Welcome to the Attari Lab
The Attari Lab studies how people judge impact and effectiveness in decisions about resource use, sustainability, and climate change. We draw on environmental and cognitive science and use survey, experimental, and mixed-method approaches.
Research themes: Judgements of Impact/effectiveness · Perceived vs. actual leverage · Expert/institutional decisions · Narratives for climate solutions · Decision aids
We do not have openings for PhD students at this time.
Shahzeen is a scientist-engineer who is hopeful, a sci-fi lover, a spicy food addict, and happiest in nature and on long hikes – especially with Savannah. She loves learning, be it science or about people’s lives and stories.
Shahzeen Attari
Lab Director
Victor is a policy researcher, mentor, and climate optimist. His work focuses on how energy and climate policies can better support low-income communities, with a particular interest in building decarbonization and equitable financing. Outside of research, he enjoys editing music, playing strategy games, and training for fitness. He’s fluent in Mandarin and English, and finds purpose in teaching, problem-solving, and staying grounded through studying and practicing.
Ziwei Victor Xue
PhD Researcher
Quinn is an undergraduate student studying both environmental science and English at IU. He is on a pre-med trajectory and is interested in scientific communication and the effects a changing climate has on public health. When he isn’t busy studying, you can find him watching a sci-fi show, reading superhero fiction, or swimming with IU Swim Club.
Quinn Pleskac
Undergrad Researcher
Ty is a Cox Research Scholar and an undergrad student at the O’Neill school studying environmental science. He cares deeply about solving environmental crises and hopes to make a large impact on saving the planet, particularly in the realm of renewable energy and sustainability. In his free time Ty likes to both watch and play basketball, hang out with his friends, and listen to music.
Ty Trapp
Undergrad Researcher & Lab Manager
Kasie is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, feminist, vegan, and aspiring sustainability researcher and policymaker. Her current research explores consumer perception of energy costs and downstream ecological consequences of manufacturing textiles specifically with fast fashion. Her previous research focused broadly on ecological impacts of climate change on disease in freshwater plankton and parasite-vector systems. Outside of academia, Kasie enjoys sewing, gaming, reading, and spending time with her dog (Apple) and cat (Rhubarb).
Kasie Chappell
Graduate Researcher
Katie is an undergraduate student studying environmental science at IU, with a growing focus on marine systems. As a certified SCUBA diver, she enjoys exploring underwater environments and hopes to contribute to their conservation. Katie is dedicated to protecting wildlife and finding sustainable ways for humans to coexist with the natural world. Outside of academics, she loves to spend time outdoors, has a passion for animal rights, and loves experimenting with plant based cooking.
Katie Goodman
Undergrad Researcher
Savannah is a hound dog with big melty brown eyes and super soft ears.
Savannah
Lab Mascot
Wenrui is a Ph.D. student at O'Neill. She studies environmental and energy policy with interests in renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, and just transitions. Wenrui earned an MPP from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and completed her B.S. and B.A from Duke Kunshan University. In her free time, she enjoys photography, weight training, and playing basketball.
Wenrui Qu
PhD Researcher
Collaborators
I collaborate with researchers across decision science, environmental science, and energy policy. Below are some recent collaborators.
Sanya Carley (University of Pennsylvania)
Nathan Geiger (University of Michigan)
David Konisky (IU)
Ben Kravitz (IU)
Ben Motz (IU)
Gregg Sparkman (Boston College)
Leaf Van Boven (University of Colorado, Boulder)
Landon Yoder (IU)