Arpit Dhupar: Saving environment by turning rice stubble into biodegradable packaging
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(February 8, 2024) Each year, Delhi/NCR greets the sunrise under a heavy smog blanket, pushing the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) into the alarming red zone. This concerning situation is a result of the burning of crop residues in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, which contributes to 26 percent of the capital’s air pollution. This led IIT grads Arpit Dhupar and Anand Bodh to form Dharaksha – a startup that specialises in converting rice stubble into biodegradable packaging. Started in 2019, the deep-tech startup uses a biotechnology process to produce packaging material capable of biodegrading within 60 days under standard soil conditions.
Arpit Dhupar
It all began when an innocent drawing from his nephew made Arpit think hard. A typical scenery painting had all the elements – the sun, the mountains, the sky, and birds – but the sky was coloured grey as opposed to the blue that took him aback. “We shouldn’t live in a world where we have to explain to kids that the sky should be painted blue. It should be a given,” the Forbes 30 Under 30 said in an interview. The painting gave him some food for thought, and he began building a startup that could help keep the skies blue.
It was during his sabbatical from work that he travelled through the remote villages of Punjab and Haryana to understand the grim issue of stubble burning. Upon his interactions with locals, he found that farmers were keen to get rid of the leftover crop as it was of no use to them. Due to high moisture, they can’t be used for fuel as well. So he came up with the idea of using baler machines to compress and stack the stubble and began working on Dharaksha with Anand Bodh. To solve the stubble-burning crisis, he decided to use mushrooms to degrade the stubble, which led him to conceive a biodegradable material like thermocol. Arpit realised that harvesting mushrooms on the stubble gave strength to the structure. “This wasn’t a waste material but could be a usable one. Through bio fabrication, we could use the stubble waste to create a material similar to thermocol, but one that was biodegradable,” he added.
Upon some research, he found that thermocol is worse than plastic, and burning it releases toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and about 90 different hazardous chemicals. “It’s shocking how little conversation there is around this material.” Explaining the process, he says that once the stubble makes it to the factory, it’s sterilised and the mushroom culture is added. “The mycelium grows, forming a sort of interlocked structure that holds the material in place. This makes it strong, so no resin needs to be added. The mix is then put into the oven, where the mushrooms are neutralised,” he elaborated.
This led to the making of a packaging material that’s flameproof and can endure high moisture conditions. Interestingly, each piece of material produced helps prevent 250 tonnes of thermocol from making it into landfills. “We have formed internal software and processes which enables us to keep track of each unit produced from Day 0 till the end of its life cycle. Each unit produced holds a separate identity in our systems. We manufacture 20,000 pieces per month currently and are scaling up 5x in the next few months,” said Anand, adding that companies like Dabur, V-Guard, Pernod Ricard, Nestle, Fyllo, Gourmet Jars are their customers.
“I started the venture with the aim of making the skies blue. I feel satisfied that we are making a difference,” he added.
(March 16, 2022) Crammed into a narrow alleyway in the backstreets of Kumortuli in North Kolkata, a sculptor is sculpting the face of goddess Durga ahead of Pujo. That stunning photo by young photographer Pubarun Basu speaks volumes of his love for the craft. Yet, it’s only one among his many stellar photographs. Another photo turned the tide for this muse-seeking shutterbug – a 2020 photo titled No Escape from Reality that won him the Youth Photographer of the Year 2021 at the Sony World Photography Awards. Basu was the first Indian to achieve the feat. “My photo was selected among 3,30,000 entries from around 29 countries. It was a very humbling experience,” the 20-year-old tells Global Indian in an interview. [caption id="attachment_12664" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Pubarun Basu[/caption] Snapshot happy The 2001-born Kolkata lad got inclined towards photography at age four when he picked his first camera, thanks to his photographer father. Being in the company of the best of gadgets, the Bengali boy was fascinated by the dynamics of photography. That first DSLR camera he held, and the photo he clicked seemed to activate a passion that has only embellished itself. “I vividly remember my father handing me his camera.
picked his first camera, thanks to his photographer father. Being in the company of the best of gadgets, the Bengali boy was fascinated by the dynamics of photography. That first DSLR camera he held, and the photo he clicked seemed to activate a passion that has only embellished itself. “I vividly remember my father handing me his camera. Since I had seen my dad click photos, I somehow managed to take a picture by imitation,” says Pubarun who took his first photo at the Khoai Fair in Shantiniketan.
Seeing his father “in action all the time,” he learnt the tricks of the trade. Getting access to a good DSLR so early, was a blessing that proved fortuitous. “I understood the tonality, correct exposure and framing. My father had a home lab where he would develop. In time, my taste evolved and so did my understanding of photography,” says the English literature student at the University of Calcutta.
At age nine, he was gifted a Nikon point and shoot camera. “I began clicking photos of the birds in our vicinity – bulbuls, tailor birds, kingfishers, I’d capture them all on my lens,” reminisces Pubarun who later got fascinated by street photography. “I love capturing sunsets and portraits. Over the years, I developed this style of photography, which has now become my signature," adds Pubarun.
When he won the Youth Photographer of the Year 2021, it augured more acclaim. In July 2020, Pubarun submitted his award-winning photo - No Escape from Reality – (theme composition and design). “The brief was to look for an unfamiliar setting within a familiar setting, and what better place could it be than our home (during lockdown). One evening, I was in my parents’ bedroom when I noticed sunlight seeping through the windows, and the iron rails created quite a stunning shadow. It gave the illusion of a cage. I asked my mom to stand behind the curtain, stretch out her hands to touch the curtain. The idea was to represent the feeling of being trapped in a moment, or in one’s reality,” says Pubarun who used a Nikon D800E for the shot.
[caption id="attachment_12665" align="aligncenter" width="858"]No Escape from Reality by Pubarun Basu[/caption]
All this gave his photography career a major boost. “Winning that title remains unmatched. It took me a while to let it sink in. Many aspiring photographers started approaching me to inquire about the process of selection for the title and my technique,” gushes the young photographer who is “still in disbelief” that Sony exhibited his photo across the globe.
The urge to explore
The award-winning photo was exhibited in Japan, France, Switzerland, and Italy. Later, he bagged the Indica cultural photography grant 2021 to work on a project on the tribal communities of North-East India. “I pitched the idea as northeast is a hidden treasure and the tribes of that region haven’t been explored much. Eight photographers from the country were selected for the project. I was the youngest,” says Pubarun whose project will be published as a coffee table book soon.
The young photographer is keen to capture stories that create an impact. “I want my voice to be heard through my art. My photography has evolved with time, and I wish to put forth a constructive narrative,” says the documentary filmmaker who took up online photography course from the Museum of Modern Art, New York during the lockdown, which he says was “an enriching experience.”
A father’s legacy
Basu loves Steve McCurry, Dorothea Lange, and Raghu Rai’s oeuvre, yet, it’s his father Pranab Basu who is his mentor. “I have learnt everything from him. Whatever I create, he is often the first person I show my work to. He is my biggest cheerleader and biggest critique,” reveals Pubarun who has an equal support system in his homemaker mother. “She has been a shield, protecting me against the taunts of my relatives who questioned my unconventional line of work,” says the young photographer.
Today, Pubarun, still so young, is a photographer to reckon with. “The idea to be original” he feels helped him set sail. He adds, “When you are young, you love to imitate the works of people you admire. But in the process, you start to live in their shadow. Creativity thrives when you have an individualistic style.” Which he sure does.
For aspiring shutterbugs, he advices, “be open-minded and keep experimenting different styles before settling for one,” yet he cautions not to get influenced by social media.
A movie buff, his creative spirit meanders into tabla playing, which he has been practising since he was six. Now, he plans to study photography abroad after graduation. “Photography is my passion and I want to pursue it as a career. My vision is to create a community of artists who do projects that speak about contemporary issues,” adds Pubarun who is currently in Varanasi to shoot a musical documentary on the holy city.
In this special Global Indian Youth column, student and youth leader JEEVA SENTHILNATHAN finds three girl activists on a mission to create positive impact... (January 28, 2022) The involvement of heavy politics has never been a place for young South Asian teens, but as small obstacles creep up on Indian youth born and raised in the US, they aren’t going to be sitting down quietly any time soon. From stopping the rise of Asian hate to clearing dysfunctional organisations, Indian youth has become the solution to take a stance, speak up, and lead the way. These three girl activists have spoken up and their voices have been heard. Through civic engagement programmes, activist initiatives, and voter outreach, many young Indians have primarily been filling in the spaces. As Generation-Z rises, Indian youth has gone back to the South Asian community to assist in US citizenship, voter registration, and political field mobilisation. These tactics have thus far been the key to winning major elections in the US, including former candidates to now electees - vice-president Kamala Harris, Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. [caption id="attachment_10157" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Jeeva Senthilnathan[/caption] Akhila Mullapudi takes political activism forward Girl activist Akhila
" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MicrosoftTeams-image-38.png" alt="Girl Activist | | Akhila | Deepa | Madhvi Global Indian Youth" width="432" height="436" /> Jeeva Senthilnathan[/caption]
Akhila Mullapudi takes political activism forward
Girl activist Akhila Mullapudi is a freshman at the University of Michigan. Her work with political activism began during the March for Our Lives protests following the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School where she participated in her first protest in 2018. From there, her advocacy work expanded to include a plethora of causes including but not limited to intersectional feminism, criminal justice reform, climate justice and civic engagement. She works with organisations like Generation Ratify, a feminist movement, the Zero Hour, a climate justice organisation, and Blue Future, a political mobilisation and grassroots campaign.
In 2020, she began interning for Congressman Andy Levin’s campaign in Michigan’s 9th district working on data and finance. From there, she was able to transform her skills as an organiser to create political change from within. During the summer of 2021, she collaborated with Congressman Levin on his democracy summer programme hosted through Congressman Raskin. In the course of time, Akhila learnt how to run a campaign, issue-based advocacy from the representative side, and mobilise people directly in the community.
“Thank you to the offices of @SenWarren and @RepLawrence for meeting with Generation Ratify today! We are beyond honored to have lobbied with you on International Women’s day for the Equal Rights Amendment!,” the girl activist posted on her work with Generation Ratify.
Beyond political work, Akhila is enthusiastic about student representation in administration. Her passion began as a member of the student round table in high school where she later became president, and continued into college where she serves as the deputy policy advisor for university affairs with the University of Michigan’s Central Student Government. She believes that students should be involved in the decisions that so drastically impact not only their education but their lives.
Mentoring students, cleaning up local parks, or anything in between, she has received the Farmington Youth Assistant Award in which she received Congressional and Senatorial special recognition for her community service.
The recipient of the American Legion Award, and the Brykalski Coolman Award from her high school, it is Akhila’s hope is to create positive impact.
As a six year old, girl activist Madhvi spearheaded an ecological movement with Madhvi4EcoEthics, a non-profit that works towards ridding the planet of plastics. The girl activist has shared the stage with world renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg at Denver’s Global Climate Strike in October 2019.
“Wow! So much #plastic waste! We humans must be ashamed of ourselves! Please let's #RefusePlastics & teach the #manufacturers of plastics/#plasticproducts, a lesson to switch to #ecofriendly products! #GreenPlanet #BeatPlasticPollution,” the girl activist posted spreading the world.
The dynamic and enthusiastic Madhvi Chittoor, or NoStyrofoamNinja (her other name) began her efforts in 2017, to raise awareness against plastic and styrofoam pollution, climate change and fight for climate justice. As a global plastic pollution youth ambassador, she is being called the “best up and coming peacemaker” backed by 14 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates by PeaceJam Billion Acts, speaker, music composer and author. Her hope is to create rights for all earth’s natural resources - lakes, waters, streams, oceans, land, air, atmosphere, forests, biodiversity, mangroves, flora and fauna. Setting an economic value for their usage and conservation is her priority.
“Our mission is to usher impactful change advocating eco ethics and enabling green choices in-lieu of non-green convenience and greedy economics to protect ecosystems, public health and climate,” says Madhvi.
The girl activist's Global EcoEthics Movement has touched India, Bangladesh, Gambia, Zimbabwe and US with its efforts. Madhvi is a black belt in Taekwondo, and often speaks on ecological accountability.
Chittoor had proposed a state-wide ban on styrofoam take-out containers and single-use plastics in restaurants and grocery stores, for which she rallied many signatures. A task force was set up, and Chittoor was asked to lead it. In September 2019, the Jeffco Public School district — with 86,000 students across 155 schools — made the switch to compostable paper lunch trays. She has also written and published a book Is Plastic My Food? which educates about the plastic menace.
Deesha Panchal leads the way for equal rights
Girl activist Deesha is an active leader in her community. Founder of the nonprofit Georgia Youth Leaders, she enables students to develop passion driven projects of change in their community. A stepping stone to the work of policy is developing the next generation of socially-conscious leaders. This is exactly what Georgia Youth Leaders aims to do. Her nonprofit work has been featured in Forbes and won the 7000th Points of Light Service award.
“I am so honored to be chosen as 1 of 23 #aeriereal changemakers on the behalf of @georgia.yl,” she posted on social media,” after being chosen as a change maker. The girl activist's motto according to her Instagram profile is, “You gotta move different when you want different.”
The youth leader’s advocacy work furthers the development of conversations around politics. A member of the Asian students for Biden roundtable during the 2020 election, the girl activist discussed the importance of political candidates acknowledging the concerns of all minority groups and the power that Asian Americans hold within the election process. Furthermore, the roundtable discussed procedures young people can take to increase the Asian American voting turnout.
Deesha was recently crowned second runner up of the Miss GA Bharat pageant. A role model for young girls everywhere, she was able to support local candidates in elections and speak about the importance of local government through her affiliation with pageant work. The girl activist was also seen supporting Sophie Gibson of Norcross.
(The writer is a young Indian American who ran for office in Parker, Colorado at 18. Jeeva’s activism covers climate change, mental health, and teacher pay. Her organisation Privando aims to help solve India’s crisis of being the a dangerous country for women.)
(December 22, 2021) He stood tall and proud as President Ram Nath Kovind gave him the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Awarded for his exceptional contribution to motorsports, Formula 4 racer Yash Aradhya has what it takes to surge past the chequered flag. Yash was just nine when he first began training, and now a decade later, he is at the threshold of a spectacular career. The 19-year-old, who is currently studying in the Netherlands, is among the new stars rising up in the world of racing. "It's such a great time to be in motorsports. A lot of new talent is venturing into it, and many new opportunities are opening up for us in India," Yash tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. [caption id="attachment_8740" align="aligncenter" width="489"] Yash Aradhya at French Formula 4 2020.[/caption] The boy, who had a podium finish at the X1 Racing League, has participated in the 2020 French Formula F4. Born in 2002 in Bengaluru to an adman father and a homemaker mother, Aradhya's love for speed began when he was just six. "It was during a road trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai that I got excited about cars and speed. I remember my dad
Born in 2002 in Bengaluru to an adman father and a homemaker mother, Aradhya's love for speed began when he was just six. "It was during a road trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai that I got excited about cars and speed. I remember my dad explaining to me about horsepower and engines and it fascinated me. I was thrilled by the passion for speed, so at six, I started karting for fun," reminisces Aradhya.
Racing is in his DNA
Yash officially dipped his toes into racing at age nine. Seeing his passion, his father approached JK Tyres' head Sanjay Sharma for the national racing championship. "Hardy uncle (as we fondly call him) put us in touch with Akbar Ebrahim (the first Indian to race in the international circuits) and it was under him that my training began," recalls the 19-year-old whose ultimate goal is to become a Formula 1 racer.
At nine, he scored his first win at the JK Tyre MMS Rotax Rookie Cup 2012 by clinching second at the podium, which turned out to be a foundation for the forthcoming winning championships. "Graduating to the junior level was a different ball game as there is a speed difference and fighting for the top position was getting exciting and challenging at the same time. However, my passion to win helped me exceed everyone's expectations including my mentor after I won Formula Junior Series FLGB," says the Utrecht University student.
[caption id="attachment_8738" align="aligncenter" width="799"] Yash Aradhya with his mentor Akbar Ebrahim[/caption]
The win set the ball rolling for Yash who was soon nominated by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India to represent the country at Academy Trophy. It opened new opportunities for the teenager, and took him to Europe and Asia to race. With each passing year, Aradhya won more podiums and in 2019, he graduated from karting to car with the MRF 1300 National Championship 1600.
The run up to the podium
However, it hasn't been an easy run, especially since he came from a non-motorsport background though he found the perfect support system in his dad. "I knew that I wanted to be a Formula racer, and my dad helped me achieve my dream. He put me in touch with my mentor, helped me get sponsors who have put their faith in me. Despite being an expensive sport, my dad has gone above and beyond to make my dream come true," beams the Formula 4 racer.
With the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, Yash is the only teenager under 18 years to be awarded in the category of motorsports. "I didn't realise how big of a deal it was until I was standing in front of the President of India. The award means a lot to me and holds immense value," says Yash who still remembers PM Narendra Modi's advice to him. "He told me, 'This award is not the end. Take it as a beginning step, and continue to excel in the field,'" reminisces the teenager.
[caption id="attachment_8737" align="aligncenter" width="495"] Yash Aradhya with President Ram Nath Kovind[/caption]
The mettle to train
The boy from Bishop Cotton Boys School is completely focused on excelling now. Under the tutelage of coach Akbar Ebrahim, fitness coach Ramji Srinivasan and nutritionist Ryan Fernando, Yash is spreading his wings far and wide. He reveals that unlike other sports, racers don't get to train on the tracks every single day. "I do physical and mental training every day under the guidance of my coaches. However, we get only two days to test drive before the championships," says Yash, who is currently studying economics and business economics in the Netherlands and enjoying his stay in a new city.
Despite being one of the most expensive sports, Yash has found his footing, thanks to his sponsors. After racing in Formula 4 South East Asia Championship 2019 and the 2020 French Formula F4, he is now gearing up for his upcoming championships. "Currently, I am dividing my time between studies and training. These last two years were wasted, thanks to the pandemic. However, I am excited to get back into action," says the racer who loves playing tennis and swimming in his free time.
[caption id="attachment_8739" align="aligncenter" width="717"] Yash Aradhya training for championship[/caption]
Calling the recent times one of the most exciting times to be in motosporting, Yash feels lucky to be a part of it. "There are so many career opportunities right now in motorsports. The talent is getting recognised. I would say stay tuned for more," signs off Yash.
(June 23, 2023) In 2020, Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat. Since then, she has fervently utilized her platform to advocate for empowerment, inclusion, and equality. A prominent South-Asian Australian media personality, writer, speaker, and founder of the Mind with Me podcast series, she is considered one of Australia’s boldest voices. Identifying as queer, the former beauty queen from an immigrant background, intimately understands the challenges of grappling with a sense of belonging. Recently, Maria launched her book Unbounded which is a memoir and self-help guide combined. She courageously shares her personal journey, narrating poignant stories of resilience in the face of racism, sexism, financial hardships, intergenerational trauma, homophobia, and mental health struggles. Throughout the narrative of her experiences, Maria has steadfastly clung to hope, nurturing the belief that trials can be transformed into sources of strength and positive influence. [caption id="attachment_31356" align="aligncenter" width="375"] Maria Thattil[/caption] Full of excitement amidst an enthusiastic audience at her book launch she said, “Life is more than what we know. It is what our imagination can conceive. I cannot wait for ‘Unbounded’ to be out in the world
mental health struggles. Throughout the narrative of her experiences, Maria has steadfastly clung to hope, nurturing the belief that trials can be transformed into sources of strength and positive influence.
[caption id="attachment_31356" align="aligncenter" width="375"] Maria Thattil[/caption]
Full of excitement amidst an enthusiastic audience at her book launch she said, “Life is more than what we know. It is what our imagination can conceive. I cannot wait for ‘Unbounded’ to be out in the world because it’s going to inspire everyone to live up to all that they are.”
Amplifying underrepresented voices
Maria, who has devoted her career to advocating for societal change and amplifying underrepresented voices, draws upon her educational background in psychology and management, as well as her training in neuro-coaching to come up with her debut book.
She has presented a transformative path highlighting active personal growth, unwavering self-love, and liberation. Through her words of wisdom as an author she has attempted to empower readers to embrace fearlessness and embark on a journey of self-discovery to create positive change in their lives and communities. “It’s so much of my personal story but it’s more than that. It’s an active guide for people to learn how to manifest a life beyond limits. It’s a call to action,” the Global Indian said in an interview with an Australian TV channel after the launch of her book. The chapter titles are all verbs, meant to encourage people to take action to change their lives for the better.
The third-culture kid
The youngster calls herself ‘the third culture kid’ - influenced by Indian roots in a western society. “I belong here and at the same time, I strongly resonate with my Indian roots. I have found a balance between the two. It is not either-or for me. This is who I am and it is unique,” she had said in an interview after being crowned Miss Universe Australia 2020.
[caption id="attachment_31357" align="aligncenter" width="417"] Maria with her family when she was small[/caption]
The Indian lineage
Maria’s parents had migrated from India to Australia in the early 90s. She was born there, in Melbourne. While her father is from Kochi, Kerala, her mom is from Kolkata, West Bengal. When she migrated, her entire family migrated with her. This gave an opportunity to Maria and her brother to grow up with a large family of uncles, aunts and cousins, spending all their weekends together, getting a good taste of a typical Indian set-up.
Maria remains connected to India as her father’s family still stays in Kerala. They have travelled to India to meet the family.
The mental health crisis
Growing up, she felt a strong need to fit in with her peers at school. It took Maria some time to accept her identity. “I went through a phase during my teenage and early 20s, where I tried hard to mask elements from my culture to fit in," she said. It was the time when she went through a mental health crisis. As a shy, introverted kid, she experienced frustrations about feeling that she didn’t belong. Racism and bullying at school were difficult to handle.
She struggled with a sense of pain and anger, and projected it onto her parents which now makes her feel sad. Giving an account of this heart-breaking phase of her life in the book was the most painful part of writing. “As a child, I felt it was easier to blame my parents than face up to the bigger picture,” she said.
However, as she grew up Maria realised that to feel happy it’s better to focus on who she really was. “I started to just be who I am — an Indian-Australian girl whose culture is a blend of both eastern and western ideals,” she shared.
[caption id="attachment_31358" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Maria Thatill with her debut book - Unbounded[/caption]
Another painful experience while writing her debut book was reliving the financial insecurity that the family faced while Maria was growing up. Before coming up with the final version of the book, she showed it to her parents asking them whether they would like to omit anything.
They were encouraging enough to allow her present the facts as they were. “There are going to be families who have experienced what we have and kids who lived and walked in your shoes. If they can pick up the book and realise that such a situation is not permanent and doesn’t define the rest of their lives, then put it out there,” her parents said.
The queer identity
In a chapter titled ‘Shed’, Maria talks about shedding the beliefs that didn’t serve her. Coming out as bisexual to traditional Indian parents was not easy for her. It was challenging to explain them who she was.
“I didn’t expect them to understand everything initially as they are from a totally different generation and cultural context. However, they have come a long way and are proud of me and my brother who identifies as gay,” said Maria. She is also the Olay ambassador for their ‘Glow Your Own way’ campaign which touches on LGBTQIA+ themes.
[caption id="attachment_31360" align="aligncenter" width="435"] Maria honours key dates in history that have progressed LGBTQIA+ rights[/caption]
Advocate of diversity and inclusion
At the time of winning the crown Maria worked as a talent acquisition professional armed with degrees in psychology and management. As part of the hiring team, she strongly advocated representation.
“I have always championed inclusion and not just limited it to ethnicity but also sexuality, gender, and ability. I strongly believe representation matters. A society where every voice can thrive. We need to make space for people to express themselves irrespective of their background,” she said an interview. After becoming Miss Universe Australia 2020, working on these causes became easier. She got the right platform to strongly voice her opinion and play a role in ushering change.
Today, Maria Thattil stands tall as a beacon of hope for the Indian diaspora, reminding that one’s roots need not hinder the ability to soar to new heights. Through her relentless pursuit of excellence and her unwavering commitment to her community, she has become a source of inspiration, empowering a new generation to embrace their cultural heritage and conquer the world irrespective of their identity and unhappy experiences.
Life ahead
Acting has been a passion of the Indian-origin youngster since childhood. Recently, she also tried her hand at acting, playing the role of Naomi in a web series titled, ‘Let’s Get Ducking Famous’. It’s the story of her character Naomi, her friend and their pet duck whom they are trying to make famous in social media. Having thoroughly enjoyed the experience, she is looking forward to do a film or a television show in the future.
(February 10, 2023) "One idea can change your life." This holds true for Florida girl Ishika Nag who at the age of eight built an elevator to transport her books up to her bunk bed, so she wouldn’t need to go and grab them herself. This was her first foray into engineering, an interest that soon turned into a passion. Despite her curiosity for science as a little kid, she never imagined herself being an engineer until she joined the science and engineering club SECME, with the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering, in the seventh grade which changed everything for her. "I absolutely fell in love with engineering and what I could do with just my hands and with my imagination, how I could put that to use and build new things,” the young scientist told EiE. And now years later, the 17-year-old is one of the finalists at the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023, a prestigious science and maths competition for high school seniors in the US, for developing an engineered face mask with optimised nanoparticle layering for filtration of air pollutants and viral pathogens. The idea struck her after one of her friends moved to Delhi, and
The idea struck her after one of her friends moved to Delhi, and saw the kind of impact it had on her life due to the change in air quality. But it was the global pandemic that convinced the Oviedo High School student to create a low-cost, high-quality filtration device that could protect people from airborne viruses as well as pollution. She began by improving the efficiency and affordability of air filtration devices, like both masks and HVAC filters, by coating them with nanoparticles. Her research showed that this coating improved a mask’s air pollution and virus filtration efficiency while ensuring its safety for human use.
The innovation has catapulted her to be a part of a pool of 40 young scientists from the US who are focused on a wide range of topics from the space race, and AIDS epidemic to climate change. But the seeds of innovation and engineering started germinating at a young age for this Indian American, who began with small engineering projects like creating a pair of tissue paper shoes. Her tryst with SECME turned out to be a game-changer for the teenager who then worked with an all-female team on a car powered by a mousetrap that eventually won them a junior national competition. "I was just so proud of us. So that's the real-time when it kind of clicked that I wanted to do this for a career," she added.
During her SECME classes, the Global Indian began helping and mentoring fellow students who wished to pursue engineering careers but were not as exposed to the fundamentals of science and engineering. This led her to start the Boys and Girls Club, a weekly engineering club for younger students - just three weeks before the pandemic. "I realised that I wanted to help out other kids, too. Maybe some underprivileged kids who didn't often have the chance to experience the same things I did,” she said, adding, “And I was going there every week for around three weeks, and I was having a great time. But then the coronavirus pandemic happened, and I couldn't go there anymore. So I started to wonder how I could adapt this project to something that would be more virtual."
Meanwhile, she was selected by the National Academy of Engineers as an EngineerGirl Ambassador — one of 23 in the nation and the only representative from Florida, and she used the opportunity to reach out to other kids who are passionate about STEM through a virtual camp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5PhH1BZA6c&t=34s
During the process, she noticed that often she was the only girl leader in her community, and was keen to inspire other girls to learn about engineering. This led to her starting her camp Gear Up. "Initially, I was a little unsure about what response I would get from the kids, because, you know, it was my first time doing this and I had never really done something of this scale before," she said. However, after getting nods of approval from many girls, she was happy to take the leap of faith, and help inspire more girls toward STEM education. " I hope to stimulate their bright minds with creative engineering challenges. In addition, they would also learn teamwork, effective time management, and communication skills. By exposing them to the field of science and careers in engineering, I hope to see more girls in the field of engineering, especially ones from underprivileged backgrounds."
No Escape from Reality by Pubarun Basu[/caption]
Pubarun Basu[/caption]
Yash Aradhya with his mentor Akbar Ebrahim[/caption]
Yash Aradhya with President Ram Nath Kovind[/caption]
Yash Aradhya training for championship[/caption]
Maria Thattil[/caption]
Maria with her family when she was small[/caption]
Maria Thatill with her debut book - Unbounded[/caption]
Maria honours key dates in history that have progressed LGBTQIA+ rights[/caption]
