Beginning in Fall 2023, the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Pratt School of Engineering jointly launched Design Climate, which guides multidisciplinary student teams through the three phases of innovation to tackle client-identified issues over two semesters. Key constituents of the program include students – primarily undergraduate seniors and master’s-level students from engineering and natural sciences, along with other disciplines such as business and policy; program leaders, who cultivate client relationships, vet prospective clients, and teach the design process; and partners from heavy industry, the tech sector, and local communities, with demonstrated commitment to engage with student teams on a regular basis. Partner relationships are developed so that student teams can visit them on site to allow for observations and conversations to fully assess the design needs of the challenge being explored. Judy Ledlee (Ph.D. ’18), an environmental engineer with experience in sustainability and green technology development, was hired in Spring 2023 to serve as the program’s inaugural director.