Join our 3-week immersive curriculum on Climate and Sustainability through interactive workshops and discussions! Envision a sustainable future through creative storytelling, analyze real-world case studies, and delve into the En-ROADS climate simulation! This unique experience combines social fiction, hands-on problem-solving and insights, and cutting-edge climate tools to equip you with the skills needed to make a real impact. Dive into a world of innovative thinking and practical solutions for climate and sustainability. Sign up now to become a change-maker for a greener tomorrow!
This Workshop is offered by the MISTI-AUA program (led by the AUA Akian College of Science and Engineering) in collaboration with the AUA Energy Transitions for Climate Solutions (AUA EPIC and AUA Acopian Center for the Environment).
Week 1: Social Fiction and Sustainable Futures
Objective: Participants engage in "social fiction" to envision life 30 years from now, focusing on positive and sustainable narratives.
Activities: Inspired by the writing competition at YY Ventures, students will craft stories imagining what a sustainable future looks like.
Expected Outcome: Enhanced creative thinking and storytelling skills, and the ability to envision optimistic, sustainable futures.
Week 2: Real-Life Energy Business Case Studies
Objective: Examine and analyze real-world cases related to climate and sustainability.
Activities: Using existing Climate/Sustainability case students, students will study these cases, analyze the organization based on the information provided, and bring their input and ideas to the group discussion.
Expected Outcome: Practical knowledge of how businesses/real-life cases integrate sustainability, problem-solving skills, and hands-on experience in creating sustainable solutions.
Week 3: En-ROADS Simulation
Objective: Gain insights from using the En-ROADS simulation tool to understand climate actions.
Activities: Use the En-ROADS simulation tool to explore possible climate levers to decrease global warming.
Expected Outcome: Improved understanding of global climate issues and hands-on experience with science-backed research simulation tools to comprehend the impact of different climate actions.
Key Skills Developed:
Creative Thinking & Visioning: Crafting future narratives enhances imagination and foresight
Analytical Skills: Analyzing case studies sharpens critical thinking and analytical abilities
Problem-Solving: Developing sustainable solutions fosters problem-solving skills
Climate Literacy: Enhanced understanding of climate science and sustainability
Overall Impact: Participants will emerge with a holistic view of climate and sustainability in the current and future state, equipped with practical skills to contribute positively to a sustainable future.
Upon Completion:
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.
The Certificate of Completion will enable AUA students to receive credit equivalent to one assignment for the following courses: ENV 110, ENV 150, ESS 101, and ENV 330. Other courses could receive similar credit subject to instructor approval.
Joan's Bio
Joan Barcelona was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003. She received her undergraduate degree in Political Economy from UC Berkeley. She has seven years of work experience, beginning her career at PwC working in IT audit consulting for clients from various industries from tech to retail to bioscience. Then, she moved to the tech industry at Box, a cloud content platform, as a Senior Compliance Analyst working on security certifications. While there, she also worked as the Accessibility Product Manager and Enterprise Admin Product Manager. Outside of work, she has volunteered in social impact for 15+ years, serving her community through extracurricular work and leadership in organizations. She is now a first-year MBA student at MIT Sloan, exploring various areas related to climate and sustainability. She says, "I am passionate about working in this space because those underserved are most unjustly burdened and impacted by worsening natural disasters and other negative environmental effects due to climate change."