Editor's Note: This story originally ran on the University of Chicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth website.
This summer, 15 University of Chicago undergraduates spent three weeks in India for an experience unlike any other. The inaugural India Summer Fellows Program, sponsored by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and UChicago Career Advancement, was co-hosted with the Ahmedabad University Climate Institute. The program brought together global perspectives to explore the socio-cultural and climate realities of Indian cities up close.
“My time in India as a Climate Fellow provided me with a truly unforgettable learning experience,” says Fellow Nigel Lawrence, ’27. “Through culturally immersive excursions and thought-provoking lectures and activities, this fellowship was instrumental in giving me a holistic view of the various climate challenges and mitigation strategies.”
The program kicked off at the University of Chicago’s Center in Delhi, where the fellows were introduced to the impactful work of Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC-India). They learned about topics such as emissions trading, vehicular pollution regulation, waste management, and the power of research storytelling to shape public discourse. These sessions offered a grounding in how economics can drive solutions to complex energy and environmental challenges.
The students then travelled to Ahmedabad, where they were joined by 15 Ahmedabad University students. Over the course of the program in Ahmedabad, classroom discussions were paired with themed excursions, allowing students to learn about the challenges of climate change in a growth context and see it first hand through field visits. Each day added new layers to their understanding, from the risks posed by rising temperatures and poor air quality to the gendered impacts of climate change.
“We got to witness firsthand the climate challenges confronting Delhi and Ahmedabad, as well as delve into the solution space to understand how problems like extreme heat and air pollution are being addressed in these cities,” says Fellow Laura Bornhoevd ’28. “I really enjoyed learning about climate change through the perspectives of many different disciplines, from economics to chemistry to public policy.”
After getting a better understanding of the climate and growth challenge, they learned about possible solutions, and visited local organizations engaging in those solutions. The students observed cooling techniques in urban chawls where many women work indoors without adequate protection from heat. They learned how women from low-income communities are trained to lead climate resilience efforts—from improving housing and sanitation to disaster preparedness. And, they saw the very real consequences of rising heat for workers, and the grassroots innovations being adopted to stay safe and productive.
After returning to Delhi, the cohort participated in a career trek. They visited leading organizations such as the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), ReNew, Climate Group, and the lithium battery company Lohum. These visits provided the students with a peek into India’s clean tech innovation and future-forward energy landscape and gave them insight into how solutions are being implemented in practice.
“I’m leaving with a greater insight into how environmental and healthcare systems interact, and how I can apply that awareness to my future work in medicine,” says Fellow Adam Kamel ’27. “Visiting field sites and speaking with workers and residents made the climate issues I learned about in the classroom more tangible, highlighting the reality that people in India face. I’ve heard a lot about climate change, but I had never seen its impacts in real life. This fellowship allowed me to witness them firsthand.”
The Institute plans to run the India Summer Fellows Program annually and aims to use the program as a model for similar initiatives in other regions.