Scholars Program

The Aspen Environment Forum Scholars Program provides opportunities for diverse, accomplished leaders in the field to attend the Aspen Environment Forum.  Scholars are selected on the basis of their need, experience, achievements, and interest in energy and the environment, as well as their commitment and contributions to the field. The group is comprised of practitioners, entrepreneurs, academics, community organizers, members of the public, private, and independent sectors, and students.

Forum Scholars are hosted in Aspen for the duration of the Forum by the Aspen Institute and have the opportunity to explore complex and surprising ideas about energy, the environment, and the economy – focusing on what they can do as citizens, corporations, and countries.

Scholars experience the entire program that includes large plenary sessions, panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, multiple concurrent morning and afternoon sessions, unique daily seminars, luncheons, casual conversations, dinner events, and evening exchanges.

We expect Scholars to both engage deeply with the program and actively participate in the Forum’s vibrant intellectual exchange, and engage in social media inputs and outputs for the Forum.  It is our hope that Forum Scholars will enrich the conversation through contributing their own experience, expertise, and perspective, while also seeking to be enriched by the diverse perspectives of others. When the Forum concludes, we hope that Scholars will return to their daily lives inspired, challenged, uplifted, and poised to turn ideas into action.

Individuals may be nominated, or they may apply to be a Forum Scholar independently.  Previous scholarship recipients are ineligible to apply to the program.