Assembly Series to tackle issue of energy impoverishment​

Yadama to outline complex problem, hopeful solutions

Yadama

From studying local populations, Yadama realized that solving the
problem of the hazardous method of cooking and heating would be an
important component for improving each of these outcomes. He also knew
that the solution involved much more than creating an alternative
cooking mechanism. Huge cultural and economic forces were at play, which
allowed the status quo to prevail.

In the book released last October, Yadama relied on the assembled knowledge of many Washington University researchers who have studied the effects of air pollution and plant species invasions that are disrupting the fragile ecosystems in India — and with it the lives and livelihoods of those dependent upon the increasingly decimated environments.

Included in the book were contributions from Pratim Biswas, PhD, chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental
& Chemical Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied
Science and the Lucy and Stanley Lopata Professor; Brent Williams, PhD, the Raymond R. Tucker Distinguished I-CARES Career Development Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering; Tiffany Knight, PhD, associate professor of biology in Arts & Sciences; and Mario Castro, MD, the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

In addition to teaching and research, Yadama serves as Washington University’s ambassador to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand through its McDonnell International Scholar’s Academy, and is a faculty scholar in the Institute for Public Health.

Yadama earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Case Western University, and has been on the faculty of Washington University since 1996.

Katzman

Capturing the visual images were key to fulfilling his vision of the book, and Yadama chose Katzman, a fine-art photographer and native St. Louisan, who has been working professionally for more than 20 years. “Fires, Fuel and the Fate of 3 Billion” is his first book.

Widely considered an expert in the photogravure process, Katzman’s deep understanding of the earliest forms of photography is a passion that informs his contemporary images.

Known as one of the best photographers in the advertising industry, Katzman’s client list ranges from Coca-Cola, Honda and Intel, to Forbes, Jack Daniels and SeaWorld. In 2011, his photograph was chosen for the cover of Communication Arts Photography, a prestigious award conferred by a premier industry publication. Luerzer’s Archive named him one of the 200 best photographers in the world.

For more on the book, visit here; for information on upcoming Assembly Series programs, visit assembly series.edu.