UConn@COP is a competitive fellowship program that sends students to the international climate-focused United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP). The event brings together students, diplomats, government officials, activists, leaders, and delegates to discuss climate change. Students have the opportunity to engage and attend sessions that discuss ongoing negotiations in the global environmental sphere.

Twelve UConn students were selected to attend COP31 this November in Antalya, Turkey. The Office of Sustainability received approximately 60 applications for the fellowship, all of which were exceptional. The UConn@COP Selection Committee, consisting of faculty, staff, and past UConn COP fellows reviewed each application, and collaboratively decided who would be accepted into this year’s cohort. Betsy Mortensen, Experiential Learning Programs Manager for the Office of Sustainability, and member of the COP Selection Committee shared her thoughts on this year’s applicants, “As always, the selection committee was super impressed by the students who applied, and by the diversity of the majors that were represented. Climate change affects all sectors so we’re glad that we can bring students from diverse fields to COP31.” The COP Fellowship is grateful to have engaged with so many driven students.  

Students will attend COP 31 from November 13th to November 21st, 2026. They will bring back the experience of a lifetime and educate their peers about their learnings both while they are at the conference as well as back on campus. One of the fellows, Judith Otunnu ‘27 (CLAS) shared, “I hope to strengthen my understanding of how environmental justice issues manifest on a global scale and learn from diverse perspectives that will inform my work as an environmental scientist after graduation.”   

The following students will be attending this year’s conference: 

1. Samantha Glass, Ph.D. Candidate in Oceanography
2. Megan Romansky, M.S. Candidate in Applied and Resource Economics
3. Faryal Akbar ’27 (CLAS)
4. Brenny Alcantara ’27 (CLAS)
5. Amelia Chien ’28 (CAHNR)
6. Ryan Engels ’27 (CLAS, SPP)
7. Agatha Freitas ’28 (CLAS)
8. Paige Gregory ’28 (CLAS)
9. Amber Hwang ’27 (CLAS)
10. Judith Otunnu ’27 (CLAS)
11. Kinga Sigmond ’29 (CLAS)
12. Suhitha Sreedhar ’27 (BUS)

Check out our Fellows page to learn more about each student.

Thanks to generous donations, students are able to attend the trip with nearly all expenses paid by the UConn@COP program. Special thank you to the UConn School of Business for supporting the travel costs of Suhitha Sreedhar and Ryan Engels this year.

Meet the fellows and learn about their experience at the conference at the Climate Change Cafe on December 2nd, 2026 at the Student Union, Room 304 from 4-6 PM. Refreshments will be provided.