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
Student Opportunities
Student fellows selected for this seminar have many unique opportunities for both academic and professional development.
Networking. In addition to learning from many of Penn’s top energy researchers, admitted students can engage and network with presenters and other 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.
Field Trip. Under normal circumstances, we also host an optional and all-expenses-paid day trip to a significant energy facility or policy institution within the region. Unfortunately, because of the ongoing precautions around the coronavirus pandemic, this trip may not be possible this year.
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.
For questions about the undergraduate seminar, please contact Oscar Serpell.
2021 Publication Highlights
Our seminar participants have written on a variety of topics—from carbon offsets to artificial intelligence.
Treating biomass as a carbon-neutral energy source will only drive further wood harvests and carbon emissions at a time when reforestation and decarbonization are critical.
Can AI help us improve energy efficiency and combat climate change? Possibly but ethical concerns exist when it comes to balancing the positives and negatives of AI creation and climate change.
The current carbon offsets market incentivizes corporations to shift the moral responsibility of reducing emissions to others. Drastic reform is needed to guarantee a true reduction in global emissions.
Wind turbine blades are currently sent to landfills at the end of their useful life. Emerging technologies could enable widespread blade recycling and make wind power more sustainable.
Yina Anyachebelu is an undergraduate student in the Huntsman Program studying business analytics in Wharton and international studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Anyachebelu is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Margaret Badding is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences double majoring in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) and psychology, with a minor in environmental studies. Badding is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Francisco Barrera is an undergraduate student in the VIPER program studying materials science and engineering at the School of Engineering and Applied Science and physics in the School of Arts and Sciences. He is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Sage Basri is an undergraduate in the School of Arts and Sciences majoring in Environmental Studies. Basri is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
John Berg is an undergraduate student studying mechanical engineering and applied mechanics at the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Berg is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Skylar Cannon is a junior in the School of Engineering and Applied Science studying chemical and biomolecular engineering with a minor in energy and sustainability. Cannon is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Georgeanne Dinan is an undergraduate student studying political science in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dinan is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Adam Goudjil is an undergraduate student studying urban studies at the College of Arts and Sciences. Goudjil is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Billy Hasley is an undergraduate student studying chemical and biomolecular engineering with a minor in energy and sustainability at the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Hasley is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Neil Kapoor is an undergraduate student studying computer science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Kapoor is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Erin Kelly is an undergraduate student studying history, French, and sustainability and environmental management in the School of Arts and Sciences. Kelly is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Avni Limdi is an undergraduate student studying systems science and engineering at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Limdi is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Caroline Magdolen is an undergraduate student studying systems engineering and environmental science in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) program. Magdolen is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Sinan Onukar is a senior undergraduate student studying Finance and Business Analytics at the Wharton School of Business. Onukar is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Georgia Ray is a senior undergraduate student triple majoring in urban studies, cognitive science, and philosophy of science in the College of Arts and Sciences. Ray is also a 2021 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Evie Sorrell is a third year undergraduate student studying environmental sustainability and management in the College of Arts and Sciences. Sorrell is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Angela Sun is an undergraduate student studying economics and chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences. Sun is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
Yein Yoon is an undergraduate student in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) studying materials science and engineering and chemistry. Yoon is also a 2021 Undergraduate Seminar Fellow.
