COP25

COP25 - Madrid, Spain - November 2019
Student Delegates
Katelyn Boisvert

Katelyn Boisvert 20C

AmpliFIRE Co-Producer and COP25 Alumna
Katelyn graduated from Emory in 2020 with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainability Sciences. During her time at Emory, she was involved with a number of climate and sustainability related initiatives, including helping to start the Climate Talks website and attending COP25 in Madrid in 2019.

Katelyn also completed research for her honors thesis with Dr. Shaunna Donaher studying the impacts of urbanization on environmental systems in Atlanta, GA. 

Katelyn is now a graduate student at the University of Michigan, where she is pursuing a dual-degree Master of Management and Master in Environment and Sustainability. At U-M, Katelyn is a member of Net Impact at Ross, and is researching the potential for a carbon neutral COP conference as a member of the Climate Blue student organization. She plans to pursue a career in corporate sustainability, working to increase engagement with sustainability and environmental issues in the private sector. 
 

Ambika Natarajan

Ambika Natarajan 21C

COP25 Alumna
Ambika Natarajan 21C completed her Emory degree in Chemistry (B.S.) and Global Development Studies. Through the Emory Climate Talks Program, Ambika was able to attend COP25 in Madrid, Spain, during which she followed the negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. She conducted research under the supervision of Dr. Craig L. Hill on the development of potential water oxidation catalysts to assist the sunlight-driven production of hydrogen fuel.

Outside of the lab, Ambika worked on projects related to hospital waste management and urban gardening in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals through the Emory Global Health Institute and RCE Greater Atlanta, respectively. She looks forward to interning with Brookhaven National Lab post-graduation.  

Bianca Patel

Bianca Patel 20G

COP25 Alumna
I graduated with a Master’s in Development Practice from the Laney Graduate School in 2020 and currently work at Stanford University in energy and climate education. My primary interest in graduate school focused on climate adaptation and community-led movements in the Global South.

Given the focus of COP25 on gender, I had the opportunity to dive deeper into its role of social change while engaging with BIPOC activists from around the world. I also presented my research on mapping social assets in informal settlements to mobilize climate adaptation solutions. The integrated vision of COP25 reinforced the need to close the gap between high-level policy and community movements to address climate change equitably, which continues to inform my perspective today.

Meet the Program Director
Eri Saikawa, PhD

Eri Saikawa, PhD

Director of Emory Climate Hub & Faculty Advisor
Eri Saikawa, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University and the Director of Emory Climate Hub. Professor Saikawa's research is diverse covering areas of atmospheric chemistry, environmental health, biogeochemistry, climate science, environmental policy/politics. In addition to her work with Emory Climate Hub, she also serves as a Co-Director of the Resilience and Sustainability Collaboratory.