Destenie Nock
Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy
Destenie Nock received her Ph.D. in 2019 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There, she performed energy systems modeling in both New England and Sub-Saharan Africa, using multi-criteria decision analysis and applied optimization to better equip policy makers to understand energy planning options. Nock’s broad research interests are focused around using mathematical modeling tools to address societal problems related to sustainability planning, energy policy, and engineering for social good. She has a breadth of professional experience, having worked in industry, national labs, and government settings on issues related to energy systems and equity.
Equitable Energy Planning in SubSaharan Africa
Energy Solutions for Equity and Resiliency with Destenie Nock and Arnav Gautam
Identifying Hidden Forms of Energy Poverty
Education
2019 Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Research Interests
Media mentions
CMU Engineering
Engineering faculty featured in events at GCEAF
Many faculty from across the College of Engineering will be featured at events during this year’s Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
PBS
Nock quoted on Inflation Reduction Act
CEE’s Destenie Nock was interviewed by PBS about the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on green energy. Nock says that most proposals to encourage green energy attempt to hinder the supply side of the economy, but this bill aims to reduce fossil fuel on the demand side.
The Verge
Nock interviewed on the energy cost of working from home
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted in The Verge about her research on the uneven energy costs of working from home.
CMU Engineering
Hidden energy poverty revealed by energy equity gap
Energy equity gap provides new metric that captures resident behavior to illustrate the divide in safety and comfort from extreme temperatures across income groups.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nock quoted on equity issues with electricity
EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on equity issues related to electricity and electric power.
CMU Engineering
Transit inequity increased during pandemic
Preliminary results from study of Allegheny County’s public busses finds transit inequity directly contributes to higher infection rates among members of low income and ethnic minority groups.
NPR
Nock quoted on power grid infrastructure
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted on NPR about keeping infrastructure like power lines working in extreme weather.
The Academic Minute
CMU Engineering week on The Academic Minute
August 16 begins Carnegie Mellon Engineering week on National Public Radio’s (NPR) The Academic Minute. Each day, a different professor will discuss interesting facets of their research. The faculty lineup includes: Daniel Armanios, Amir Barati Farimani, Bin He, Destenie Nock, and Larry Pillegi.
Multiple outlets
Nock interviewed on energy poverty by multiple platforms
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was interviewed on multiple platforms, including the YouTube channel Energy Nerd Show, the Apple podcast The Big Switch, and gtm.
Make Me Smart
Nock interviewed on power grids and climate change
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was interviewed on Marketplace's Make Me Smart podcast about how power grids function, and how climate change is starting to affect them. The precarious balance between supply and demand when it comes to power grids means they’re especially vulnerable to extreme temperature changes spurred by climate change.
WESA
Nock interviewed on microgrids
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was interviewed on WESA about microgrids, their growing popularity, and a recent installation at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
CMU Engineering
Who is marginalized in energy justice?
Destenie Nock is working to bring more perspectives from stakeholders in developing countries into decisions that affect the expansion of their power grid.