On January 23, 2026, the Cross-Campus Innovation Exchange | Climate & Energy was held at the Verizon Executive Education Center on Roosevelt Island, bringing together faculty members, researchers, students, investors, and industry professionals from leading institutions and organizations across the Northeast to exchange perspectives on climate- and energy-related innovation. Among the participants, Jiahe Zhang, a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering, presented his ongoing doctoral research on electrochemical systems and interfacial/material engineering for climate and resource-recovery applications. His work, conducted under the supervision of Prof. Wen Zhang, focuses on translating fundamental electrochemical and materials science into scalable technologies relevant to climate mitigation and sustainable resource management.
During the exchange, Jiahe discussed how insights from fundamental studies—particularly at electrochemical interfaces—can inform system-level design and technology deployment. The presentation emphasized the importance of scalability, techno-economic feasibility, and translational thinking when bridging academic research with real-world climate and energy challenges. The Cross-Campus Innovation Exchange provided a valuable platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, allowing participants to engage with researchers, investors, and industry professionals from diverse technical backgrounds. Feedback received during the event contributed to refining the structure and delivery of pitch-oriented scientific communication, highlighting the role of clear messaging in advancing climate-focused innovation. Participation in this event reflects the group’s continued efforts to connect fundamental research with practical applications and to engage with broader innovation ecosystems addressing climate and energy challenges.
Wen Zhang’s group at the conference:
