Our Team | Gibson Climate Justice Lab

Lab Director

Dr. Shannon Gibson

Lab Director and Founder

Dr. Shannon Gibson teaches courses and conducts research on global environmental politics, global public health, social movements, social justice and community-based research.

She received her Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Miami in 2011. As a participant-action researcher she focuses on the role of disruptive politics and social movements in climate and health governance. In her dissertation, "Dynamics of Radicalization: The Rise of Radical Environmentalism against Climate Change,” she conducted field and participant observation research at a variety of international summits, including World Social Forums in Brazil and Senegal, the 2010 G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, and the United Nations climate negotiations in Copenhagen and Cancun.

Additionally, Dr. Gibson works to engage students in active and experiential learning by teaching abroad from her research travels, such as the UN climate talks in Paris and Bonn, and by leading Problems without Passports classes. She also runs interactive Model United Nations simulations in her courses based around real-life climate negotiations and World Health Assembly meetings.

Assistant Lab Managers

Thomas (TJ) Martynowicz

Thomas Martynowicz is a fourth-year student at the University of Southern California concurrently pursuing a B.A. in International Relations and Master’s in the Studies of Law. On campus he works as a tour guide, student consultant, and research assistant; he was also recently awarded the John M. Cluff Scholarship on Energy to conduct independent research exploring participatory mechanisms within Latin America's Lithium Triangle. With a passion for language rights, climate justice, and renewable energy transitions, Thomas contributes as both a scholar and advocate in the climate negotiations arena.

Christina Chkarboul

Christina Chkarboul is a junior majoring in earth science and global studies and minoring in news media and society. Christina has been working with Dr. Gibson since Fall 2022, when she was part of the group of research assistants following COP27 at the Wrigley Institute. In Spring 2023, she taught a high school class on Climate Policy in Latin America. Christina is interested in climate journalism, environmental justice and education, and currently serves as the Daily Trojan’s managing editor.