In August, CIEE bid farewell to Dr. Miriam Aczel, who has moved on to a new role at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH). Aczel joined CIEE as the inaugural McQuown Postdoctoral Fellow in 2021 and has contributed to key research initiatives that advance California’s goals on energy and climate science, technology, and policy.
BECC: Driving Climate Transformation Through Behavioral Change
During her time with CIEE, Aczel was deeply involved in the Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change (BECC) conference, the premier event on understanding human behavior and decision-making to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. As part of the BECC planning committee, she helped organize the now bi-annual conference, which engages stakeholders across academia, government, and industry to effect innovative programs and policies on energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and sustainability.
To further BECC’s outreach efforts, Aczel planned, developed, and produced monthly webinars on cutting-edge behavior research as it applies to real-world climate and energy issues. She made notable research contributions as well, participating as a conference speaker at BECC and at allied events such as the BEHAVE Conference in Europe.
Learn about the BECC conference
Cal Energy Corps: Shaping the Next Generation of Energy and Climate Leaders
Another highlight of Aczel’s experience was her time with the Cal Energy Corps, a summer internship program engaging top UC Berkeley undergraduates in the design, development, and delivery of sustainable energy and climate solutions. From coordinating internship placements to hosting student meetups, Aczel supported the successful implementation of the program, which later merged with the Climate and Energy track of the CITRIS Workforce Innovation Program in 2022.
“It was exciting to engage with the next generation of energy and climate leaders,” said Aczel. “Their contagious enthusiasm and commitment to the environment is inspiring.”
Learn about the CITRIS Workforce Innovation Program
Oakland EcoBlock: Decarbonizing the City, Block by Block
Aczel was also a core member of the Oakland EcoBlock, a CIEE-led pilot research project to radically retrofit an underserved neighborhood block in Oakland with next-generation energy tools and technologies. An expert in local-scale clean energy, science communication, and citizen science, Aczel worked closely with the EcoBlock team to produce original editorial, web, and multimedia content that highlights the project’s research successes.
“The chance to launch the EcoBlock blog was particularly special because it allowed me to bridge the communication gap between local residents and researchers,” remarked Aczel. “It was also fun and enlightening to write educational newsletter articles for the EcoBlock community as it allowed me to consider different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of Oakland.”
Aczel’s involvement with EcoBlock has a personal impact as well. “The range of fields and expertise at CIEE is truly impressive,” noted Aczel. “It’s an environment where even seemingly unrelated topics connect in unexpected and meaningful ways. The Oakland EcoBlock project is a prime example where this ethos of cross-collaboration and continuous learning has deeply influenced my approach to research and problem-solving.”
Learn about the Oakland EcoBlock
Looking Ahead
With grant support from the France-Berkeley Fund, Aczel will continue to collaborate with CIEE in her new role. Alongside Dr. Therese Peffer, the associate director of CIEE and the CITRIS Climate initiative, and partners from the Laboratoire Aménagement Économie Transports (LAET); University of Southern California (USC); and UC San Diego, she will explore the social implications of sustainable urban redevelopment efforts, including CIEE’s Oakland EcoBlock project and the Lyon Confluence district. The team will investigate how these initiatives can inform broader climate adaptation strategies and will organize webinars to foster dialogue around climate migration, social equity, and environmental justice.
Learn about CIEE’s research under the France-Berkeley Fund
“As I look back on the three and a half years I spent at CIEE, I’m filled with gratitude,” said Aczel. “Those years flew by, but they were incredibly impactful and formative. The chance to work with remarkable mentors like Dr. Alexandra ‘Sascha’ von Meier, an electrical engineer; Dr. Therese Peffer, an architect and project manager extraordinaire; and Dr. Carl Blumstein, the ‘GOAT’ of energy efficiency, left a lasting impression on me. Each of them brought their unique expertise and warmth, making Berkeley feel like home, and taught me the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives.”
“Thank you to Tracy, Carl, Therese, Eunice, Jing, Phillippe, Peter, Eric, Larry, Haixin, and all the wonderful people at CITRIS. I’m so grateful to have worked with you and look forward to staying in touch!”
