Naina Agrawal-Hardin, a senior at Yale College, has been named one of 35 U.S. scholars in the 2025 class of Gates Cambridge Scholars. This prestigious postgraduate scholarship, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, covers full tuition for study at the University of Cambridge. In April, 65 additional international scholars will be announced, bringing the total class to 100.
Agrawal-Hardin will pursue a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree in Anthropocene studies, focusing on how climate change projections have historically been interpreted by governments, the fossil fuel industry, and the public. Her research aims to advance the field of transnational climate litigation and clarify accountability for climate change.
“My research will contribute to shaping global climate litigation and discussions on responsibility for the crisis,” Agrawal-Hardin said.
Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she has conducted extensive research on climate litigation throughout her time at Yale. In 2023, she collaborated with Yale Law School, NYU Law School, and the University of Oxford to study international climate cases. She also conducted field research in the Maldives, examining local environmental advocacy and legal strategies for climate-related challenges.
Additionally, she interned at Earthjustice, a U.S. nonprofit law firm specializing in environmental litigation, where she gained experience with domestic climate cases.
Her research experience in the Maldives solidified her interest in global climate law. Wanting to explore legal advancements in the U.K. and Europe, she selected Cambridge’s Anthropocene studies program, which is housed in the Department of Geography—a new academic discipline for her.
“This program will introduce me to new ways of thinking and allow me to grow as a scholar,” she said.
Established in 2000 with a $210 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Cambridge Scholars program has awarded 2,218 scholarships to students from 112 countries since its inception.
