Graduate Student Presents Innovative Research at Second Annual New Jersey Wind Institute Research Symposium

On April 12, M.A. Communication student Rylee Nelson presented her research at the 2024 New Jersey Wind Institute Research Symposium. The second annual Wind Institute Research Symposium, held at Kean University, consisted of fellow and researcher presentations, industry panels and presentations on various topics regarding offshore wind and New Jersey wind research.

Nelson is a current New Jersey Wind Graduate Fellow at Seton Hall University administered by the NJ Wind Institute Fellowship Program with financial support from NJ Economic Development Authority.

Her presentation, "Wind Energy Barbie: Ecofeminism and the Wind Sector in New Jersey," discussed her research and findings regarding the way ecofeminism and other forms of feminist thinking have influenced the clean energy sector, specifically the wind energy sector in New Jersey. The project abstract reads:

Ecofeminism is the study of how the philosophical and political aspects of the feminist movement have combined with those of the environmentalism movement to provide a new lens through which to analyze the climate change phenomenon. However, current research has not evaluated how ecofeminism and other feminist thinking have influenced the clean energy sector, specifically the wind energy sector in New Jersey. We must ensure that the clean energy sector is forward-thinking and innovative in social and scientific areas. Therefore, it is imperative to use an ecofeminist, as well as an overall feminist, view when building the wind sector to ensure that it is inclusive from the beginning and does not leave lasting adverse effects that need to be corrected in the future. This paper analyzes the historical implication of ecofeminism, the role of feminism in the workplace, and the current inclusivity plans of the wind energy sector in New Jersey to identify existing weak points in the clean energy sector as a whole, critically analyze the current state of feminism and inclusivity in the companies that are at the center of the wind energy sector in New Jersey, and make recommendations for a feminist and inclusive wind energy sector moving forward.

"My project aims to provide knowledge of the importance of feminist thinking in this sector as well as guidelines for ensuring the wind sector is feminist," said Nelson. "There really isn't any research on feminism and the wind industry, but I could see connections between the two. I saw this as a great opportunity to research something that hasn't really been looked at before."

Nelson extensively researched the history of ecofeminism and its implications in New Jersey. Case studies were performed for Ørsted and Atlantic Offshore Wind to examine their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

"While the wind industry is more progressive than other energy industries," said Nelson, "it will take more than DEI initiatives to ensure that it is a feminist sector."

The 2024 New Jersey Wind Institute Research Symposium provided networking opportunities with offshore wind industry members, government representatives and researchers.

"After my presentation, I had the opportunity to talk with some amazing women who are currently working in the wind industry and are interested in my work, which was very exciting," said Nelson. "The symposium was a wonderful experience. It was my first time presenting at any type of conference, so it was daunting at first but very rewarding."

Categories: Arts and Culture, Research