IIT Delhi and The Rockefeller Foundation to Establish the Chair for Climate Sciences and Technology

New Delhi, India | January 29, 2024 ― The Rockefeller Foundation announced a grant to the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) that will establish the Climate Sciences and Technology Chair at the country’s premier technology institute. With the aim of supporting the growing interest in climate technology interventions, this collaboration will provide resources to experts, researchers, and students to shape future climate policy action. The Rockefeller Foundation Chair for Climate Sciences and Technology will also enable further innovation and increase participation to address the prevalent and looming climate challenges.

Over the course of the five-year grant, IIT-D will elect an academic with noteworthy contributions in the area of climate sciences and technology to expand the existing talent pool in this field from the Global South. Along with the Chair, IIT-D, across the five years, will hold two climate-centric convenings bringing together experts from the Global South to discuss the latest advances in 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 21^st 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.”

By promoting scientific action towards climate action, this collaboration aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation’s recently announced $1 billion USD climate strategy.

“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, 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.”

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.

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 http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.