Last month, we celebrated our first 100 days as the University of Chicago’s flagship effort to address climate change while balancing society’s need for sustainable growth. In just these first few months, our young Institute has achieved major milestones that confirm our mission to combine frontier research with a pioneering approach to education and international engagement is resonating both on campus and beyond.

We thought we would share our first milestone moments with you. Enjoy these highlights, and celebrate with us by sharing our progress with your networks on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

MILESTONE 1

We Raised More Than $125M For Our Work

Our mission of addressing climate change while balancing the need for growth is resonating, with more than $125 million raised to support our work in just a few months. This demonstrates the deep interest for developing new ideas, solutions, and a new generation of climate leaders. It is affirming that these visionary philanthropists come from a wide range of perspectives. Learn more

MILESTONE 2

We Launched an Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate students will be able to enroll in a new major in Climate and Sustainable Growth starting in fall 2025. The major is the first degree program anchored in our Institute’s Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth, a radical new approach to climate education that provides students with a 360-degree understanding of this critical topic. Learn more

MILESTONE 3

A $25M Gift Will Fund Experiential Learning

After receiving a $25 million gift from UChicago Trustee Michael Polsky and Tanya Polsky, we launched the Polsky Energy Transition Leadership Academy. The Polsky Academy supports key components of the Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth, bringing a unique focus on experiential learning as well as career mentorship. Learn more

MILESTONE 4

Our Institute Launched in India

With our launch in India, the Institute will be a platform for UChicago scholars to work with local partners to conduct research—with an initial focus on climate and sustainable growth economics and policy, energy technologies such as advanced battery development, and climate systems engineering. Learn more

MILESTONE 5

We Hired Our First New Faculty Member

We welcomed B. B. Cael as our first new faculty member. Cael, an assistant professor focused on carbon removal and solar geoengineering, is affiliated with our Climate Systems Engineering initiative. He is the first of nearly 20 faculty members we plan to recruit by the end of the decade, joining a roster of world-class climate scholars at UChicago. Learn more

MILESTONE 6

New Research Opportunities for Undergrads

We started a new program aimed at providing undergraduates with an in-depth understanding of the research process through research assistant positions with UChicago faculty. Starting this summer, the inaugural cohort of undergraduates will work with faculty mentors on 11 projects spanning the fields of economics, policy, science, engineering, and more. Learn more