Prashamsa Thapa
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Mail code: 7805Campus: Tempe
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Prashamsa Thapa is a PhD candidate, researcher, and practitioner in the fields of climate change, sustainable development, and global innovation. Currently pursuing a PhD in Innovation in Global Development at Arizona State University (ASU), she combines an interdisciplinary academic background with extensive practical experience to explore complex challenges at the intersection of energy transitions, climate policy, and community well-being. Her research emphasizes equity and justice within sustainable development, focusing on how emerging technologies from electric vehicles to solar power can both drive and hinder equitable outcomes in diverse socio-ecological contexts.
PhD Candiate, Innovation in Global Development, ASU
MSc, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, AIT, Thailand
BSc, Environment Science, TU, Nepal
Prashamsa is based at Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, where she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams including the Center for Energy and Society. Her research group brings together scholars, practitioners, and industry experts to address complex challenges in energy transitions and climate adaptation. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, scenario planning, and in-depth stakeholder engagement, the group aims to generate tangible pathways for inclusive and sustainable development.
Focus on Climate Action: What Level of Synergy and Trade-Off Is There between SDG 13; Climate Action and Other SDGs
in Nepal?
- Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Conducts scenario-based analyses to project future charging needs, convenes multi-stakeholder workshops, and proposes policy recommendations for equitable EV adoption.
- Solar Energy Innovation Ecosystem: Collaborates on large-scale energy research—evaluating patterns of household load and consumption—to advance solar adoption in underserved communities.
- Equity in Energy Utilities: Investigates how utilities define and implement equity, coding and analyzing qualitative data from stakeholder interviews to inform policy and corporate strategy.
- Energy Poverty and Vulnerability: Leverages survey data and local community insights to identify energy-insecure populations, highlight socio-economic barriers, and recommend targeted interventions.
- Sustainable Development and Policy Analysis: Integrates evidence from climate vulnerability assessments, technology-needs projects, and policy reports to guide decision-making at the municipal and national levels in Nepal and beyond.
Courses
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FIS 201 | Innovation in Society |
| FIS 201 | Innovation in Society |
University Graduate Fellowship, ASU, 2024
SpaceHACK for Sustainability Hackathon – Interplanetary Initiative, ASU, 2023
J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute Open Pitch Award, ASU, 2023
Interdisciplinary Enrichment Fellowship, Graduate College, ASU, 2021 – 2022
SFIS GSO Committee, 2023/24