Harvard’s Aditi Bhowmick Wins Mittal Grant for Climate & Gender Research

In a significant stride towards understanding the nuanced impacts of climate change, Harvard economist Aditi Bhowmick has been honored with the inaugural Mittal Institute Faculty Climate Research Grant. Her project, titled “Unveiling Gendered Climate Vulnerability in India: Blending Historical Archives, Satellite, and Census Data,” aims to dissect the intersection of environmental shifts and gendered economic disparities in India.

A Collaborative Endeavor

Bhowmick will co-lead this groundbreaking research alongside Professor Eliana La Ferrara of the Harvard Kennedy School. Their interdisciplinary approach seeks to leverage a diverse array of data sources, including historical records, satellite imagery, and census data, to provide a comprehensive understanding of how climate change disproportionately affects women in India. This collaboration underscores the importance of integrating various academic perspectives to tackle complex global challenges.

About Aditi Bhowmick

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy (Economics Track) at Harvard University, Bhowmick is recognized as a James M. and Cathleen D. Stone PhD Scholar in Inequality and Wealth Concentration. Her academic journey includes a master’s in public administration (economics) from Princeton University and a bachelor’s in economics and political science from Cornell University. Her research interests are deeply rooted in development and labor economics, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of the Mittal Institute’s grant to foster sustainable and equitable policy solutions.

The Mittal Institute Faculty Climate Research Grants

The Mittal Institute’s Faculty Climate Research Grants are designed to support innovative projects across three pivotal domains:

• Energy transition and policy
• Food systems, agriculture, and land use
• Legal and policy frameworks for climate adaptation

By funding such initiatives, the program aims to advance knowledge and propose actionable solutions for climate resilience in South Asia.

Implications of the Research

Bhowmick’s project is poised to shed light on the ways climate change exacerbates existing gender disparities in economic and labor market outcomes. By employing an interdisciplinary methodology, the research aspires to inform policymakers about the urgent need for gender-sensitive climate adaptation strategies. The insights garnered could play a crucial role in shaping policies that ensure equitable resilience against environmental challenges.

Other Awarded Projects

In addition to Bhowmick’s initiative, the Mittal Institute has recognized seven other projects for their potential impact on climate resilience:

• Documenting Women’s Leadership in Climate Resilience Building in Koshi Province, Nepal
• Heat Stress in India: Why is Relative Humidity in Addition to Temperature on the Rise?
• A Systematic Review of Climate Change and Learning: Fostering Climate-Resilient Education through Improved Policymaking
• Optimizing India’s Biofuel Capacity with Green Hydrogen Penetration: A Decarbonization and Emission Reduction Strategy
• Climate Change, Loss and Damage, and Habitability in Nepal
• South Asia’s Role in Shaping a Future Global Climate Policy: The Case of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms
• Music and Rain: Indigenous Climate Stories from South India (a film)

These projects collectively represent a comprehensive effort to address various facets of climate change and its impacts across South Asia.