CMU Students Shine at the MIT Energy and Climate Hack 2024
By Aditi Iyer & Harsh Vaibhav
From November 15th-18th, 2024, 23 students from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) participated in the prestigious MIT Energy and Climate Hack in Boston. Representing a diverse array of academic backgrounds, the group comprised students from the Energy Science, Technology, and Policy (EST&P) program, as well as MBA students from Tepper School of Business, MIIPS students from Integrated Innovation Institute, and students from Carnegie Mellon Architecture. This remarkable participation was made possible through generous sponsorships from the EST&P program, the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.
The event attracted support from eight renowned sponsors, including Avangrid, SES AI, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, First Solar, Ironwood Forestry, Palmetto, Planet Forward, and Galy Co. These sponsors provided problem statements for teams to solve, and CMU students strategically split into groups to leverage their unique strengths. The dynamic environment fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, with teams tackling challenges at the intersection of energy, policy, and technology.
Among the CMU teams, “Load Bearing Quiddity” consisting of ESTP Students Aarush Dave, Nick Cooper, Pracheth Dasika and Sana Shetty stood out, advancing to the finals by excelling in the problem statement provided by Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Their task: to design solutions for making nuclear fusion accessible to people across diverse academic, non-academic, age, and professional sectors. The team’s innovative approach, rooted in a profound understanding of fusion systems and the surrounding policy framework, captured the attention of judges and the audience alike.
Reflecting on the achievement, Aarush, a member of the finalist team, shared, “This whole experience was great, but my favorite part was when they called our name in the final round. Presenting our solution to over 200 people in the auditorium was exhilarating. Competing with top students from leading universities pushed us to innovate and deliver a solution we were proud of.”
The hackathon proved to be a challenging yet rewarding experience for all participants. Anthony, an EST&P student from the Class of 2025, described the weekend as “particularly challenging but very mentally stimulating and interesting. We learned so much about one topic in 36 hours and applied skills we’ve been developing to propose impactful solutions.”
The event not only sharpened their problem-solving abilities but also fostered camaraderie among the students. Beyond the hackathon, participants enjoyed exploring Boston, reflecting on a transformative weekend filled with learning, collaboration, and innovation.
The participation of CMU students at the MIT Energy and Climate Hack is a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary solutions for global challenges. With the support of CMU’s academic and administrative bodies, the students left a lasting impression on the event, embodying the innovation and collaborative spirit that define Carnegie Mellon University.