International students bring global perspective to climate policy class
By: Emily Brelage
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: News
An outside donation funded the trip, and over 190 delegates and leaders from over 40 countries are expected to attend Dec. 7-18.
Freshman Sumeru Chatterjee from Kolkata, India has been closely following the Indian viewpoint going into the Copenhagen conference. Because of his research in class, he said he is interested to see what chips his home country will lay on the table during the summit.
"I'm excited to see how 190 countries, all with different interests, try to hammer out a climate deal on a global scale," Chatterjee said.
Pucong Han hopes that his time in Denmark will give him a better understanding of climate change negotiations, especially energy delegation between the United States and China.
"The information I get online and in books is not enough to get a whole picture of the issue," Han said. "In Copenhagen, I want to hear what international officials have to say about energy policy and report it on my blog. The conference is a front door for more information about international relations."
Myat Thu Hlaing received a scholarship through the Dutch government to both the conference and its youth conference, a forum for students to voice their concerns as direct victims of current climate change. Myat Thu Hlaing said she expects to be the only youth representative from Myanmar and wants to bring international attention to her country's disposition.
"The government lacks attention [to climate change] in Myanmar," Myat Thu Hlaing said. "I'm active in youth organizations in my country, and from the conference in Copenhagen I want to share my education with others."
Apart from serving as an appropriate capstone for the class, Kauffman said she expects the summit to provide students with insight that they can translate and connect with other students both at DePauw and in cyberspace.
"The goal is for [students] to cover events via blogs, podcasts and news articles ... in ways that make the proceedings interesting and understandable to youth around the world," Kauffman said.
This is the first year the university has offered the international climate policy class, which was specially tailored to the curriculum this summer to prepare students academically for the U.N. conference in Copenhagen.
Kauffman said she commends DePauw for acknowledging the necessity and relevance of courses like this one, which call sfor students to act as informed advocates for change.
"I don't think there is a college or university in the country that provides more exciting opportunities for students who not only want to learn about environmental policy at the local, state, national and international levels, but also contribute to it," Kauffman said.
Freshman Sumeru Chatterjee from Kolkata, India has been closely following the Indian viewpoint going into the Copenhagen conference. Because of his research in class, he said he is interested to see what chips his home country will lay on the table during the summit.
"I'm excited to see how 190 countries, all with different interests, try to hammer out a climate deal on a global scale," Chatterjee said.
Pucong Han hopes that his time in Denmark will give him a better understanding of climate change negotiations, especially energy delegation between the United States and China.
"The information I get online and in books is not enough to get a whole picture of the issue," Han said. "In Copenhagen, I want to hear what international officials have to say about energy policy and report it on my blog. The conference is a front door for more information about international relations."
Myat Thu Hlaing received a scholarship through the Dutch government to both the conference and its youth conference, a forum for students to voice their concerns as direct victims of current climate change. Myat Thu Hlaing said she expects to be the only youth representative from Myanmar and wants to bring international attention to her country's disposition.
"The government lacks attention [to climate change] in Myanmar," Myat Thu Hlaing said. "I'm active in youth organizations in my country, and from the conference in Copenhagen I want to share my education with others."
Apart from serving as an appropriate capstone for the class, Kauffman said she expects the summit to provide students with insight that they can translate and connect with other students both at DePauw and in cyberspace.
"The goal is for [students] to cover events via blogs, podcasts and news articles ... in ways that make the proceedings interesting and understandable to youth around the world," Kauffman said.
This is the first year the university has offered the international climate policy class, which was specially tailored to the curriculum this summer to prepare students academically for the U.N. conference in Copenhagen.
Kauffman said she commends DePauw for acknowledging the necessity and relevance of courses like this one, which call sfor students to act as informed advocates for change.
"I don't think there is a college or university in the country that provides more exciting opportunities for students who not only want to learn about environmental policy at the local, state, national and international levels, but also contribute to it," Kauffman said.
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