When we think of the internet, we picture scrolling through social media, binge-watching Netflix, or dealing with lag while using campus wifi. But behind the scenes are the digital infrastructures that power our online lives—and their environmental impact.

In this class, we'll dive into those critical systems, explore their hidden environmental costs, tackle pressing issues of social equity around who gets access, and examine how international politics impacts development and sustainability efforts. We'll also look at new technologies and policies that could make the internet more sustainable and equitable for everyone. If you're passionate about shaping a better digital future, this class is for you! We value interdisciplinary perspectives and interests ranging anywhere from environmental science, media studies, political science, engineering, to ethnic studies.

Our class is designed to be as low stress as possible (the last thing we would want is for a student to be stressed submitting a paper because the Berkeley data center went down again). As a result, the class is primarily attendance and participation based. There are two bigger projects in the class (a short ≈500 word midterm essay and a final project in the form of your choosing). Our main goals are to create space for thoughtful discussions and explore how we can make the internet more sustainable.

Course syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uMt8oE3nVW19uc07j6JIl7CCcQlg9Khnh4_oHlvR1V0/edit

Open enrollment! We especially encourage freshman / sophomores to join. If you need an access code: 804638 Feel free to email brand_arguments@berkeley.edu if you need assistance!