Baptiste Gibrat (MALS, globalization studies) was awarded the 2025 Byam Shaw-Brownstone Thesis Excellence Award for his thesis, Driving Green Investments to Address Climate Change. He also received the Alumni Research Award to support his research.
What do you consider your hometown?
I was born in Paris and spent my entire childhood there. I love the unique atmosphere Paris offers, making you feel part of an intimate history. Nothing beats spending the afternoon on the terrace of a Parisian café.
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?
I did the first two years of my undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to finish my undergraduate studies at Harvard University.
Tell me about your area of research.
The climate crisis is no longer news, and we need to find better ways to accelerate our transition to net zero emissions. Otherwise, the consequences of climate change will become increasingly catastrophic.
My research focuses on creating a framework to drive green investments. Green investments seek to promote sustainable development, reduce carbon emissions, and support the transition to a net zero economy. I explore possible solutions to drive and support such investments. I develop a framework that includes financial instruments, capital markets, regulatory and public incentives, the role of institutions, and disruptive technologies.
It intersects economics and energy, with a clear goal of finding practical, easily shareable answers.
What does it mean to you to receive the MALS thesis award?
It is a great honor to receive the MALS thesis award. It marks the close of my thesis work at Dartmouth and gives me the chance to thank my advisors once again for their constant support and mentorship.
What’s one challenge you faced in graduate school, and how did you overcome it?
Finishing my thesis on time was definitely a challenge, I’m sure I won’t be the only one to say this. The support of my professors and friends is what helped me get through it.
Why did you choose Dartmouth to pursue your degree?
When I started studying in the United States, I quickly fell in love with the liberal arts education system. This was a new experience for me, as I had not been exposed to it during the first two years of my undergraduate degree. It inspired me to pursue a master’s degree that would allow me to continue benefiting from this enriching educational approach.
My teachers at Harvard suggested Dartmouth as an excellent environment for this. I then had the opportunity to meet with the MALS program director, Wole Ojurongbe. During our meeting, I quickly realized that Dartmouth and its rich traditions were indeed the right choice.
What’s next for you and what are you most looking forward to in this new chapter?
I have received a grant from the U.S. federal government to explore how I can apply my research to commercial applications in the United States (project title: Translation Potential of Coupling Energy System Models to Infrastructure Deployment and Investment Decision-Making). I’ve been working on this and will continue reflecting on ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
What excites me most is deepening the personal relationships I’ve built through this work, both here and in Africa, like with my friend Raymond Namusoso, who drove me around Kampala on his boda boda.
What is your favorite place or most activity that you like best at Dartmouth or in the Upper Valley?
I love running in the Upper Valley. While they say all roads lead to Rome, I like to think that here, all roads lead to the Green. Dartmouth’s unique position surrounded by nature allows me to disconnect and clear my mind. And with summer days coming up, I get to finish my run with a swim in the Connecticut River.
