Week 1

Ananyo Bhattacharyo

Ananyo Bhattacharya is a third year doctoral student at Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering department at University of Michigan where he is working as a research assistant at the Planetary Science Laboratory. His research interests focus on development of computational models to understand complex interactions in planetary atmospheres that helps in understanding origin and evolution of planets in the solar system. He is working with NASA Juno mission to analyze microwave observations of Jupiter’s atmosphere. He has received prestigious fellowships for research from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. 

Further, he is pursuing a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from UM Center for Entrepreneurship, and currently a fellow of Entrepreneurs Leadership Program. At COP 28, he is excited to learn about the roadmap for climate finance, and multi-level action for meeting the emission reduction targets.

Aaron Friedman-Heiman

Aaron Friedman-Heiman is a third-year MBA and MS in Geospatial Data Science candidate. Prior to graduate school, Aaron contributed to applied waste management and renewable energy research in the Middle East before transitioning to corporate sustainability consulting domestically. In that role, he worked with corporations to implement circular economy practices and optimize their supply chains.

As an MBA/MS student, Aaron has honed his skills in carbon accounting, LCAs, and systems modeling. Aaron’s thesis centers on modeling food systems in developing regions and refrigeration’s impact on food losses and emissions in those regions. After completing his master’s, Aaron will pursue a career in entrepreneurship and sustainable finance. At COP28, Aaron is excited to explore how governments and businesses come together to negotiate transformative, global climate policies.

 

Emily Hammerslough 

Emily Hammerslough is in her 3rd year of law school at the University of Michigan, where she’s worked as a student attorney in the Human Trafficking Clinic and with a delegation at the UN Human Rights Council through INHR. She has also interned at the Ministry of Justice and Law Reform and Development Commission in Namibia and for the International Service for Human Rights, focusing on the Human Rights Council and UN Treaty Bodies. Before attending law school, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Political Science, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer doing public health and gender empowerment work in rural Senegal. Ultimately, Emily wants to work in international human rights law, and she’s excited to see the interplay of climate rights and human rights at COP28.

 

 

Sebastian Javier Lecha

Sebastian is a 1st year PhD student in the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on community engagement and consent-based citing of nuclear technology. Before Michigan, Sebastian earned a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Sebastian is heavily involved with the Nuclear Alternative Project, a non-profit organization studying the feasibility of nuclear power in Puerto Rico. At COP28, Sebastian hopes to get a greater understanding of international energy policies and the mechanisms that create them.

 

 

 

 

Shuhaib Nawawi

Shuhaib Nawawi (he/him) is a second-year Ph.D. student in Resource Policy and Behavior at the School for Environment and Sustainability. His research explores a reduced complexity building energy modeling approach for co-optimizing the objectives of occupants and the power grid in a changing climate. Previously, Shuhaib worked as a business development executive for Malaysia’s only Fortune Global 500 company, PETRONAS, where he strategized and implemented decarbonization initiatives via solar and battery storage systems within the companies’ oil & gas facilities. He holds a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering and M.Eng. in Energy Systems Engineering. At COP 28, Shuhaib hopes to gain a richer perspective on the complexities of international climate decision-making in the energy and built environment sectors.

 

 

Haley Neuenfeldt

Haley is a third-year dual degree student at the University of Michigan pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Ford School of Public Policy and a Master of Science at the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). Haley currently serves as the Director of Communications for Climate Blue and Co-Director of the Environmental Policy Association. Prior to her graduate studies she earned her BA in Geography and Global Studies from the University of Richmond and worked with various non-profit organizations and served as a Rural Education Development Volunteer for the Peace Corps in Zambia. 

As a MPP/MS student, Haley has focused her professional work on the implementation of policy emphasizing community engagement with a focus on equitable policy and finance solutions. She is currently working for the State of Michigan’s Office of Climate and Energy focusing on implementing federal climate funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. At COP28, Haley hopes to learn how governments are developing public-private partnerships and community partnerships to advance the goals of a just energy transition.

 

Ryan Revolinsky

Ryan is a third year PhD candidate in the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department at the University of Michigan. His focus is on plasmas, specifically, researching non-neutral plasma physics and devices that utilize non-neutral plasmas. One of many applications of non-neutral plasma devices is in the startup of magnetic confinement fusion reactors. Prior to attending the University of Michigan, he earned a triple bachelor’s degree from California State University, Chico, in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, and Physics. At COP28, Ryan hopes to expand his general understanding of the political decisions made for climate purposes, and to strengthen his ability to discern how societal opinions of climate change affect policy, especially as it applies to fission and fusion energy.

 

Carmen Wagner

Carmen Wagner is a third-year dual degree student at the University of Michigan pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Ford School of Public Policy and a Master of Science at the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), specializing in Environmental Justice and Environmental Policy and Planning. Her master’s project in SEAS focused on overcoming barriers to disseminating and accessing climate information services in Samoa and Vanuatu, providing policy recommendations for local governments, NGOs, and regional/international development organizations. This project was part of the effort to reduce knowledge gaps under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative. She is also interested in ensuring a just energy transition, energy efficiency efforts, and renewable energy investments internationally. At COP 28, Carmen is looking forward to learning more about efforts to support climate change adaptation in small island developing states and ways to ensure a just transition worldwide. 

 

Week 2

Sarah Dieck Wells

Sarah is a third-year dual degree student at the University of Michigan pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Ford School of Public Policy and a Master of Science with a concentration in Behavior, Education, and Communication at the School for Environment and Sustainability. Her research interests center on community engagement strategies to promote sustainability endeavors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency projects at the state and local government levels, as well as working with communities to leverage federal funding opportunities to support local sustainability initiatives. 

Prior to her graduate studies, Sarah worked as a sustainability consultant in the commercial real estate sector, primarily supporting federal contracts with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Commercial Buildings Program and U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative. At COP 28, Sarah is looking forward to learning about global collaborations on adaptation and resilience efforts in addition to financing strategies for climate and energy projects.

 

Meredith Eaheart

Meredith is a third year PhD student in the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department. Her research is focused on computational fluid dynamics and machine learning for a high-temperature gas reactor design. Meredith’s ultimate career goal is to contribute to the design and implementation of an advanced nuclear reactor design to help mitigate the effects of climate change. At COP28, she hopes to learn more about international climate policy and advocate for nuclear energy.

 

 

 

Jacob Kennedy

 

Jacob Kennedy is an MBA/MS in Environmental Justice candidate at The University of Michigan Erb Institute where he explores the intersection of environmental and social issues within food systems. Before Michigan, Jacob earned his BA from The University of Georgia in Anthropology, where he developed an interest in food justice. After graduation, Jacob spent six years in the nonprofit sector working on grassroots climate adaptation in community agriculture and forestry. At COP28, Jacob hopes to learn more about public-private partnerships and climate finance in the agriculture sector in order to scale nature-based climate solutions.

 

 

 

Ashley (Ash) Martinez

 Ash Martinez is a third year, dual degree student pursuing her Masters in Environment and Sustainability with a focus on sustainable systems and Masters in Business Administration with a focus on global operations. She is passionate about using sustainability solutions to increase equity and accessibility in the food sector and built environment. Prior to graduate school, Ashley spent 5 years working in strategy and operations consulting at Deloitte Consulting LLP in Seattle, WA. She’s helped clients across numerous industries (food and beverage, retail, consumer product goods, defense, technology, healthcare, and nonprofit) to improve supply chain and operational performance as well as team dynamics, organizational design, and talent development. She currently serves on the University of Michigan’s President’s Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights and is a Graduate Student intern with the Sustainability team in UM Dining. In addition, she is a part time Sustainability Consultant with Impact Collective Group which provides ESG solutions to mid-size companies across industries. Ash is looking to COP28 to close the gap on understanding the governmental influence in climate action. 

Sarah Phalen

Sarah Phalen is a second year master’s student at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy with a concentration in international policy. Her studies focus on international climate policy, development, and human rights. She currently serves as the Co-Director of Climate Blue and on the board of the International Economic Development Program. Prior to her graduate studies, Sarah earned a BA in Art History and Museum Studies from U-M and worked at several arts and non-profit organizations, most recently in youth justice advocacy. At COP 28, Sarah looks forward to gaining a better understanding of the climate negotiations process as well as learning more about climate migration, security, and ensuring a just transition.

 

 

Zoe Salamey (Pidgeon)

Zoe Salamey (Pidgeon) is a dedicated professional with a demonstrated history of community organizing and project management focused on climate and energy. She is currently working towards a Masters in Public Policy with a graduate certificate in Sustainability at the University of Michigan and serving as a Bohnett Public Service and Leadership Fellow. Currently, she serves on the advocacy coordination team of the YOUNGO Climate, Peace, and Security working group and serves the City of Detroit in their Office of Sustainability, helping to accelerate their use of renewable energy in municipal operations. 

Prior to her graduate studies, Zoe worked within the electrical utility sector on smart grid and technology projects related to renewable energy and served on the United Nations MGCY SDG7 Youth Constituency. At COP 28, Zoe is looking forward to observing conversations about climate financing and how developed countries can contribute to global mitigation efforts. 

 

Francisco Rentería-Macedo

As an Energy Engineer from Guadalajara, Mexico, Francisco has worked at the intersection of research, public service, and climate finance. He is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree at the University of Michigan in the School for Environment and Sustainability and the Ford School for Public Policy, with the support of a Fulbright scholarship.

Prior to his graduate studies, Francisco worked for the Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Fund of his home state, Jalisco. Last summer, he interned with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working on operationalizing bilateral agreements for the international transfer of mitigation outcomes through the Carbon Payments for Development Facility. At COP28, Francisco looks forward to learning more about the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement— particularly in terms of the promotion of fairness, sustainability, and transparency within carbon markets. Moreover, he is eager to learn from the experiences and strategies of subnational governments, especially those from Latin America, as they engage in the global climate discourse.

 

Alexandra (Ally) Stavros

Ally is a second year Master of Public Policy student at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Her studies focus on international and climate security, the national and international risks caused by climate change. Currently, Ally serves as the delegate liaison for Climate Blue, a student organization whose mission empowers the local community to become more engaged in climate action. Prior to her graduate studies, Ally worked with the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center which cemented an interest in international security. At COP28, Ally is excited to gain a deeper understanding of innovative solutions and global collaborations to mitigate and resolve conflict and security dilemmas caused by climate change.