INTRODUCTION

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A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases, it never fades into nothingness- John Keats

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This quote may sound ironic for this century as the beauty of nature only can be read in the poems and books. The twenty-first century has seen more invention in the field of Science and Technology but somewhere this technology became a slow poison-pollutant to our Environment. Visionaries around the world foresee the next century, as more advancement would take place in the research area. Therefore, new eco-friendly research and technology is needed to build a sustainable tomorrow!

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BACKGROUND

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I think I was born to become an Environmentalist, securing 82% and Second Rank in All India National Environment Talent Search Examination conducted by Mallinath International Foundation for Earth and Environment, Panaji, Goa (India) was highly applauded by my school management at the age of ten. Being a voracious reader of nature poetry and nature poets at the age of sixteen, I always had that love for the conservation of nature and natural resources. In Class 11, Ms. Swarajya Lakshmi, Botany Lecturer the then student of the father of Ecology in India Professor Ramdeo Misra introduced me to the world of Algae and Cyanobacteria by divulging the fact that they were the first organisms releasing oxygen in abundance thereby converting primitive reducing atmosphere to oxidizing by their respiratory activities. I don’t know how this fact got retained in my long-term memory.  But my Class 12 curriculum made it mandatory to read a novel and answer two long novel-based questions in the Board Examination of English. In this regard, I had the opportunity to read The Hounds of the Baskerville by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which embellished my regards in the investigation which further motivated me to take up B.Sc. (Hons.) Forensic Science and Chemistry at Bundelkhand University. Since Chemistry was also a major part of the three-year Bachelor’s Programme and it was also interesting too. I also started to develop a taste for Chemistry as well and completed two projects in my under graduation namely, Removal of Copper from Aqueous Solution using Banana Peel as a Bioadsorbent and Impact of Fly Ash on the Health of Nearby Villagers of Parichha Thermal Power Station. In addition, Forensic Psychology and Forensic Chemistry attracted me so much that I had presented a project called Isolation of DNA from Skin Smears at the 6th International Conference of Forensic Sciences and Role of Emotional Intelligence in Solving Juvenile Crimes for which poster presentation was carried out at the National Conference of Criminal and Victim Identification.

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Why I chose to study M.Sc. Environmental Science and Technology?

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Besides, I had an opportunity to learn Environmental Studies in the second year of my undergraduate studies. Dr. Vineet Kumar, Associate Professor from the Institute of Environment and Development Studies used to come to take classes. His teaching changed my life. I started writing poems and articles for the Times of India, The Hitavada, Nagpur on Environmental and Social Issues. It made me more sensitive towards the environment and from then I decided that I would certainly take up M.Sc. Environmental Science and Technology is multidisciplinary and combines the study of Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Applied Sciences, Humanities and Law which is a holistic approach and another reason were that a Forensic Science and Chemistry graduate cannot get into M.Sc. Biotechnology/ Microbiology as only the graduates with B.Sc. Biotechnology/ Microbiology are eligible and so I started to research the best universities with regards to M.Sc. Environmental Science and Technology where any science graduate can apply and found the Department of Environmental Biotechnology at Bharathidasan University to be perfect for my M.Sc. studies as the Department has eight research labs with highly sophisticated instrumentation with support from various governmental and non-governmental agencies such as UGC, DST, DBT, MOEFCC, TNSCT, UNU, Japan, etc.

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Academic Plans for my Ph.D. Studies

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As my first and second semesters of masters taught me courses like Environmental Microbiology, Global Warming and Climate Change, Environmental Biotechnology, Water, Soil Pollution and Management with MOOCs such as Bioenergetics of Life Processes and Biochemistry from renowned Indian Universities, I started to develop more flair for Bioremediation, Water Resource Management, Composting, Climate Change Mitigation- everything with using Algae. Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic, I also had a chance to take Industrial Biotechnology as a MOOC course offered at Coursera by the University of Manchester.

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I want to develop highly efficient algal biorefineries that will allow co-sourcing different products, minimizing waste and maximizing productivity, improving the economics of processes otherwise low-efficient. The application of synthetic biology to microalgae has enormous potential to reinvent conventional animal and plant-based industries (e.g., food, high-value products, and chemicals) through innovations to minimize cost and environmental impact. Hence, I want to improve agricultural outcomes for the cultivation of microalgae, including optimization of photosynthetic efficiency and improving carbon utilization.
 

How do you think you will contribute back to the nation after studying Ph.D. Studies? 

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After my Ph.D. at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, I would like to first work for well-acclaimed companies in the field of Algal Bioprocess and Bioengineering and after gaining experience for some years, I would like to probably open my firm for supporting Carbon Sequestration, Algal Bioprocess, and Remediation, Sustainable Organic Agriculture which will benefit my environment in a creative, economical and innovative way. I have plans to start a Bioenergy Company too. According to statistics reported in the Economic Times, India is blessed with abundant biomass that can generate 18,000 Megawatt renewable energy using biomass. This biomass can be converted into biofuel which can help us to cut down the use of conventional fossil fuels obtained from oceans and Earth’s crust thereby contributing to a reduction in GHG emissions to a maximum.

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I am also passionate about helping the needy as I hail from a similar background. After successful completion of my higher academic degree, gaining relevant industrial experience, and successfully establishing my multi-facilitated Eco-Biotech Company, I would love to give back to my society and my country. I also aim to become a philanthropist supporting needy meritorious students who wish to go abroad for their higher studies in the broad field of Environmental Science and Technology.  I see myself in the role of an ambassador of peace and harmony.  I am already into social activities, the likes of which I shall continue even in the future. I have always involved myself in social activities such as volunteering for 2 consecutive years in the National Service Scheme Unit of my undergraduate university, spearheading scientific awareness campaigns through poems on AIDS day in the Army Cantonment village near Bundelkhand University, regularly donating blood in blood donation camps organized by the rotatory club of the university, participating in tree plantation drives, etc.

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I was able to raise funds of lumpsum money through my ‘What’s App’ contacts for distributing food groceries to abandoned tribes from my friend's district in Maharashtra during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have always tried to maintain good social links with the people in higher positions so that I can help the people in need. Amidst COVID-19, where the world had to shut down, I along with Professor N. Manimekalai who is appointed as University Counsellor for COVI-19 have coordinated to send our 25 stranded students from Tamil Nadu back to their hometown.  I am a mere dot in this wide world but my dreams are sustainable and large!!

 

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