FACULTY RESEARCH PRESENTED AT THE WORLD CONGRESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMISTS (WCERE 2026)

Dr. Benston John, Department of Economics, presented a research paper at the 7th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE 2026), held from 29 June to 3 July 2026 at the
Nova School of Business and Economics, Carcavelos (Lisbon), Portugal. Convened once every four years, the World Congress is the foremost international gathering in environmental and resource economics.

The paper, “When the Roof Reflects: Heat, Learning, and Adaptation in Early Childhood Settings” , is co-authored with Prof. E. Somanathan (Indian Statistical Institute), Delhi, and an alumnus of College) and Prof. Rohini Somanathan (Delhi School of Economics). It presents findings from a randomised controlled trial on the impact of cool roofs on indoor heat, thermal comfort and cognitive outcomes in  overnment preschools (anganwadis) in Kerala. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia and the Center for Research on the Economics
of Climate, Food, Energy, and Environment (CECFEE). The College congratulates Dr. John and his co-authors on thisachievement.