Reintroducing the Sustainability Dialogue’s Mission
The UChicago Sustainability Dialogue is a student-led platform that seeks to connect global sustainability challenges and spotlights to our everyday lives and local community. Our tone is informal but informed, grounded in student voices. We want our readers to feel part of a conversation, not just an audience for reports.
We believe that climate change is one of the biggest issues facing the world right now, and our writers are interested in the ways that policy, business, and scientific innovation can help us build a more sustainable future. Beyond sharing news about relevant issues, we are a space for students to think critically, talk openly, and take action on sustainability topics that interest them.
We want students and staff to not only read but also:
- Think deeply about sustainability’s role in their lives and work.
- Discuss issues with peers, in classrooms, and beyond.
- Act by joining campus initiatives, innovating solutions, or changing behaviors.
Our New Leadership Team
Two recent alumni, Emmanuel Mayani (MPP, ’25) and Paul Salach (MBA, ’25) launched the UChicago Sustainability Dialogue in 2024 after serving as student delegates to COP29 in Azerbaijan. They wanted to keep the conversation on climate issues and innovation going after the conference, and created the Dialogue as a space to expand the conversation to students across the different divisions of the University.
We are proud to introduce our new leadership team for the 2025-2026 school year, which is made up of students across various university divisions. In addition to the board, we have a rotating crew of writers, thinkers, and advocates from different disciplines and years.
Meet the Leadership Team
Iris Badezet-Delory, Co-Editor-in-Chief (College ’27): Focuses on narrative-driven storytelling that connects ideas to people.
Why is sustainability important to you?
I am interested in sustainability because I like understanding impactful mechanisms like climate change and exploring solutions to them. Through my research in climate science, I’ve seen how a deeper understanding of the physics of the atmosphere can inform how we prepare for and adapt to extreme events that directly affect communities. Climate change has been a global challenge for decades, but there is still so much to do! This is why I believe sustainability must be an essential part of society and a guiding framework for our future, especially because it requires collaboration across disciplines and industries. In my academic and professional interests, I’m especially focused on how climate and sustainability knowledge can be applied towards creating impactful, efficient and affordable solutions
Why did you join the sustainability dialogue?
I first joined UCSD to share what I learned about the energy and climate world at COP29 and through my on-campus involvement with the broader UChicago community. Over time, it’s become much more: I now see it as a space to expand my interests in sustainability and to bring a student’s perspective to complex sustainability challenges. It’s extremely rewarding to see the dialogue grow and continuously explore amazing and interesting topics.
Eliza Beckerman-Lee, Co-Editor-in-Chief (Booth/Harris ’27): Merges business and policy thinking to spotlight actionable innovations.
Why is sustainability important to you?
As a young person in today’s world, I think climate change and rising energy needs are the most critical problems facing our society and my generation, and I want to be part of the solution. I am passionate about building a more sustainable future, and I believe that the greatest climate impacts need to come from a combination of public policy that protects our environment and widespread private sector adoption of clean energy and new technologies that are decarbonizing the energy, mobility, and industrial sectors.
Why did you join the sustainability dialogue?
I joined the Sustainability Dialogue to delve deeper into the climate and energy topics that interest me, and develop a stronger perspective and potential thought leadership in the industries that I hope to pursue after graduation. I also wanted to engage with students across the university who care about similar issues, and learn how everyone’s different academic and professional backgrounds inform their viewpoint on sustainability issues and climate change solutions.
Eugene McCarty, Engagement & Communications Lead (College ’26): Builds community, making every reader feel like a contributor.
Why is sustainability important to you?
I see sustainability not just as a way to conserve our natural resources and respect the planet on which we all live but also a lofty achievement that society is far from reaching. I believe that building a world that embodies sustainability principles in its technology, energy, policy, and day to day life should be a goal we can all collaborate towards. Fostering a space for conversation about sustainability is important, and I want to share the work of the Sustainability Dialogue to as many UChicago community members as possible.
Why did you join the sustainability dialogue?
After I attended COP29 in Azerbaijan, I wanted to continue discussing and exploring sustainability topics, this time on the UChicago campus. Paul and Emmanuel reached out to me about their new newsletter inspired by the conversations we witnessed at COP29, and it turned into the Sustainability Dialogue. I’m glad that I’ve been able to see it grow in such a short time!
Tatjana Washington, Events & Partnerships Coordinator (CEB ’27): Connects our work with clubs, institutes, and student groups for debates, workshops, and networking.
Why is sustainability important to you?
Sustainability is important to me because, through my work in climate modeling and my travels to different parts of the world, I have seen firsthand how the consequences of climate change unfold differently across communities. Experiencing these variations has shown me not only the urgency of the global climate crisis, but also the value of diverse, locally informed approaches to problem-solving.
Why did you join the sustainability dialogue?
I joined the Sustainability Dialogue because I want to become a more effective science communicator and engage with a broader community on pressing environmental issues. This group offers a unique space to practice translating technical research and everyday scientific literature into language that is accessible to people from all backgrounds. By participating, I’m developing skills to make complex information relatable, spark action on sustainability, and learn from others who are also passionate about creating meaningful change.
Looking ahead
We hope to build on this momentum by continuing to publish weekly articles and also hosting in-person events and bringing in speakers across disciplines to engage in more dialogue.
A Glimpse of Our Work
Here are some recent pieces from our leadership team:
- Climate Bipartisanship in a Polarized America: Can Common Ground Be Found? by Iris Badezet-Delory (College ’27): Exploring unlikely alliances in U.S. climate policy drawing on bipartisan bills like the Inflation Reduction Act
- How the Interconnection Queue Backlog Is Slowing Energy Growth by Eliza Beckerman-Lee (Booth/Harris ’27): Unpacking why it takes so long to get new power onto the US electric grid, and how policymakers can speed up interconnection to meet rapidly rising energy demand
- Innovative Decarbonization Research by Eugene McCarty (College ’26): Digging into recent technological breakthroughs driving the future of decarbonization
- Can Midwest EV Innovation Push Forward Despite Funding Cuts? By Tatjana Washington (CEB ’27): A look at how the Midwest’s electric vehicle industry is expanding through state policies and private investment despite federal turnaround
How can you get involved?
- Subscribe here: By subscribing to our weekly Thursday drops (courtesy of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth), you’re not just informed; you’re invited. Pitch an idea? Peer review a draft? Host a reading group? We’re all in.
- Join the Slack
- Become a writer
Our discussion starter: What’s one sustainability win from the past year that gives you hope?