Connect with researchers across campus, meet like-minded students, and get published.
About the Seminar
Each spring, the Kleinman Center hosts its undergraduate student fellows program and climate and energy policy seminar series. This program is designed as a competitive and selective appointment for committed undergraduates. Admitted students are expected to attend a lunchtime seminar every other week at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. These energy and climate policy seminar sessions provide students with the opportunity to meet and hear from energy researchers as they discuss the findings and policy implications of their recent research.
Seminar Topics
Lectures and discussions cover a wide range of energy and climate topics, including:
Adaptive Design
Climate Science and the Carbon Cycle
Energy Markets
Environmental Justice
Environmental Law and Regulation
Environmental Risk Management
Renewable Energy and Storage
Transportation
Note: Seminar discussions are designed to challenge students to think critically. Students need not have expertise on these topics.
Student Opportunities
Student fellows selected for this seminar have many unique opportunities for both academic and professional development.
Networking. Admitted students learn from many of Penn’s top energy researchers—engaging and networking with presenters and student fellows.
Publishing. Blog posts that students submit at the end of the semester are published on the Kleinman Center website and shared with our growing community of students, faculty, policymakers, and industry experts.
Career Building. This program is an excellent career-building opportunity, helping student fellows develop a deep understanding of energy and climate policy topics. As official members of the Kleinman Center community, student fellows receive a number of ancillary benefits such as occasional opportunities to meet visiting scholars and speakers, advanced notice of Kleinman Center events, and the professional benefits of having an official association with a globally respected energy policy center.
Workshops. In addition to the eight lunchtime seminars scheduled throughout the semester, our undergraduate fellows have the opportunity to participate in writing and training workshops led by professionals working in energy. These workshops provide valuable professional development opportunities.
Student Commitments
The Spring 2024 seminar is held every two weeks for the entirety of the semester—a total of eight or nine seminar sessions. These sessions are on Wednesdays from 12PM to 1PM. Accepted student fellows are expected to attend all of the seminar sessions. Students must notify Oscar Serpell, associate director of student programming, of any unavoidable absence in advance of the seminar. Students with two or more unexcused absences will be dismissed from the program.
In addition to attending seminar discussions, each student fellow must submit a blog post (~600 words) on an energy or climate topic of their choice by the end of the semester. Student fellows then work with the Kleinman center’s editorial and communications team to publish their blog on the Kleinman Center website.
Applicants do not need to be pursuing a degree related to energy or climate policy and science.
Publication Highlights
2023 Blog Posts
This year’s insights tackled everything from research lab emissions to coal’s dominance in the developing world. Take a look at the full lineup of publications.
Eliana Atienza is an undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Application. Atienza is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Rachel Bina is in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business studying Economics at the Wharton School and International Studies and Russian at the College of Arts and Sciences. Bina is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Luke Campo is a Kleinman Center Student Advisory Council Member. He is studying International Relations and minoring in Sustainability and Environmental Management in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Spencer Gibbs is a third-year undergraduate student studying Economics and Philosophy, Politics, & Economics with a concentration in Public Policy and Governance in the College of Arts and Sciences. Gibbs is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Lillian Miller is an undergraduate student studying Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Sciences in the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences program. Miller is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Sandro Mocciolo is an undergraduate student studying Environmental Studies, Economics, and Spanish. Mocciolo is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Thu Nguyen is an undergraduate student from Vietnam majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental and Sustainability Management. Nguyen is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Seema Parmar is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences studying mathematical economics and environmental studies. Parmar is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Nisha Shah is an undergraduate studying Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Shah is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Colby Snyder is an undergraduate studying Physics and Chemical Engineering in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research. Snyder is also a 2024 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
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