# Oliver Lontay '27 on Data Center Development in China This summer, **Oliver Lontay** '27, an Economics and Statistics concentrator, spent eight weeks conducting research as an undergraduate research assistant at Nanjing University. He explored China’s rapidly growing data center industry under **Prof. Haikun Wang**, a Professor in School of Atmospheric Sciences at Nanjing University and former Visiting Scholar with the Harvard-China Project. We spoke with Oliver about his experience in China in the Q&A, below. September 24, 2025 [ Kellie Nault ](/people/kellie-nault) ![Oliver in China](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/2025-09/9.jpg) Image, left to right: Wenli Ni, Ph.D student; Prof. Haikun Wang; Oliver Lontay '27; Jianfeng Luo, Ph.D student**Harvard-China Project: Oliver, can you share the name of your project, and what you researched while in China?** **Oliver Lontay:** This summer I worked with the Harvard China Project at Nanjing University on a project about the growth of China’s data center industry and its environmental impact. We wanted to understand what factors influence where data centers are built and how energy-efficient they are. At first, we thought climate factors like temperature would play a big role—since hotter provinces require more cooling—but we found that economic strength and government policies mattered far more. In short, data centers are being built where the economy is strongest or where government incentives direct them, regardless of climate challenges. This finding has important implications: it shows that well-designed policies could be powerful tools for encouraging greener growth in the tech sector. **Harvard-China Project: What was the most rewarding aspect of your research?** **Oliver Lontay:** The most rewarding part was working side by side with Professor Wang's Ph.D students in Nanjing. They brought perspectives that I never would have thought of on my own, and our conversations helped me see set the path for what research I would be doing, and learned a lot about the common techniques in climate/energy modeling. It felt incredible to not only apply my skills in statistics but also to learn from people with deep expertise, especially in Chinese data centers. Working with these students helped me learn a lot about the specificities in China and was very rewarding. **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?** **Oliver Lontay:** Most days, I spent time cleaning data, running models in R, and discussing results with the research team. Outside of the academic work, I loved daily life in Nanjing - going out for lunch with my colleagues and new friends, wandering the campus garden in the evenings, and joining friends at night markets to try new Nanjing dishes and the famous Duck. The balance of academic focus and cultural immersion made every day feel full and exciting. ![Oliver Hot Pot](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/2025-09/7.jpg) Oliver and members of Prof. Haikun Wang's lab eat Hot Pot. **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?** **Oliver Lontay:** Weekends were for adventure - I really wanted to visit the best of central China's cities and nature. So I went on a bunch of solo trips. I first visited Suzhou, where I explored its classical gardens; Huangshan, where I hiked stunning mountain peaks for so long that my legs hurt for days after; and Shanghai. The coolest part of these solo trips was that both times, young Chinese tourists introduced themselves, and despite some language barriers, we explored the areas together for most of the day! Even on the weekdays in Nanjing itself, I spent time walking along the ancient city walls, visiting Confucius Temple, and going to various noodle/wonton shops. These trips were my favorite memories - not only for the incredible places I saw but also for the spontaneous friendships I had made. ![Oliver in China](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/2025-09/8.jpg) **Harvard-China Project: What were some challenges for you?** **Oliver Lontay:** The main challenge was navigating the language barrier, especially outside the university environment. While many people were welcoming and patient, I had to learn to adapt quickly and rely on both translation apps and nonverbal communication. Especially at the beginning, where my Chinese was weakest and I had no clue how to navigate China, I had an especially tough time, but it got better over time. It also didn't help that I was alone, so I had a tough time adjusting and understanding how to navigate China, but I figured it out pretty well in the end. **Harvard-China Project: How do you see this Assistantship aligning (or not) with your future career aspirations or research endeavors?** **Oliver Lontay:** This project convinced me that I want my career to be at the intersection of economics, sustainability, and data analysis. I could see myself pursuing consulting or green finance, where the kinds of skills I developed - analyzing data, evaluating policy, and thinking about real-world implications - will be crucial. Just as importantly, I learned that I enjoy working on international teams and tackling problems that require both technical skills and an understanding of policy (especially in China) and culture. ![Oliver in China](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/2025-09/6.jpg) **Harvard-China Project:** **How did the Harvard-China Project researchers contribute to your learning experience?** **Oliver Lontay:** The researchers were an incredible resource. Professor Wang and his team guided me not just in the technical aspects of the research but also in understanding the bigger picture of why the work matters. The Ph.D students I worked with were generous with their time, answering my questions and showing me how to connect the dots between statistical results and real-world implications. They pushed me to think critically and helped me grow as a researcher. See also:- [ Energy Systems ](/corresponding-research-pages/energy-systems) - [ Transportation and Urban Planning ](/transportation-and-urban-planning) - [ News ](/news-type/news) - [ Research Briefs ](/news-type/research-briefs) - [ Energy Systems ](/research-area/energy-grid) - [ Transportation & Urban Planning ](/research-area/transportation-urban-environment) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)