Rice Sustainability Institute and IIT Madras Collaborate as Part of Rice Global India
This week, the Rice Sustainability Institute advanced its mission to foster global collaboration by connecting with the IIT Madras School of Sustainability in Chennai, India. This visit, part of the larger Rice Global India initiative—Rice University’s strategic expansion in India—highlighted the university's commitment to building lasting partnerships across disciplines and borders.
As part of Rice Global India, a bold initiative launched earlier this year to expand Rice University’s presence and influence in India, this meeting was a key step toward strengthening connections with leading institutions in the region. Rice Global India focuses on research collaborations, academic exchanges, and addressing global challenges like sustainability, energy transitions, and climate resilience.
RSI Director Carrie Masiello and Rice leaders – including Tom Killian, Luay Nakleh, and Aditya Mohite – met with the director and staff of IIT Madras’ School of Sustainability to explore areas of synergy and discuss opportunities for future collaboration. Tom Killian and RSI Director Carrie Masiello joined their IIT Madras colleagues for a group photo that captures the spirit of this promising partnership.
The individuals pictured represent an impressive array of expertise:
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Charuta Kulkarni (IIT Madras)
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Vishakna Shankar (IIT Madras)
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Tom Killian (Rice University)
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Carrie Masiello (Rice University)
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Rajnish Kumar, Director, School of Sustainability, IIT Madras
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V. Parthiban, Head of the Energy Consortium, IIT Madras
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The meeting provided an excellent platform for exchanging ideas and identifying shared priorities in global sustainability research and education. These discussions are part of Rice University’s broader efforts to cultivate partnerships that address pressing global challenges and create transformative impacts.
“Rice Global India and collaborations like this help expand our global footprint while addressing issues that affect us all,” said Carrie Masiello, RSI Director. “We’re inspired by the expertise and dedication of our IIT Madras colleagues and look forward to future joint initiatives.”
For more information on Rice University’s expansion in India, read the Rice Global India initiative here: Rice Global India Strategic Expansion.
We at the Rice Sustainability Institute are excited to continue this dialogue and build on the foundation of shared goals established during this visit!