The Solar Tomorrows Fellowship reaches educators and learners of all ages throughout Arizona through educational materials about solar technologies and choices, clean-energy transitions, and issues of energy equity and justice.
Building on our two books exploring a range of possible solar futures through fiction, essays, and art—The Weight of Light and Cities of Light—our fellows have created curricula, teaching materials, educational media, and interactive experiences to consider the role of solar energy in addressing the climate crisis; the diverse choices for deploying solar energy in Arizona; and the implications of those choices, and the opportunities they create for leveraging solar technologies to benefit residents throughout the state.
In the summer of 2023, four fellows—with experience working in the realms of K-12 education, informal education, lifelong learning, and journalism/popular media—worked with ASU faculty and local experts to create materials for a broad array of different learning settings, populations, and communities.
The Solar Tomorrows Fellowship is presented by Arizona State University’s Center for Science and the Imagination and Center for Energy and Society, and is supported by a grant from EarthShare through their “The Energy of One, The Power of Many” program. The project is led by Ruth Wylie, CSI’s assistant director, along with Clark A. Miller, director of the Center for Energy and Society, and Joey Eschrich, CSI’s managing editor.
Fellows & Learning Materials
Annie Holub has 20 years of teaching experience spanning multiple grade levels, from sixth grade to college. For the last ten years, she has been teaching English at City High School in downtown Tucson, a small public charter school focused on place-based learning. In the fall of 2023, she will teach first-year writing at Pima Community College and is on the adjunct bench for ASU Prep Digital. Alongside her teaching career, Annie has worked as a journalist, writing for the Tucson Weekly and Tucson Sentinel, as well as other national publications.
Solar Tomorrows Project Lesson Plan, Grade 9-12
Becky Pallack is a journalist and co-founder of Arizona Luminaria, an independent online news organization. She was previously a reporter at the Arizona Daily Star and an Arizona Press Club board member. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in journalism and innovation from West Virginia University. She grew up in Yuma and lives in Tucson.
Solar story toolkit for community journalists
Erika Perea, an Arizona native, adores the natural world. She holds degrees in psychology and sustainability and is pursuing a master’s degree in elementary education at Arizona State University. She volunteers at the Arizona Association for Environmental Education, advocating for environmental literacy. She has a diverse teaching background and currently teaches sixth grade in Mesa, Arizona. Committed to making a difference, she combines her passion for education and advocacy to inspire others and create a sustainable future.
Solar Futures for Arizona Lesson Plans
Anthony Wallace is a journalist, podcast producer, and lifelong Arizonan. He studied philosophy at Northern Arizona University, spent a few years touring in a synth-rock band, then earned a master’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He produced two podcast series with KJZZ Phoenix, including InHospitable, about Arizona’s most pressing environmental issues. His written work has been published in The Guardian, Associated Press, and NPR.
A Slice of Life in 2050: A Sci-Fi Documentary Discussion about Possible Solar-Powered Futures