CCEE Ph.D. student Henry Ssembatya chosen for 2023 KIETS Climate Leaders Program

CCEE Ph.D. student Henry Ssembatya was selected to join the 2023 The Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science (KIETS) Climate Leaders Program. The program is designed to build strong partnerships among students, faculty mentors, and internship hosts while working together to develop solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts. 

Ssembatya said he feels thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program.

“I look forward to learning a lot and have an interest in understanding the different solutions to mitigating climate change — from initiatives on a small community scale to those on a national policy level. As an engineering student, I’d like to learn how to synergize my research with other cohort mates in other disciplines, to come up with more holistic solutions that are tenable.”

Henry Ssembatya

Ssembatya, who is advised by Dr. Jordan Kern from the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources in the College of Natural Resources, will be working with Kern to address the impact of climate change on future electricity demand patterns. They will research different pathways to decarbonization of sectors of the economy and the impact on reliability of the electricity grid.

As part of the program, Ssembatya will also attend the Climate Leaders Academy in May, a symposium in the fall, and monthly meetings with different experts, the public and other stakeholders on climate issues.

“I intend to listen to different perspectives and broaden my knowledge on different ways of tackling climate change, including getting insights from policymakers, scientists and the community,” Ssembatya said.