Rella Wang

Rella Wang is a freshman at Harvard College intending to concentrate in Environmental Science and Public Policy and Economics. Growing up in Shanxi, China, where coal has deeply shaped local economies and communities, sparked her interest in environmental policy and inclusive energy transitions. Her field research examined the “Moral Economies of Sacrifice” in Shanxi’s coal-mining communities, using interviews and ethnographic research to explore how energy transitions affect labor, family, and community life. She hopes to build on this qualitative experience through quantitative and economic analysis. 

Rella interned at the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI), researching blended finance and the regulatory and financing barriers that prevent sustainable projects in developing countries from attracting private investment. She also uses art and public engagement for environmental advocacy, creating installations and exhibitions that foster conversations around energy transition. Previously, she served as a Conservation Proctor and President of her high school’s Environmental Action Coalition. She hopes to advance sustainability and community engagement through CSSL.