Course Credits (3)
This seminar discusses the emerging field of climate intervention, focusing on the scientific, ethical, and societal implications of different strategies of climate intervention. As climate change intensifies, scientists are exploring ways to mitigate its effects, and climate intervention or geoengineering is the most discussed one. This course invites students to critically engage with these methods to understand their historical background, current research status, potential benefits, associated risks, and ethical challenges. By examining both the science and societal implications of these technologies, students will gain a better understanding of what it means to make informed, responsible decisions under the topic of climate intervention.
About Professor Xia
Prof. Xia is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University and serves as the Co-Director of Rutgers Impact Studies of Climate Intervention (RISCI). She earned her Ph.D. in the Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Program at Rutgers University. She also serves as a Staff Scientist at the Degrees Initiative, where she supports research capacity building and regional teams working on solar radiation modification impacts across the Global South. She has been elected Chair of the 2026 Gordon Research Conference - Climate Engineering. Dr. Xia has been actively working on the impact of climate change on agriculture, ecosystem, and air pollutants, with an emphasis on two extreme climate scenarios: stratospheric aerosol climate intervention and nuclear conflict. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was honored with the Global Peach and Health Award in 2022 by the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War and the Boston Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. In addition, she is a member for the Scientific Advisory Group for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons through mid-2026.