Alphonso Bradham '24

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Alphonso Bradham

From Code to Climate

For Alphonso Bradham '24, a Computer Science major from Atlanta, GA, the path to exploring energy and sustainability at Dartmouth began with a single email and a free period. "I had seen an email about a talk on minerals and energy," Alphonso recalls. "I had a free period that day and thought, 'I might as well just show up to this random kind of talk about energy and minerals.'" This decision would set him on an unexpected journey through the world of energy and climate studies.

The talk, which focused on the supply chain of essential minerals like lithium and cobalt, sparked Alphonso's curiosity. "It just kind of jump-started this thought in my head," he explains. "I'm a Computer Science major. I use computers all the time. But if the power goes out, there's no real use for that." This realization led Alphonso to delve deeper into energy studies, connecting with the Irving Institute and joining the Dartmouth Energy Alliance (DEA).

Bridging Computer Science and Energy

Alphonso's academic journey at Dartmouth exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary studies. He highlights three key experiences that shaped his understanding of energy and climate issues:

1. Earth System Modeling (GEOG 60) with Professor Justin Mankin: "It's this really kind of surprisingly technical class about how they build a model of the Earth in software that you can use to evaluate potential climate scenarios," Alphonso explains. The course allowed him to apply his computer science skills to climate research, even granting access to supercomputers used by actual climate researchers.
2. Climate and Power in U.S. History with Professor Bethany Moreton: This course offered a deep-dive into the history of energy movements within the US, exploring topics from water rights to nuclear power plants, and how they shaped the current energy landscape.
3. Electricity Grids and Markets Bootcamp: This Irving Institute program provided Alphonso with insights into the regulatory side of energy distribution. "They spent a while talking about how energy markets work... I was surprised how candid they were," he remarks.

Looking to the Future

As Alphonso prepares to graduate, he's set to begin a career in software engineering at Google in Atlanta. However, his experiences at Dartmouth have shaped his long-term aspirations. "As a longer-term goal, I'm thinking about pursuing the intersection of energy and technology and how it relates to climate," he says.

Alphonso emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to energy issues. "You need a technical understanding of how the systems work, but you also need people who are able to write sensible policy on these things," he explains. "We're in a transitional phase in the energy world, and decisions are going to be made one way or the other. I would rather have a seat at that table if I can make one or find one for myself."

Advice for Future Students

For incoming freshmen looking to find their community at Dartmouth, Alphonso advises, "Go to that random talk that you don't know anything about but could be interesting. Go to a club meeting that you see in an email. Just be willing to adventure a little bit."