In July 2025, the University of Chicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and the Ahmedabad University Climate Institute will jointly pilot a new India Summer Fellows Program. In this pilot program based at Ahmedabad University (AU), students from the University of Chicago will join students from Ahmedabad University in an immersive, experiential program exploring energy, climate and growth issues in an Indian context. Faculty members from both institutions will collaborate to define the content and identify key topics in Ahmedabad and the surrounding region and augment classroom instruction with field-based training and activities.

Students will begin a 3-week program in Delhi with 4 days of seminars and lectures from experts in energy, climate and sustainable growth as well as cultural excursions before traveling as a group to Ahmedabad, India. The program resumes with 2 weeks of classroom curriculum and field-based study in climate and culture at Ahmedabad University. Following this, UChicago students will end the program with a 3-day trek in Delhi with think tanks, NGOs, and companies focused on climate and energy solutions.

Agenda

Delhi Orientation

July 2: Welcome and Introduction to the University of Chicago Center in Delhi and the University’s Global presence 

• Speaker: Dylan Jones, Energy Attaché, US Embassy in India

July 3: EPIC India Overview

• Speaker: Kaushik Deb, Executive Director, EPIC India

July 4: India Climate Policy and NDCs

• Speaker: Sayantan Sarkar, Environmental Specialist, World Bank

July 5: Excursion to Taj Mahal

Ahmedabad Curriculum

July 6: Welcome Dinner

July 7: Introduction to Climate Change and Sustainability

• Speakers: Minal Pathak, Academic Director, Climate Institute at Ahmedabad University; Ashwin Rode, Director of Scientific Research, EPIC

July 8: Urban history and culture in the context of climate vulnerabilities; Ahmedabad Heritage Walk

• Speakers: Aditya Ghosh, Professor, Centre for Heritage Management; Renu Desai, Co-founder Director, ShelterSquare Foundation

July 9-10: Exploring Urban Climate Vulnerabilities

• Speakers: Tanushree Ganguly, Director, Air Quality Life Index (AQLI); Anil Patel, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Ahmedabad University

July 11: Urban Climate Vulnerabilities and Assessment

• Speakers: Dr. Dilip Mavlankar, Former Director, Indian Institute of Public Health; Ashwin Rode, Director of Scientific Research, EPIC

July 12: Cultural Excursion to Adalaj Stepwell

July 14: Introduction to the Solution Landscape

• Speakers: Minal Pathak, Academic Director, Climate Institute at Ahmedabad University; Anant Sudarshan, Associate Professor, University of Warwick

July 15: Policy and Market-Based Solutions for Climate Vulnerabilities

• Speakers: Urmila Chatterjee, Executive Director, Data Policy Innovation Centre; Tushar Bose, Associate Professor, CEPT University

July 16: Social/Community and Design Solutions for Climate Vulnerabilities

• Speakers: Jeremy Fritzhand, CEO, VentureStudio; Suchismita Das, Assistant Professor, Ahmedabad University

July 17: Sectoral and Integrated Solutions

• Speakers: Kopal Agarwal, Consultant, Council on Energy, Environment, and Water; Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava, National President, WICCI-Water Resources Council

July 18: Group Presentations and Conclusion

Delhi Career Trek

July 21: Lohum Industries; Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW)

July 22: Centre for Science and Environment; ReNew Power

July 23: World Wildlife Fund (WWF); The Climate Group; The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)