Mentors: B.B. Cael, Assistant Professor, Geophysical Sciences, and Mary Silber, Professor, Statistics
Hazal Kara is a rising fourth year in the College, majoring in mathematics. Kara’s main research interest is in dynamical systems applied to ecological models, using numerical and analytical methods.
As a Polsky Research Fellow, Kara researched how midstream infrastructure, specifically oil refineries, affect the speed and timing and geographic distribution of energy transitions and trends in fuel use and source. Kara led the oil refinery component of the group’s broader project to compile an geo-located inventory of all historical US energy infrastructure. Kara completed an inventory of all refineries existing 1930-2020 with operator and capacity year by year and is now in the process of creating visualizations and writing a methods paper.
“This work sharpened my archival research and data visualization skills while giving me a deeper understanding of how energy systems evolve within social and historical contexts. These insights are directly relevant to my future in energy project development or climate policy analysis, where understanding infrastructure legacies is crucial for planning resilient, sustainable transitions. The research project also amplified and solidified my interest in pursuing a career in energy and climate in the future.”