This talk, delivered by Dr Marwa Koheji, brings historical and ethnographic insights to explore how the energy-intensive technology of air-conditioning became ubiquitous in Bahrain and to what consequences.
In Bahrain, air-conditioning consumes about 60% of the domestic consumption of electricity. Yet, the ascendency of this technology is far from simple. Beyond simply providing coolness, air-conditioning transformed life as people knew it. In a remarkably short period of time, this seemingly innocent device reshaped houses, cities, practices of daily life, social relations, and even, bodies. Today, one can argue there is no society that is more air-conditioned than in the Gulf, where even the outdoors is being air-conditioned.
Meet our speaker and chair
Marwa Koheji is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Humanities, in the Division of Arts and Humanities at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Her research combines historical and ethnographic methods to explore energy infrastructures in Bahrain and the broader Gulf region and their socio-political implications. She was trained in cultural anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently working on a book manuscript titled Thermal (Dis)Comfort in Bahrain: How Air-Conditioning Changed Everything. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Wenner Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, National Geographic, the Energy Poverty Program in Southern Africa (EPPSA), and NYUAD. She also has a professional background in the heritage and cultural industry, working with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities on different national and World Heritage projects. More recently, she has participated in Bahrain's National Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale (2023).
Muna Dajani is an action researcher with a background in critical political ecology. Her work aims to understand environmental and water governance through decolonial and critical lenses. Dajani is currently a Fellow in Environment at the Geography and Environment Department at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ events do not reflect the position or views of The London School of Economics and Political Science.
From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.