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Ryan Swanson - Climate Change and Energy Systems

Ryan initially chose Interdisciplinary Studies because “its rare combination of creativity and rigor allowed [him] to study abroad for a year in Beijing while also pursuing [his] research interests in climate change and energy policy.” His senior thesis, titled The Political Economy of Wind Power in China: Challenges and hopes to transform Chinas electricity sector, won the 2012 UC Berkeley Library Prize for Undergraduate Research.
After graduating in December of 2011, Ryan found his way back to Beijing and worked as assistant to the director of the Department of Science, Technology, and International Cooperation in the headquarters of China Nuclear Engineering Group Corporation. He also served as an energy policy consultant for the Guangxi provincial government in China.
In 2013, Ryan founded his own consultancy and has worked with clients involved in sustainable energy and international finance, doing business between China and the Americas. His work has included communication support for negotiations, project coordination, due diligence, and strategic business-to-business introductions and more recently focuses on consulting engineering and mechanical system analytics.
Ryan has business and academic fluency in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. In his free time, he dances tango and writes creative nonfiction.

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