Evelyn Wang's MIT Climate Energy Strategy: Orchestrating a Moonshot Factory

Is the world's premier technical institution ready to solve the climate crisis? At MIT, the answer lies in a unified strategic front. Following her tenure at ARPA-E, Evelyn Wang returned to campus in 2025 as the inaugural Vice President for Energy and Climate, tasking herself with transforming academic research into scalable, real-world impact.

Evelyn Wang's MIT Climate Energy Strategy: A Holistic Shift

Wang's approach is defined by the strategic coupling of two inseparable challenges: energy demand and climate impact. She contends that 'zero-emissions' alone won't suffice; the focus must shift to data-driven efficiency and resilient community well-being. This is particularly urgent as AI infrastructure drives unprecedented energy needs. Wang suggests that while AI consumes power, its ability to stabilize fusion plasma and optimize intermittent power grids is essential for a sustainable transition.

The numbers backing her vision are significant. Her previous research led to a nanophotonic device that could double solar cell efficiency and a water-harvesting system capable of operating at 20% humidity. To foster such breakthroughs across disciplines, the MIT Climate Project is now awarding grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for collaborative faculty teams, moving away from the traditional 'siloed' research model.

Navigating a Turbulent Funding Landscape

The initiative faces a daunting political climate. Reports indicate that the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget was slashed from over $9 billion to just over $4 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. Furthermore, STEM grant funding dropped 80% below its 10-year average in early 2025. Despite these cuts, Wang remains focused on long-term solutions, seeking common ground in national security and economic competitiveness through innovations in geothermal and nuclear energy.