Namita Gupta is a second-year MPA student at the London School of Economics. She was accepted into the Growth Lab's 2023 Summer Internship Program and contributed to the Pathways to Prosperity project, which touches upon the numerous challenges and opportunities facing Wyoming and western states.
Why did you apply to the Growth Lab Summer Internship?
I applied specifically to the Energy workstream within the Wyoming project at the Growth Lab, because my interest in the climate change and just transition domain aligned well with the internship's focus. I was fascinated by the opportunity to work on an issue as complex and challenging as the energy transition for a coal-dependent state like Wyoming. Crucially, I was drawn to the commitment of the Lab to applied research and policymaking grounded in evidence and data.
My internship was based out of the towns of Casper and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The focus of my internship was understanding and addressing the complexities of Wyoming's energy economy in the context of global decarbonization efforts. I collaborated with government counterparts, including the Strategy Officer at the Wyoming Business Council and the Director of the Wyoming Energy Authority. I also consulted with other state agencies, academic experts and private sector counterparts such as electric utilities, to gauge the different perspectives and challenges. I helped develop an “opportunity scan framework” and a knowledge repository to shed light on the market and regulatory uncertainties in the emerging energy technologies, to help guide the decision-making process in this evolving landscape.
In what ways were you challenged?
The internship presented challenges that were both intellectually stimulating and professionally enriching. It was interesting to take a challenge as broad-based as the energy transition and break it up into more comprehensible and actionable research areas. I had to navigate the technical intricacies of various energy technologies, including nuclear, carbon capture, and wind energy; the market dynamics, and regulatory landscapes. Maintaining a balance between diving deep into specific technical areas without losing sight of the big-picture overview was a constant challenge. I was also challenged at a personal level. Having lived all my life in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and London, the life of a relatively small town in Wyoming was very new to me. Over the ten weeks, I grew to appreciate the calmness of life in Wyoming and particularly grew to love the easy access to so many beautiful mountains, lakes and waterfalls!
What was your most exciting/surprising experience?
One of the most exciting experiences during my internship was the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including government and private-sector representatives. Their insights and perspectives added depth to my research and expanded my network. It was both frustrating and exciting to understand that some of the questions we encountered had no easy answers, emphasizing the complexity of the issues we were addressing. I also went solo hiking a lot (including a visit to the Yellowstone National Park), which made for some exceptional highlights of the summer!
What advice would you give to future interns?
I would advise future interns to proactively seek clarity on the project's context and their role and develop a foundational understanding early on, in order to maximise the opportunity. Embrace the complexity and uncertainty of the work, as it's a valuable learning experience. Lastly, try to maximise engagement with a variety of stakeholders, as their insights can greatly enrich the research. And make the most of exploring your internship location!
What’s next for you?
I am keen on continuing my career in the climate change domain with organizations that prioritize applied research and government advisory with an academic rigor. I aim to work towards a ‘just transition,’ to ensure that marginalised communities are not adversely affected by the push towards decarbonisation.