Buildings Case Competition: Most Innovative Proposal Award

    US Department of Energy

    News: http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/#/news/graduate-students-receive-award-at-department-of-energy.html

  • USAID Research and Innovation Fellowship

    US Agency for International Development

  • Green Photonics Award for Laser-Assisted Manufacturing and Micro/Nano Fabrication

    SPIE (The International Society for Optical Engineering)

    News: http://www.myscience.us/wire/femtosecond_laser_research_wins_spie_green_photonics_award-2012-Harvard

  • National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

    US Office of Naval Research

  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

    US National Science Foundation

  • University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarship

    Clarendon Fund

  • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

    Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program

  • National Merit Scholarship

    National Merit Scholarship Corporation

  • Williston Jones Scholarship

    Coe College

Organizations

  • Climate Social Science Network

    Cofounder and Director of Accountability Research

    - Present

    Global network of social science scholars doing research on climate politics, headquartered at Brown University.

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