I was sad to see the environment and development fields clubbed into one this year as they were the two fields that I was set on. I now have to take environment + development as one field and pick another which means studying a couple of courses at the cost of something that would be more aligned with my academic and career goals. Is there any way around this?

Thank you for the session. I am very happy to join the Fletcher this fall. My only concern for MALD is that since the MALD curriculum looks quite general, I may not be able to focus on environmental policy, which is the area that I’m passionate about. Is there a way to pursue a specialized track on environmental policy through MALD?

Professors are very supportive of petitions if you want to make a field!

Excellent. Thank you so much! I’m interested in climate change adaptation for developing countries and that’s why this combination in particular.

https://fletcher.tufts.edu/academics/courses/fields-study/international-development-environmental-policy

Prof Aker, could you please talk a bit about Hitachi projects (tech oriented Social innovation in field). How students get involved in these projects?

Thank you, Prof. Gallagher! :)

@Siddhartha - I am confident that this can be accommodated.

Thanks very much Prof. Gallagher.

Are there any specific focus on climate smart/affordable housing through this field of study or the research centers at Fletcher?

Thank you for the session! Can anyone speak to the study/research/internship opportunities abroad?

It seems as if majority of this panel works in government, civic organizations, or research. Do any Fletcher alum who study development go into the private sector like consulting? And to other cities outside of Boston?

As someone interested in transitioning from international development within MALD to economics at the doctoral level, what suggestions do you have to make the most out of this field?

@Mikia, we do talk about the building sector in the Climate Change Policy course, but it’s a fairly light touch treatment. You can also cross-register into the Urban and Environmental Policy program and I believe they have courses on housing: https://as.tufts.edu/uep/

For someone with very little knowledge of economics does it make more sense to study up before I get to fletcher and then take the Econ equivalence exam or to take the intro to economics course at Fletcher to make sure my basics are thorough but possibly at the cost of a course more related to my field of interest

@Mikia, I see a course on Housing Policy, Public Health and the Built Environment, Green Urban Design. . . and more

How strongly does development in general and the development courses at Fletcher overlap with climate resilience and adaptation?

@Connor, International opportunities have been constrained with the pandemic-but here’s a description of the exchange programs

Thank you Dean Gallagher. This is great to know. Have students cross registered at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in the past? Are there opportunities to do so?

And will just add, lots of people have secured international internships

@Mikia, you can cross register into any graduate school at Harvard

Thank you.

Has there been any Fletcher graduates who have taken an entrepreneurial trek in the energy and environment space?

Thank you so much!

@Connor, normally *most* students go overseas during their summer between the first and second years either to do research, an internship, or language study. Students also like to do “treks” during the spring break.

Obviously, travel has been restricted due to COVID, but it’s already loosening.

These are fantastic suggestions! Thank you Claire.

Thanks Professor Gallagher!

@Mikia, yes, we have quite a few students who have gone into clean tech or become entrepreneurs themselves. About a third of our graduates are going into private sector. Here is a great website that illustrates some of the careers with actual examples: https://sites.tufts.edu/cierp/alumni-careers/

I am transitioning to the clean energy sector from my prior experience in the Education sector. I am keen to use my Dual Degree in MBA and MALD to deploy financing for clean energy transitions in developed markets.-- Do you advise picking any one energy source? and market?-- What finance-based skill electives would you recommend - like project financing, risk management etc.?Please let me know if I could connect to any alumni who have made similar career transitions.

@Mikia @Eleanor, re private sector I have at least 5 close friends & fletcher classmates who went into clean tech/clean energy investing. MIB degree and even just taking MIB courses as a MALD are top notch (I did International Business Relations as a 3rd field). Prof Jacque's finance and international finance classes were some of the best courses I've ever taken

The new professor of adaptation is Erin Coughlan de Perez @ Friedman

Thank you so much Dean Gallagher and Claire

Yes, thank you very much! Appreciate the insight.

Thank you Prof Gallagher and Prof Aker for sharing your recommendations! Really looking forward to start soon!

Here is the CIERP events list: https://sites.tufts.edu/cierp/events/

For events like the one with Dr. Goodall, are there opportunities for students to virtually (or in future, in person) do small-group meetings with the speaker before/after?

Most of us bring in guest speakers in our classes as appropriate to help introduce different perspectives as well as practitioners real-world experiences

Emily, yes! In fact you can sign up for the Jane Goodall event virtually.

She is doing a private event with some current students

I am, thanks! :) She’s my hero.

Me too!

We have a fiercely loyal alumni

Thank you very much for your time. Great insighsts

Thank you all!

Thank you so much! Cleared up a lot for me.

Thank you so much! This has been great!

Thanks!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences!

Thank you so much everyone!

Thank you, all!

Thank you so much. This has been great.

thank you all! great to meet you!

Thanks to all, great session!

Thank you so much!

Thank you all.