Climate Knowledge Collective
PWR Research Professor Peg Spitzer proudly presents the Climate Knowledge Collective (CKC), a new nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing stories of environmental resilience and innovation, with a focus on feminist knowledge. Through in-depth research and the creation of story maps, visualizations, and comprehensive oral history interviews, CKC documents and curates these narratives in an open-access format. Titled Shifting Paradigms in Environmental Social Justice, the narratives contain rich information from the perspectives of environmental justice activists, including their motivations, personal backgrounds, education, and community involvement in a world affected by climate change. Activists discuss their mentors and supporters and the challenges they overcame to expand their work. For more information on the Climate Knowledge Collective, see https://ckcollective.org/.
Recent Publications:
Sommer, Jamie M., Trupti Jain, and Peggy Ann Spitzer. "Coping with Climate Change:
A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Irrigation Technology Outcomes in Gujarat,
India." Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, March 19, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231261421273.
This is the second year that the Climate Knowledge Collective has invited Susan Davis to engage with SBU102 students and share insights from her work as a philanthropic advisor, social impact strategist, and advocate for more effective and equitable development.
In 2026, Susan returned as a Sir Run Run Shaw Lecturer to present "Why We Need to Change the Way We Change the World." Responding to questions from students and community members, she explores why well-intentioned efforts to solve complex global challenges often fall short. Through the story of two health clinics—one in Kenya and one in Senegal—she highlights the difference between externally driven interventions and community-led solutions, demonstrating why local leadership is essential for lasting social change.