From the lab & beyond

News & events

Research, fieldwork, recognition, and stories featuring the IDEAS community.

2026

6 August 2026Plenary panel
Beyond Vehicle Adoption: E-Mobility and Economic Transformation
June Lukuyu was a panelist in the SETI 2026 plenary, “Beyond Vehicle Adoption: Building the Evidence Base for E-Mobility as a Driver of Economic Transformation.” Co-led by Duke University’s Energy Access Project (EAP) and the Sustainable Energy Transitions Initiative (SETI), the session explored evidence priorities for policy, investment, and implementation, using Kenya’s e-mobility transition as a case study.
Duke Energy Access Project · SETI
26–29 July 2026Keynote & mentorship
Keynote and mentorship at Dartmouth’s New Energy Summer Summit
June Lukuyu served as a keynote speaker and mentor at Dartmouth’s 2026 New Energy Summer Summit in Hanover, New Hampshire. Hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy & Society, the summit brought together early-career energy and climate scholars to build interdisciplinary connections and collaboration.
Dartmouth · Irving Institute
29 April 2026Project news
SEER receives Climate Change AI support
Rhiza Research and the University of Washington are featured in the Innovation Grants announcement for SEER, which aims to make power systems planning more accessible.
Climate Change AI
9 April 2026Research insight
When climate shocks collide with grid failure
June Lukuyu and Kwame Donkor co-authored a policy memo with Mohini Bariya and Genevieve Flaspohler, sharing early findings on climate risk and unequal electricity disruptions in Accra.
Energy for Growth Hub
11 March 2026Research insight
The hidden role of e-boiling in clean cooking
June Lukuyu and collaborators explain how electric kettles are already helping households in Nairobi’s informal settlements move toward cleaner cooking.
NextBillion
March 2026Research poster
Co-designing energy resilience with the Cofán community
A UW-hosted poster by Erin Edlund, Aya Alayli, and June Lukuyu explores renewable energy and storage options for a community building in Ecuador.
UW ECE · Poster (PDF)

2025

May–August 2025Fieldwork
Kigali Data Collection: May - Aug 2025
PhD student Eliane Nirere, was part of a field team collecting data for the Energy Transition Demand Modeling Study for Rwanda.
IDEAS Lab
29 May 2025Invited seminar
Building Climate-Resilient Grids in Data-Scarce Context
June Lukuyu presented at the Stanford Smart Grid Seminar on using grid sensing and data analysis to strengthen electricity networks in data-scarce settings. Drawing on research in Accra, Ghana, the talk explored grid topology, technical losses, and how extreme weather affects service reliability in vulnerable communities.
Stanford Electrical Engineering · Smart Grid Seminar
March 2025Research & awards
IDEAS Lab at the 2025 UW ECE Research Showcase (March 2025)
Ahana Mukherjee received the Best ECE Research Award. Eliane Nirere and Kwame Donkor also presented their work on electricity demand and grid resilience.
IDEAS Lab
13 February 2025Feature
How UW researchers fell in love with their research
June Lukuyu joins a UW News Q&A about the experiences that inspired researchers to pursue their fields.
UW News
18–20 February 2025Event
Third US-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium (Feb 2025)
PI Lukuyu participated in the Third U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium , held from February 18–20, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda. Hosted by the U.S. National Academies in partnership with the Republic of Rwanda, the symposium brought together early- and mid-career researchers from across the U.S. and Africa to explore interdisciplinary solutions to global challenges. The event featured sessions on decarbonization, precision agriculture, biotechnology, space research, and smart cities, with opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange across borders and disciplines.
IDEAS Lab

2024

12–14 September 2024Event
eGUIDE Annual Retreat in Rochester NY: September 12-14, 2024
We had the pleasure of participating in the annual eGUIDE retreat at the Rochester Institute of Technology, which provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with both new and returning eGUIDE members. The retreat commenced with an enlightening visit to the Niagara Power Vista, where attendees gained valuable insights into hydropower energy generation, followed by a visit to the breathtaking Niagara Falls State Park. During the retreat, Ahana and Kwame showcased their ongoing research through poster presentations, fostering engaging discussions among participants.
IDEAS Lab
September 2024Event
New York City Climate Week: September 2024
June Lukuyu attended several events during NYC Climate Week , including Climate Change AI and Google DeepMind’s event, AI for Climate Action: From Data to Impact . At this event, she delivered a lightning talk titled " Enabling Smart Grids for Climate Resilience & Adaptation in Africa " to showcase their CCAI-sponsored project, alongside a panel discussion featuring collaborator Genevieve Flasplohler.
IDEAS Lab
August 2024Fieldwork
Kigali Data Collection: August 2024
Miquilina Anagbah led data collection for the project: Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives of Electric Bus Service in Kigali, Rwanda. in collaboration with students from the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology. We conducted surveys with about 800 electric and diesel bus passengers across Kigali to collect information on bus service satisfaction and perception of electric buses. This project is supported by BasiGO and USAID.
IDEAS Lab
Summer 2024Mentorship
Summer 2024 Undergraduate Research Experience
We had the pleasure of welcoming Biniyam Gebreyohannes, a fellow from the UW Clean Energy Bridge to Research Program (CEBR), and Lillian Nguyen, a Clean Energy Institute ALVA fellow, for their Summer Research Experience. Biniyam explored how weather patterns affect Minigrid electricity behavior, drawing insights from the Katiirwe solar Minigrid in Western Uganda. Meanwhile, Lillian investigated Climate and Energy Injustice, focusing on racial and income disparities in access to indoor comfort. They were mentored by Ahana, Kwame, and Miquilina.
IDEAS Lab
11 July 2024Feature
Pushing engineering boundaries for underserved communities
UW ECE profiles June Lukuyu, the IDEAS research group, and its approach to connecting engineering with community needs.
UW ECE / The Integrator
2024Recognition
Aya Alayli named a UW Engineering Dean’s Medalist
The College of Engineering recognized Aya’s academic achievements, sustainable power systems research, and advocacy for equity in engineering.
UW College of Engineering

2023

19 October 2023 · announcementResearch & engagement
June Lukuyu joins panel at UW’s CRIFS launch
The UW Center on Risk and Inclusion in Food Systems (CRIFS) launched with a workshop and learning event on risks facing small-scale agricultural producers. June Lukuyu joined the panel on commercialization and income diversification under risk, examining institutions, infrastructure, and the enabling environment. The learning event was co-hosted by CRIFS and the Gates Foundation.
UW Evans School
13 June 2023Recognition
Miquilina Anagbah recognized for student excellence
CMU-Africa’s graduation coverage celebrates Miquilina’s leadership, organizational skills, and research contributions through the Lakshmi Subramanian Student Excellence Award.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa