Master of Science in Climate and Energy Policy Program Welcomes Inaugural Cohort

An inaugural cohort of students from across the United States and around the world arrived at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy earlier this month to begin the new Master of Science in Climate and Energy Policy (MSCEP), a new Harris program in partnership with the University’s Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth. Drawn from government agencies, financial institutions, engineering firms, nonprofit organizations, and leading universities, they will spend the next year working closely with scholars and experts from across UChicago's economics, technology, and science units to acquire the skillset needed to tackle one of the most complex policy challenges of their generation.

The one-year MSCEP program is based in the Institute’s Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth, combining data, economics and climate science with practical experiences to provide students with a holistic understanding of the climate and energy challenge, as well as rigorous training in applying data and evidence to policy design.

“As governments, businesses, and communities confront growing demands for reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy, the need for leaders who can navigate the intersection of economics, technology, markets, and public policy has never been greater,” said Ryan Kellogg, Faculty Director of MSCEP, Deputy Dean for Academic Programs at Harris, and the Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor. “This inaugural class is entering the field at an extraordinary moment, and we’re excited to help prepare them for the work and decisions that will shape the coming decades. They bring an exceptional range of experiences and perspectives, and they will challenge one another in ways that will strengthen everyone’s education.”

The MSCEP program features an immersive experiential course, which will take students beyond the classroom and into the places where energy and climate policy are debated and implemented. In September, students will travel to West Texas and New York, where they will engage directly with energy producers, electricity market operators, investors, regulators, policymakers, and community leaders confronting the opportunities and tradeoffs of a rapidly changing energy landscape. The goal is not to reinforce a single viewpoint, but to expose students to competing perspectives and the economic, political, and social realities that shape climate and energy policy every day.

“Every organization is grappling with questions about energy, climate, and long-term investment,” said Gabriel Presler, Executive Director of the MSCEP. “When they leave the program, our graduates will be prepared with more than technical expertise.  They will have the skills to cut through complexity, communicate clearly across technical and policy domains, and help leaders evaluate tradeoffs with rigor and clarity."

In addition to their experience in September, the students will have opportunities to learn and apply their skills through the program’s close partnership with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth. The Institute’s extensive programming provides students with access to career development and networking opportunities through its diverse community of alumni and distinguished fellows like the former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Khar and former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta; on-the-ground learning at marquee convenings like the UN international climate negotiations (COP); and a robust community of like-minded peers and experts. Paired with the comprehensive Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth, these opportunities provide the global and real-world experiences and robust training and mentorship required to become climate and energy leaders in this competitive landscape.

The inaugural MSCEP cohort includes professionals with backgrounds in engineering, energy, finance, consulting, government, and nonprofit organizations, alongside recent graduates from leading universities in fields ranging from economics and environmental science to public policy and international affairs. Together, they will help define the culture of a new program built on intellectual rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to understanding the complexities of the global energy transition.