Samantha Alderden is a second-year molecular engineering and chemistry major in the College (’28). Samantha is passionate about utilizing chemistry to improve green energy solutions to climate change, and she works at the Patel lab to research the upcycling of waste plastic into membranes for redox-flow batteries. She also serves as an undergraduate liaison on the board of the UChicago Electrochemical Society Chapter. Aside from her interest in electrochemistry and how technology can be leveraged to combat the climate crisis, Samantha is a huge foodie and is managing director of Bite, UChicago’s student-run food magazine and blog. At COP30, Samantha hopes to learn more about how to overcome policy and economic challenges in bringing green technologies from the lab to the market.
Previously, Samantha traveled to India with the Institute’s India Summer Fellows Program.
“The Climate Fellows program was a once in a lifetime experience. It was so cool to meet the Ahmedabad University students and to make friends from across the globe! I learned a lot as well. My favorite lecture was on aged air by Dr. Anil Patel. Dr. Patel taught us that the current metrics we use for air quality are not accurate because as pollutants travel and react with other compounds in the air, they become more dangerous to our health. As a chemistry major, Dr. Patel’s lecture also showed me that my work as a chemist is relevant and important to climate conversation. Overall, I learned that although cities in the global north and south may share some urban climate challenges, the extent to which those issues are felt and the solutions to address those problems can be very different. Growing up in the states, most of the climate conversations I hear are centered around how the US will prepare for and fare with climate change. Getting a global perspective on this issue is important, and I am grateful that I had this opportunity.”