Sara Dahiya '25 on Integrating Renewable Energy into Maritime Transportation
This summer, Sara Dahiya '25, an Applied Mathematics and Economics concentrator, spent eight weeks conducting research as an undergraduate research assistant at Tsinghua University. She explored decarbonizing shipping routes under Prof. Huan Liu, a Professor in Tsinghua's School of Environment and former Visiting Scholar with the Harvard-China Project. We spoke with Sara about her experience in China in the Q&A, below.
Harvard-China Project: Sara, welcome back from China! Can you share the name of your project, and what you researched while in Beijing?
Sara Dahiya: My project, "Optimzing Shipping Routes," was focused on optimizing marine shipping routes through the integration of offshore wind-powered charging stations under the supervision of Prof. Liu Huan at Tsinghua's School of Environment. Under her guidance, I conducted comprehensive environmental-economic tradeoff analyses to evaluate the scope and feasibility of implementing renewable energy infrastructure in maritime transportation. The project involved extensive literature review examining both the economic viability and environmental benefits of offshore wind-powered marine refueling systems. And the analysis revealed critical insights into how we can effectively weigh complex sustainability considerations when designing large-scale infrastructure projects, especially at a scale which requires close collaboration with government agencies and industry stakeholders.
Beyond my primary research, I also participated in Tsinghua's International Summer School at the School of Environment. The program introduced me to a global cohort of climate curious peers and expanded my understanding of both the kind of climate research being done at Tsinghua and existing climate technologies, policies and outcomes in China across diverse sectors including solid waste management, urban design and development, climate data architecture and the like.
Harvard-China Project: What was the most rewarding aspect of your research?
Sara Dahiya: The most fulfilling aspect of my research was the opportunity to understand the work of the scholars working on different segments of climate research both those doing air pollution research under Professor Liu Huan's guidance and others through the summer school. In my day to day conversations, being immersed in this intellectually vibrant environment, where each researcher brought unique perspectives to environmental challenges, created an atmosphere of continuous learning and cross-pollination of ideas, which is how I learn the best. This enhanced not only my own research and intellectual toolkit but also broadened my understanding of how various approaches to environmental science can complement each other.
Another particularly memorable experience was accompanying Professor Liu Huan and two of her Ph.D students to Shanghai, where they presented a project proposal to government stakeholders and a shipping company, offering very valuable insight into how academic research is communicated and can be translated into real-world applications and policy discussions.
Harvard-China Project: Walk us through your typical day. What were some things you did on a regular basis, and what were some routine aspects of life in China?
Sara Dahiya: My typical day began with biking across Tsinghua's stunning campus, which became one of my favorite daily rituals. The university's beautiful architecture and green spaces provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for the research that I did, and I looked forward to coming to campus each time. I made it a priority to fully immerse myself in campus life, regularly exploring Beijing's rich cultural landscape, studying in various libraries across campus, and experiencing the vibrant dining hall culture that Tsinghua prides itself in. Food became a very central part of my cultural exploration in my time this summer. I hugely delighted in trying diverse Chinese cuisines, with hotpot quickly becoming a personal favorite. The campus dining halls offered an incredible variety of regional specialties, and I was fortunate to have peers introduce me to hidden gems throughout Beijing's restaurant scene.
Harvard-China Project: Talk to us about your travels! Where did you explore, what did you see, who did you meet, and what memories stand out?
Sara Dahiya: While I spent a lot of my time this summer exploring the beautiful city of Beijing, beyond Beijing, I had the opportunity to explore Shanghai and Guangzhou both of which offered different perspectives on both China's development and regional diversity. In Beijing, I visited many museums, restaurants, live music cafes and art galleries in addition to the iconic landmarks, including the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, and the Great Wall, that deepened my appreciation for China's rich historical heritage while contextualizing the country's rapid modernization.
Harvard-China Project: What were some challenges for you?
Sara Dahiya: The primary challenges I encountered centered on fully engaging myself in this new cultural and academic environment, which had very different academic expectations and work cultures. Along with that, I struggled with how to maximize my participation in discussions and research activities, even at Tsinghua, where Mandarin was often the primary language of presentation. And this challenge has inspired me to think about pursuing Mandarin learning as I think about working in China.
Harvard-China Project: How do you see this Assistantship aligning (or not) with your future career aspirations or research endeavors?
Sara Dahiya: This experience has profoundly shaped my career trajectory and has very very strongly inspired me to consider pursuing postgraduate opportunities in China. It has made me open up to possibilities I hadn't previously contemplated, especially in terms of finding a future in China.
This experience has profoundly shaped my career trajectory and has very very strongly inspired me to consider pursuing postgraduate opportunities in China. It has made me open up to possibilities I hadn't previously contemplated, especially in terms of finding a future in China.
While I came to the program primarily interested in research careers, my exposure to the intersection of environmental policy, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurial innovation has sparked significant interest in the more horizontal, startup and entrepreneurial side of climate solutions. And that is not to say that the experience has diminished my enthusiasm for research assistantship opportunities. If anything, it's reinforced my commitment to continuing research work, and also to think about innovation in distribution and scaling of these solutions. It has also revealed how research can serve as a foundation for broader impact through policy implementation and entrepreneurial ventures in the climate space.