New Delhi, Feb 2020: Anant National University- India’s first Design University based out of Ahmedabad, announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind Fellowship Program for Climate Action. The Fellowship shifts the focus from the unprecedented level of climate anxiety we see around us today and instead nurtures talent to play key roles in driving the solutions that will make the biggest dent to mitigate climate change in the 21st century. The one-year fellowship commences on 10th August 2020.
Individuals with a track record of implementing solutions for climate change or have transferable skills may apply for the fellowship. There is a special provision for advanced professionals who are well established in their domains but who wish to leverage their skills to scale solutions for climate change, to join the program. Fellows who are advanced professionals will need to complete only 3 of the total 6 terms of the Fellowship. This will allow them the required flexibility to continue to work simultaneously. All fellows will be eligible for a 50-100% scholarship on the fees covering tuition, travel and accommodation.
75% of the Fellowship classes will be held at locations where solutions for climate change are being implemented on the ground and at locations that are hard hit by climate change. Furthermore, all fellows will work closely with a mentor, chosen from an illustrious board of mentors from the world over, such as Laurence Tubiana (CEO of the European Climate Foundation), Adam Werbach (CEO Yerdle), Chetan Maini (founder of Reva), Arunabha Ghosh (founder-CEO of CEEW), Gireesh Shrimali (Stanford University), Amer Vohra (partner, ValueWorks, Zurich), Mustafa Mokass (founder-CEO Beya Capital), Anoop Ratnakar Rao (CEO of ReLife and ex-founder of Naandi).
Centred on a mentor-mentee framework, the program will help Anant National University create a community of climate change trailblazers across multiple sectors, regions, and generations. The Fellowship also presents a different discourse on climate change, given that poverty alleviation and access to basic food and shelter, in addition to climate change, are challenges that India and many other parts of the world deal with.
The Fellowship is led by Dr. Miniya Chatterji, an award-winning sustainability expert. Dr. Miniya Chatterji is CEO of Sustain Labs Paris, a company that transforms large corporations to become more sustainable. She was Chief Sustainability Officer at Jindal Steel & Power after working at the World Economic Forum in Geneva for several years, Goldman Sachs in London, and the office of the President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac in Paris. She has a PhD and Masters degree from Sciences Po Paris, and was a doctoral research fellow at Harvard University and Columbia University.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Miniya Chatterji, said, “We believe that there are increasing numbers of individuals utilizing their skills as lawyers, engineers, policy specialists, finance experts, architects, or designers, who wish to counter climate change and are desirous of doing more. The Fellowship for Climate Action will steer the passion and skills of these individuals towards the most critical and urgent solutions to gain further success and scale.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anunaya Chaubey, Provost of Anant National University, “Our endeavour is to include as many people who wish to be part of the solution to climate change. The Fellowship for Climate Action is designed such that those who can dedicate a year of their life, whether they are working advanced professionals, entrepreneurs, or young climate activists, can all benefit from it.”
