New Delhi, India | October 19 2023 — The Rockefeller Foundation announced a grant to the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) for the Climate Sciences and Technology Chair at the premier technology institute. Through this five-year period grant, IIT-D will elect an academic with noteworthy contributions in the field of climate sciences to expand the existing talent pool in advanced climate sciences from the Global South.
Through this grant, The Rockefeller Foundation intends to support the growing interest in climate technology interventions. The grant will provide resources to experts, researchers, and students to shape future climate policy action. The Rockefeller Foundation Chair for Climate Sciences and Technology will enable further innovation and increase participation to address the looming and prevalent climate challenges.
Along with the Chair, IIT Delhi, across the five years, will hold two climate-centric convenings bringing together experts from the Global South to discuss the latest innovations tackling climate change.
“It is our immense pleasure to be associated with the Rockefeller Foundation to set up a Chair Professorship for Climate Sciences and Technology”, stated Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi. “Climate change will be one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, and IIT Delhi, through its substantial and growing presence in climate science, innovation and policy, is well-placed to help address this enormous challenge. We believe this partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation will play an important role in our efforts within and beyond IIT Delhi to enhance research-driven climate action.”
This collaboration aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation’s recently announced $1 billion USD climate strategy promoting scientific action towards climate action.
“It is time that policy action constituted of evidence backed, innovative and scientific climate research from the Global South”, stated Deepali Khanna, Vice President, Asia Regional Office, The Rockefeller Foundation, announcing the collaboration. “Through this collaboration with IIT Delhi, we hope to enable this voice. The Rockefeller Foundation has always believed in creating equal opportunity for all and with our new climate strategy applicable for the next five years, this is a positive step in the direction. The institution is an excellent ally to further the importance of collective action towards climate change. This grant will serve as a platform for an increasing number of sustainable academia and industry collaborations in the future.”
The Rockefeller Foundation’s climate strategy spanning over five years intends to advance opportunities while reversing the climate crisis.
About IIT Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is one of the 23 IITs created to be Centres of Excellence for training, research and development in science, engineering and technology in India.
Established as College of Engineering in 1961, the Institute was later declared as an Institution of National Importance under the “Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1963” and was renamed as “Indian Institute of Technology Delhi”. It was then accorded the status of a Deemed University with powers to decide its own academic policy, to conduct its own examinations, and to award its own degrees.
Since its inception, over 48000 have graduated from IIT Delhi in various disciplines including Engineering, Physical Sciences, Management and Humanities & Social Sciences. Of these, nearly 5070 received Ph.D. degrees. The number of students who graduated with B.Tech. degree is over 15738. The rest obtained Master’s Degree in Engineering, Sciences and Business Administration. These alumni today work as scientists, technologists, business managers and entrepreneurs. There are several alumni who have moved away from their original disciplines and have taken to administrative services, active politics or are with NGOs. In doing so, they have contributed significantly to building of this nation, and to industrialization around the world.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.
Media Contact
Gurpratap Singh
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