Student Activities

  • UConn@COP - Application Open

    Please encourage your students to apply to UConn@COP:

     

    Each year, the UN Conference of the Parties (COP) (to the UNFCCC) holds its official Climate Change Conference in a different host city around the world.  The event brings together diplomats, business executives, heads of government, university leaders, environmental activists, NGO's and other delegates to discuss progress in dealing with climate change.

    UConn began sending students and faculty to attend the conference in 2015, the year of COP21, which culminated with the landmark Paris Agreement. UConn students and faculty have attended COP each year  since, and in doing so have gained a unique perspective on the global effort to combat climate change and promote climate justice.

    Through this program, UConn students have participated on panels at international press conferences, networked with global NGO's, environmentally-minded businesses & renewable energy companies, engaged in immersive art exhibitions, attended film screenings put on by the directors themselves, interacted with international delegates & core members of environmental justice movements, and connected with like-minded, passionate students at other colleges & universities in the U.S. and around the world.

    The UConn@COP Fellowship Program strives to build future leaders in climate science and policy and to promote UConn’s leadership on climate change and sustainability issues through four main pillars:

    1. Student Engagement
    2. Experiential Learning
    3. Interdisciplinary Group Discussion
    4. Cultural Immersion

    Fellowships are awarded by a committee of faculty and staff members appointed by the Deans of each college and the Executive Director of the Institute of the Environment.  The highly competitive application process considers GPA, relative extracurricular involvement, commitment to DEI and environmental justice, and a 700 word essay that speaks to their interest in the program. Upon returning to campus, fellows share their experiences through appearances on campus & through online publications. In order to attract the best & brightest environmental leaders, the cost of the trip, including airfare, lodging, group excursions & conference fees is almost entirely funded by the University & donors. 

     

    Applications to attend COP28 in Dubai this November are due by May 7. Details can be found here: https://sustainability.uconn.edu/uconn-at-cop/

    For more information, contact: Office of Sustainability at sustainability@uconn.edu