I came to the US to learn plastics up-cycling. After completing my Ph.D. in this topic, as I was contemplating how I can use my research to actually solve the plastic waste problem, I received a job offer. Due to the circumstances at that time, I decided to take that job and meanwhile plan what to do next. A year later, I realized that I am completely consumed by the workload in the job and my earlier goal of solving plastic waste problem is falling behind. Soon, I decided to quit working in the US, come back to India, and focus entirely on solving the plastic waste problem. I am optimistic about the future.
Some background...
I completed my undergraduate schooling in Bachelors of Chemical Engineering from prestigious 'Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai (India)' in 2013. After that, I worked with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in their petrochemical complex for couple years. During my tenure at RIL, I cam across a few activities related to clean-up of Tapi river cleaning. This opened me a growing problem of waste and pollution in the big cities. In 2015, I was selected for 'Nirman', a youth education program by Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH), located at a remote tribal district of Gadchiroli in India. In this program, I could get a first hand experience of difficulties that the people in tribal areas face in their day-to-day lives. After coming back from there, I decided to join Dr Sanjay Mahajani's group at Tata Center for Technology and Design at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai to work on the problem of growing waste in urban areas. Together, our group started activities in assessing the garden waste generated in IIT Bombay campus and simultaneously convert it into fuel pellets to be used in gasifiers for cooking energy applications. Pilot scale demonstrations of this facility were started in the campus and detailed techno-economic feasibility of the system was studied. Extension of this program around a few blocks in the city of Mumbai was also assessed.
Apart from the research work done, I have also engaged myself continuously in public communication. Be it spreading the message of waste segregation during various public festivals in Mumbai or writing articles in various newsletters for communicating with the larger audience of Maharashtra state (India) on this issue. Also, I always strive to update my skills by continuous learning from people around me. Recently, I completed an online course on ' Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries' by 'École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne', Switzerland via Coursera.org. I volunteer at 'Gameday recycling' initiative at Auburn university (Alabama, USA) and we orgainse activities for waste recycling in the campus.
Throughout these research projects, I have been able to learn consistency and hard work, which is required in solving a complex problem. The importance of innovation and novelty in thinking was evident to me when trite solutions didn’t work at first place in some of the projects. I learnt to have patience during difficult times, to always maintain perseverance in work and to allow situational leadership while working in a team.
I always keep myself updated with the latest happenings in solving the global challenge of energy security, environment and waste. I am proactive in finding different opportunities to learn and get first hand experience in waste-to-energy technologies and biofuels. With my work, I strive to create a better future and clean environment for humanity and the world in my capacity.
Some background...
I completed my undergraduate schooling in Bachelors of Chemical Engineering from prestigious 'Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai (India)' in 2013. After that, I worked with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in their petrochemical complex for couple years. During my tenure at RIL, I cam across a few activities related to clean-up of Tapi river cleaning. This opened me a growing problem of waste and pollution in the big cities. In 2015, I was selected for 'Nirman', a youth education program by Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH), located at a remote tribal district of Gadchiroli in India. In this program, I could get a first hand experience of difficulties that the people in tribal areas face in their day-to-day lives. After coming back from there, I decided to join Dr Sanjay Mahajani's group at Tata Center for Technology and Design at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai to work on the problem of growing waste in urban areas. Together, our group started activities in assessing the garden waste generated in IIT Bombay campus and simultaneously convert it into fuel pellets to be used in gasifiers for cooking energy applications. Pilot scale demonstrations of this facility were started in the campus and detailed techno-economic feasibility of the system was studied. Extension of this program around a few blocks in the city of Mumbai was also assessed.
Apart from the research work done, I have also engaged myself continuously in public communication. Be it spreading the message of waste segregation during various public festivals in Mumbai or writing articles in various newsletters for communicating with the larger audience of Maharashtra state (India) on this issue. Also, I always strive to update my skills by continuous learning from people around me. Recently, I completed an online course on ' Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries' by 'École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne', Switzerland via Coursera.org. I volunteer at 'Gameday recycling' initiative at Auburn university (Alabama, USA) and we orgainse activities for waste recycling in the campus.
Throughout these research projects, I have been able to learn consistency and hard work, which is required in solving a complex problem. The importance of innovation and novelty in thinking was evident to me when trite solutions didn’t work at first place in some of the projects. I learnt to have patience during difficult times, to always maintain perseverance in work and to allow situational leadership while working in a team.
I always keep myself updated with the latest happenings in solving the global challenge of energy security, environment and waste. I am proactive in finding different opportunities to learn and get first hand experience in waste-to-energy technologies and biofuels. With my work, I strive to create a better future and clean environment for humanity and the world in my capacity.