The Sustainable Internet Lab Receives Big C SIP Grant

The Sustainable Internet Lab has received funding from the Student Initiated Projects Fund through the Big C Student Fee Referendum to launch a major Speaker Series: Building a Global, Equitable, and Just Internet Infrastructure in Fall 2025.

The internet powers nearly every part of our daily lives, yet the physical infrastructures that make it possible—subsea cables, data centers, and interconnection hubs—remain largely invisible. As companies like Google, Meta, and Apple rapidly expand their infrastructures, it’s critical to think not only about emerging technologies like AI and 5G, but also about who builds these systems, where they are located, and who they serve.

Led by Professor Nicole Starosielski and hosted in partnership with BCNM, this speaker series will bring global experts—academics, industry professionals, and activists—to Berkeley to discuss the social and environmental impacts of internet infrastructure. Voices from historically underrepresented regions and communities, including speakers from South Africa, Egypt, and Brazil, will spotlight issues such as data colonialism, equitable access, labor shortages, and environmental justice.

This series builds on Berkeley’s growing leadership in digital infrastructure studies, including the newly launched Certificate in Global Digital Infrastructure and the popular DeCal course, Building a Sustainable Internet. By connecting students directly with global leaders in the field, the Sustainable Internet Lab aims to inspire and empower Berkeley students to take an active role in designing a more equitable, just, and sustainable internet for all.