Clean Technology Innovation: Creating Corporate Relationships to Strengthen the Clean Tech Sector Juliette L. Chevallier ’14, Applied Mathematics Advisor: Jonathan E. Tannenhauser, Mathematics Clean technology is striving to help people live more sustainable lives without sacrificing their modern comforts. Even though more people are trying to be more sustainable, the clean technology sector has been suffering. After large investments in clean tech have failed dramatically, many new innovations are not receiving the support they need to thrive. I spent this past summer at a startup called Cleantech Group that seeks to connect start-ups, corporations, and investors and help facilitate more growth in clean technology markets. As an intern, I worked within the research team to understand the companies that are developing, adopting, and investing in clean tech innovations. In particular, I analyzed and wrote about business models, commercial relationships, products, and technologies, mainly focusing on start-ups and multinational corporations. This internship provided me the unique opportunity to build knowledge of and insight into the exciting world of clean technology by making important contributions to Cleantech Group’s research and analysis.
Studying Across the Pond: Reflections on Higher Education (Panel) SCI 268 Morgan G. Johnstonbaugh ’14, Economics and Sociology; Cristina L. Ferlauto ’14, Economics; and Anastasia T. Hou ’14, Economics Advisor: Jennifer Thomas-Starck, International Studies Many students enter college knowing they want to study internationally at some point, and most cite experiencing a new culture as their primary reason. What many students don’t consider is the way a different educational system and academic environment will affect them. Fresh from a year at
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the London School of Economics (LSE), we will discuss the differences in teaching and learning in U.K. and U.S. higher edcuation (specifically differences between LSE and Wellesley), and the challenges inherent in adapting from one educational system to another. In addition to introducing them to institutional differences in education systems, studying at LSE immerses students in an academically and culturally diverse environment, encouraging them to adapt and eventually thrive in diversity. Cultural diversity is apparent through the international student body at LSE, which gave us the opportunity to interact with, debate, and learn from peers of different nationalities, ethnicities, and religions. We will also discuss how this immersion influenced our perspective on problem solving, debate, and tolerance.
Unlikely Partners?: Liberal Arts and the Business World SCI 256 Public-Private Partnerships for Health and Education Prerana Nanda ’14, Economics and Crystal S. Myung ’14, Spanish and Political Science Advisor: Joseph P. Joyce, Economics Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly being recognized and implemented as a means of expanding access and increasing quality of services across a multitude of sectors. Our summer internship at the International Finance Corporation in Washington exposed us to the ways in which PPPs are designed, implemented, and financed to coordinate private and public sector objectives in developing nations. In our presentation we will provide an introduction to PPPs as a project framework to maximize the efficiency and impact of development work at the grassroots and local levels. We will focus specifically on the challenges, constraints, and advantages of PPPs in the areas of health and education.
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Bridging the Gap Between a Liberal Arts Education and the Business World Brittany V. Mscisz ’14, Environmental Studies and Economics Advisor: Pinar Keskin, Economics I, like other Wellesley students, find myself wondering how to apply my liberal arts education beyond school. We are great at thinking about issues, but businesspeople must know how to take those ideas and present them while having data and analysis to back up their position. Using my educational and athletic experiences from Wellesley, I participated in a business “boot camp” this summer with the Fullbridge Program. I found I was able to make many more connections between my background and that of a business professional. Throughout this course, I attained valuable hard and soft business skills while also applying the skills I had already developed to have an impact. To wrap up the program, we had to complete a buy/build company analysis and present recommendations to the CEO and industry professionals. Throughout this program, I really came to understand how liberal arts degrees are valuable in the business world.
10:25–10:45am Break Refresments will be served in the Leonie Faroll Focus, Science Center.