Energy Explained
Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.
Saudi Arabia’s Renewable Energy Initiatives and Their Geopolitical Implications
Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant economic transformation under its Vision 2030 plan to reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenues by diversifying its economy. The Saudi government’s...
Podcasts
Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
How to Make the Energy Transition More Equitable
Emerging markets and developing economies are set to account for the largest source of emissions growth in the coming decades, according to the International Energy Agency. As population...
Events
Find out more about our upcoming and past events.
November 12, 2024
• 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
est
Financing the Energy Transition
Women in Energy and the Columbia Energy Association invite you to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of energy finance.
Event
• Wang Pavilion, Lerner Hall
October 30, 2024
Daniela Bushiri, a chemical engineer pursuing her PhD at Columbia University, is on a mission to drive sustainable solutions in our evolving energy landscape. With a background in STEM research, Bushiri said her participation in the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows program has been a key part of her development and ambition to become a leader in energy, focused on leveraging her technical skills to address energy access and infrastructure needs.
Her journey in energy started when after receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, she worked as an intern at several oil and gas companies. Witnessing the environmental impact of traditional energy sources motivated Bushiri to shift her focus toward clean energy solutions.
Now at Columbia, her research focuses on green hydrogen production, where she develops robust electrocatalysts that can survive harsh environments, such as seawater, as highlighted in her recent publication on selective oxygen evolution — guided by her advisors, Dr. Daniel Esposito and Dr. Jingguang Chen. This is crucial for advancing hydrogen as a reliable clean energy source, making it more accessible and effective in reducing carbon emissions globally. Her goal is to contribute to innovative technologies that can help solve global energy challenges.
The Global Energy Fellows program, Bushiri said, has significantly shaped her understanding of the crucial link between technology and policy. “Without policy, technology doesn’t reach the people who need it,” she said.
The program has offered her opportunities to engage with key thought leaders, including Jason Bordoff, CGEP Founding Director, and Dr. Tony Reames, CGEP Visiting Faculty and Director of the SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan, in monthly lunch discussions about pressing energy issues. This exposure has given her a well-rounded perspective on topics like equitable energy access and the role of policy in emerging markets, all while strengthening her ability to navigate the complexities of energy and climate solutions.
Daniela Bushiri and the 2024 Global Energy Fellows at the welcome reception in March 2024.
A standout aspect of the program for Bushiri has been the emphasis on communication and professional growth. “I’ve learned how to approach conversations about energy with a more holistic view of how policy influences technological deployment,” she said.
Networking has also played an important role in her career growth. Through the fellowship, she connected with the Africa Finance Corporation, which invests heavily in energy infrastructure in Africa. “I met the President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, at CGEP’s Global Energy Summit,” she said, “and through my engagement with him and his team, I’ve been able to learn how energy investments take place in Africa and other emerging markets.”
One of the highlights of her fellowship was the summer internship, which is supported by the fellows program. Bushiri worked with the NGO Groupe Utalii Kwaetu (GUK) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on sustainable energy access solutions in off-grid communities. Her work, which centered on a feasibility study for hydroelectric mini-grids in a rural village in eastern Congo, helped strengthen her interest in addressing Africa’s energy crisis.
Looking ahead, Bushiri sees diversity as a critical component of the future of energy leadership. She emphasizes the importance of women’s voices in shaping cleaner energy solutions, especially in Africa. “Women have the power to shift the narrative in energy policy,” she said, underscoring the need for greater representation in the field.
Bushiri has also served as a moderator for several Women In Energy events, highlighting her commitment to empowering women in the energy sector.
Bushiri moderates a Women In Energy panel in “Careers in the Energy Transition” in November 2023.
For Bushiri, the Global Energy Fellows program has her with the skills, network, and perspective to make a meaningful impact in the energy transition.
Find more information and apply for the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows program by November 7, 2024, here.
Relevant
Publications
India’s Ambitious Green Steel Plan Hinges on Mitigating Coal
Amid plans to nearly double its steel production capacity by 2030 to serve its growing infrastructure needs, the world’s No. 2 steel producer India[1] has released plans to...
How the Next US President Could Shape Energy and Climate Policy
November’s election for president of the United States will have crucial implications for the nation’s and world’s energy and climate policies.
Blog
by Jason Bordoff, Karen E. Young, Erica Downs, Shayak Sengupta, Gautam Jain, Robert (RJ) Johnston, Ira Joseph, Luisa Palacios, Diego Rivera Rivota, Jonathan Elkind, Anne-Sophie Corbeau & Noah Kaufman • October 15, 2024
