The Salata Institute’s Climate Collaboration Grant (CCG) Program supports student-led, climate-focused projects that drive innovation and impact. This year, the Institute is funding five new initiatives designed to bring students together across disciplines and campuses, fostering conversations, generating ideas, and taking on pressing climate and sustainability challenges.

The program also aims to connect student groups with shared interests in climate change, encouraging collaboration that enriches learning and contributes to Harvard’s mission to address the global climate crisis. This year’s projects will spotlight key topics, including green tech and artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable food systems, Indigenous connections to land, the intersection of climate with the humanities and the social sciences, and socially-just climate solutions.

Discover more about the student groups leading these efforts and the exciting projects they are undertaking below.

Climate Catalyst Pitch Competition

The Harvard Society of Black Scientists and Engineers (HSBSE) and the Harvard Undergraduate Clean Energy Group (HUCEG) are organizing the inaugural Climate Catalyst Pitch Competition, an event designed to empower Black-identifying students to develop innovative climate solutions that addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on Black communities.

Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized, low-income communities and communities of color, underscoring the importance of justice and equity in crafting effective solutions. Driven by a desire for concrete engagement with environmental justice challenges and a connection to local Black environmentalists and practitioners, students developed this unique pitch competition.

Scheduled for February 2025, the one-day event will feature prominent speakers from the climate and energy sectors whose work embodies environmental justice values. Participants will collaborate in teams, guided by mentors, to ideate, strategize, and present solutions to a climate justice challenge within six hours. Beyond fostering creativity and teamwork, the competition aims to expand students’ networks, linking them to experts and advocates in the environmental justice space.

2025 Food4Thought Festival

The 2025 Food4Thought Festival, now in its third year, will bring together students, researchers, and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions for sustainable food systems. Organized by five Harvard student groups—the Council of Student Sustainability Leaders, Harvard Undergraduate Plant-Based Society, HBS Food & Agriculture Club, HBS Business of Animal Protection Club, and Harvard Extension School Sustainability Student Club—the event builds on last year’s successful event, which drew nearly 400 attendees from five continents.

This year’s festival aims to expand its reach, hosting more than 500 participants. Highlights will include more than ten speaker panels, an Idea Lab for sustainable entrepreneurship, and a Research Incubator showcasing groundbreaking student research. Attendees will tackle issues, such as greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation linked to food production.

By fostering connections across disciplines and geographies, the Food4Thought Festival cultivates a vibrant community dedicated to driving change.

Green AI Summit: Advancing Sustainable Development through Innovation

The Green AI Summit, planned for April 2025 at Harvard University, will bring together global leaders, academics, and industry professionals to explore the transformative potential of AI in driving sustainability. Organized through collaborations among the Harvard Cycling Club, Harvard Undergraduate AI and Sustainability Group, Harvard Extension School Sustainability Student Club, and the Harvard Climate Leaders Program, the summit will delve into how computational advancements can foster environmental protection, energy transformation, and sustainable practices.

The event’s distinguished lineup of speakers will address the environmental impacts of AI, sustainable computing, green technologies, and strategies for mitigating climate change. Highlights include groundbreaking innovations, such as energy-efficient computing by the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, photosynthetic microprocessors by ARM, and recyclable circuit boards by Jiva Material.

Designed to inspire the next generation of leaders, the summit offers Harvard students an unparalleled opportunity to engage with experts, explore cutting-edge solutions, and gain critical knowledge to address the intersection of AI and global environmental challenges in an increasingly data-driven world.

Early Graduate Eco-Engagement: Exploring Climate through Humanities and Social Thought

The Early Graduate Eco-Engagement (EGEE) initiative seeks to bring the Humanities and Social Sciences into the forefront of climate, energy, and environmental studies at Harvard University. Addressing the underrepresentation of non-STEM graduate students in climate-focused research, this project will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement. Co-organized by the GSAS Global Environments Working Group and the GSAS Early Science Working Group, the initiative will host monthly gatherings to explore themes, such as human change, political innovation, and energy transitions, connecting students across diverse fields.

EGEE has three core objectives: to develop interdisciplinary climate projects that bridge the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and other schools; encourage peer-to-peer learning beyond traditional academic silos; and integrate humanistic and social scientific expertise into Harvard’s climate initiatives. By connecting participants with the Salata Institute’s extensive network, the initiative aims to build a stronger research community, propose actionable projects, and create innovative frameworks for cross-school collaboration, reinforcing the Humanities’ critical role in addressing climate challenges.

Harvard Divinity School Garden Food Sustainability and Native Ceremony Space

The Harvard Divinity School (HDS) Garden project, a collaboration between the Phillips Brooks House Association Environmental Action Committee and the HDS Gardening Group, seeks to rejuvenate the HDS community garden as a hub for food sustainability, cultural exchange, and community building.

Building on the Three Sisters Project—a program that involved local Indigenous tribes to cultivate traditional Native crops, such as corn, beans, and squash—the initiative will use Salata Institute funding to revitalize the garden. Plans include restoring the space, ensuring year-round maintenance, and hosting educational workshops on Native land practices led by tribal leaders. The project will also engage local schoolchildren, community members, and Harvard students in learning about sustainable agriculture and Native traditions.

By fostering connections between HDS students, local Native communities, and Harvard’s broader network, the garden will become a sacred space for Native ceremonies, seed blessings, and harvest celebrations. This initiative aims to create a culturally inclusive, sustainable resource that advances food equity and promotes traditional ecological knowledge for years to come.