Category: FORUM

Start-up Ecosystem 

Identifying a successful business idea for a start-up venture may require budding entrepreneurs to harness their creative energies, leverage their hands-on experiences/skills and turn their passion into a profession. Here’s how you can do it?    

Call it an after-effect of the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up India’ campaigns or the rise of a new breed of app-based tech-preneur teens who have easy access to digital online tools, entrepreneurship seems to have caught the fancy of many-a-school and college going youth. Setting breaks on the post-colonial euphoria of chasing government and high-profile corporate jobs, youth look to be at home discussing entrepreneurial issues, market dynamics, business opportunities and the challenges accompanying it. So also, B-schools and engineering colleges across the country are witnessing rising incidents of students opting out of the placement routines, at times even turning down hi-profile/high-paying job offers, only to pursue their deep inner entrepreneurial calling. In schools and colleges, ‘entrepreneurship’ is the new buzzword! 

Now for all those youngsters who have already decided to be an entrepreneur and are guessing as to what goes on to make businesses successful, whether it’s a right product, a smart business plan, adequate finances, a team of sharp and committed staff, world-wide digital footprints…, don’t be surprised if you ever hear management gurus emphasise on selection of a ‘right business idea’. It may set the alarm bells ringing for most people who are seriously considering to start a business based on one of the two personal biases:

• It’s a business I am already aware of: “I love food and know all about it, so I should start a restaurant,” if you feel so, better think again. Just because you are a foodie or a good chef doesn’t necessarily mean that you would successfully run a restaurant. Choosing to do so, could be a huge mistake!
• It’s a product/service I am in love with: Again, just because you like the product or services, doesn’t necessarily make it profitable. Especially, first-time entrepreneurs ought to be conscious of the fact that running a business is a tough ask, and that things could become all the more difficult if one gets passionately attached with the product/service.

So how does one really go about selecting a business idea that in the long-run would not only be profitable, but also yield rich dividends on scaling it up? Here’s a step-by-step approach to do so:

1. Picking up an idea: Look for something business that fits your passion, life goals, personal strengths, real-life experiences… While you do so, look at it as a possible business idea, and don’t fall in love with it just yet.
2. Think 360⁰: Evaluate the business idea as an investor would otherwise do. How big is the opportunity? Is the timing right? What will it take to execute it? Do you have adequate finances? What are the risks involved? Is the product/service marketable? How long would it take to make the venture profitable?
3. Get Feedback: Always be conscious of the fact that the selected business idea is your baby, and it’s your gut feeling that it will work fine. Playing it safe, look for people who know the market, who understands the business model, competition, market dynamics… and try getting first-hand feedback on your business idea. Also try talking to some of the probable customers as to: whether they would buy it? If so, at what cost? What value additions they would like? How much would they be ready to pay for it? and so on.
4. Business Plan: You should have a well thought out ‘Business Plan’ in hand prior to launch of the business. Try incorporating all your recent learnings, opinions of business experts, feedback of probable customers, learnings from market research, financial plan, marketing tools and their usage… Importantly, the business plan ought to be implementable, and it should have clearly set goals and target month-wise and year-wise.
5. Develop a prototype: its high-time you have a market-ready product/service in place. Thereafter, consider a soft launch or pilot run of the product/service to plan to launch, just prior to the final business launch. Keep the ultimate vision and business goals in mind, and look out for feelers during the trial runs as to how you can achieve it.
6. Test the waters: During this phase try to engage with your future customers and suppliers to figure out how to match your offerings with customer needs. To do that, test elements like pricing, branding, product/service features, customer experience, marketing strategy, etc. Measure the results and draw conclusions.
7. Make necessary adjustments: Once you have gathered wealth of information on your product/service, market challenges, customers, competition, etc., try figuring out as to what things you got wrong and promptly fix them. The process may warrant making small or significant changes to your proposed product/service or business plan, ensure that necessary corrective steps are taken to prevent any future eventualities.
8. Market ready: Having undergone the above mentioned process, you can be rest assured that your selected business idea is ready for a formal market launch.

-Team ScienceNow Digital

Art of Making Potable Water and the Craft of Desalination

Water is life. We live in a watery world. The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the surface of our planet. It is hard to imagine, but about 97 percent of the Earth’s water can be found in our ocean. Yet paradoxically we are stressed for safe potable water. Water is a universal solvent and dissolves salts making it unfit for our consumption. Sea water has 35000 parts per million of sodium chloride in it. Making sweet water from that is the challenge for science and technology.

Desalination has been used for thousands of years. Greek sailors  used to boil water to evaporate fresh water away from the salt. Romans used clay filters to trap salt. Simply put, desalination is the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater or brackish water to make it suitable for consumption and other applications. The two most prevalent methods of desalination are distillation and reverse osmosis.

Methods

Distillation involves heating seawater to create steam, which is then condensed back into liquid form, leaving the salts behind. India’s solar-rich landscape has encouraged innovative solar desalination techniques. The Sorek Desalination Plant in Israel serves as a prime example of distillation-based desalination, providing valuable lessons for India.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) employs a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while blocking salt and other impurities. The Nemmeli Desalination Plant in Chennai, is a significant illustration of reverse osmosis technology, catering to the water needs of a water-stressed city.

India

There is a beautiful Indian myth that the swan can separate milk and water. Milk is mostly water with suspensions of fat and proteins and lactose.  The gross composition of cow’s milk is 87.7% water, 4.9% lactose (carbohydrate), 3.4% fat, 3.3% protein, and 0.7% minerals.  Scientific explanation is that, the Swan has got a sieve like structure, lamellae, in its mouth which separates water from mud. Which is why probably there is the belief that, swan can separate milk from water and drink just the pure milk!

Indian Canadian scientist, Srinivasa Sourirajan is regarded as the father of RO membranes along with American-Israeli scientist, Loeb.  Their seminal work created the US$ 50 billion global membrane separation market to enrich the quality of worldwide life via providing clean water. Water, food and sanitation in their current status owe a lot to the transformative discoveries of Sourirajan. This is why Professor Menachem Elimelech asserted that “he should have received two Nobel Prizes- one for science and one for peace.

Sarabhai Dream

It was the visionary Indian Scientist, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who conceived the concept of desalination as part of his dream project Nuclear Powered Agro industrial Complex. Uranium is the input for huge amounts of energy in the nuclear reactor. Reactors are located near seawater sources for cooling. He envisaged sea water desalination for agriculture and started research groups in Bhabha Atomic research Centre. Dr M.P.S.Ramani piloted these research endeavours and brought them to industrial scale operation. World class membrane research teams were nurtured here.

Success Story

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, has been grappling with acute water scarcity due to erratic monsoons and depleting groundwater reserves. The Nemmeli Desalination Plant, established in 2010, produces 100 million liters of freshwater per day, alleviating the water crisis in the city to a considerable extent. However, challenges persist, including the high energy requirements of the desalination process and potential environmental impacts.

Gujarat with extensive coastlines, has harnessed solar power to drive desalination projects. The Solar Desalination Plant in Gandhinagar combines solar energy with the multi-effect distillation process to produce freshwater efficiently. This integration not only reduces the carbon footprint but also aligns with India’s commitment to renewable energy development

Challenges

Desalination processes are notorious for their high energy consumption. Breakthroughs in energy recovery devices, such as pressure exchangers, turbochargers, and isobaric chambers, are making strides in reducing energy demands. India’s desalination initiatives can benefit from adopting such innovations to make the process more sustainable.

Disposal of concentrated brine, a byproduct of desalination, can harm marine ecosystems. The Jal Shakti Ministry’s guidelines for brine disposal, incorporating dilution techniques and monitoring mechanisms, exemplify India’s efforts to balance technological advancements with environmental protection.

While desalination holds immense potential to address India’s water security challenges, a holistic approach is essential integrating sustainability into it.  The Indian government’s emphasis on water conservation through campaigns like Jal Shakti Abhiyan is crucial to curbing wastage and enhancing the impact of desalination efforts.

In the relentless pursuit of SDG 6, desalination emerges as a pivotal tool to ensure water access for India’s burgeoning population. Through technological innovations and sustainable practices, the country can navigate its water security challenges while safeguarding its environment. By harnessing the power of the oceans and the brilliance of scientific advancement, India can lead the charge towards a water-secure future for all.

In the pursuit of sustainable water solutions, the future holds a promising ally in RO. This revolutionary technology is poised to redefine freshwater production, addressing the ever-growing global water scarcity crisis.

-Dr.A.P.Jayaraman

Chairman, NCSC

The Curiosity Key…

The basis of understanding Science is the innate curiosity. For instance, understanding the basic four elements like Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon gives you a lot of knowledge about the science. However, the problem lies with the curiosity of the students. Curiosity leads towards understanding the basic concepts in Science. Mugging up various equations in the textbook never increase curiosity or understanding about the science.

Bookish Approach

From Primary level, right from the first standard whenever you learn about our planet earth. you are taught that 70% of the planet is covered by water in the oceans and only 30% is available on land. Similarly in the atmosphere around us the major part of element is nitrogen followed by oxygen. When you go beyond the atmosphere around the earth major element is different. On the land or in the ocean plants in various forms grow and they content mostly carbon in organic form. All plants absorb carbon in the form of gas and give out oxygen.

What you are reading in this article till this moment Is very much taught and recited by each science student till he completes his 12^th Science . But students never correlate this with new applied developments. To change science in application one needs curiosity…

Understand the Concepts

Few days back there was a news about producing hydrogen from the sea water. The process is called production of green hydrogen.  De-salination methods are known to students but they cannot explain them. Some students have even visited Middle East countries with their parents or school arranged trips. Where they can see the technologies.

When Israeli President visited India he gifted our PM movable, mobile van mounted de-salination plant. It was in the news along with the details of the machine. Last month there was a news about capturing the atmospheric oxygen and compressing it in cylinders for industrial use.

Make it Applied

We are the agrarian country so India needs very big quantities of Urea as fertilizer for the agriculture or crops. Ammonia contains nitrogen and hydrogen. But producing these two elements artificially is very costly process. Learning how ammonia is produced in the laboratory or reading it in the textbook is a norm. But thinking laterally about the production methods from freely available elements in the atmosphere needs curiosity.

Some students are very curious about the space research. China recently sent three  astronauts to a Space Station. I asked a very simple question to a student who was topper in the class in the 12th standard and was preparing for a NEET exam. I asked him simple question that How many litres of water the astronauts might have carried with them for their space journey? He started calculating the days ,the number of astronauts, as well as daily requirement of water of one person. When I told him about the recycling method of the daily consumed water he was looking at me with the great surprise.

Popularize Science

One of my friend went to Japan for his business trip. When he entered a classic hotel and asked bellboy for the drinking water, to his surprise the answer given by the bellboy was you can drink water from any of the taps not only in your room but anywhere in the hotel. My friend was accustomed to drink water only from Aquaguard in India. Basic principle for supply of water for domestic use is potable water for drinking.

Another experiment of producing water from the atmosphere was very popular via a video recently. Though the quantity was not sufficient to utilise for the daily use it was ample for a family for their need of drinking water. Curious science student can easily replicate such things in the areas where water scarcity is maximum, but it is never heard or practiced even by scientific researchers. In Maharashtra there are so many small towns where tap water is provided once a week that too hardly for 2 hours. 

The basic which is needed in science is curiosity. With curious minds not merely bookish will solve the problem of applying science for the benefit of society. Inculcating the spirit of inquiry and curiosity will be possible when science Is made popular, practicable & also affordable.

–Dr Shreeram Geet
Sr Career Counsellor

Career

Importance of Information and Data

Information and Data is important is executing Scientific Research. The proper knowledge and implementation is required to build a successful Career…

Everything starts with information, for example there is a college in Mumbai which has 3500 students. It is an Arts & Science College. There are 1300 girls and rest are boys. So this can be called information in technical terms. Now in other words, same college is a prestigious Institute in Maharashtra as well as in India. It has produced not less than 27 scientist belonging to the science stream. Five international Economist & 3 IAS officers are alumnus of this college. There is a tough entrance to enter into this college, which allows only one student out of 13 students appearing for that examination. This then becomes an important data of national interest, as well as for those who want to study in the Science and Arts streams after 10th or 12th standard.

Data

Another example of big data is about Corona epidemic which troubled the whole world. How many people got infected? How many died & in which country? What was the death rate? This can be called as simple information. But when you start digging into that information with segregating numbers that is how many above 80 yrs died, how many above 60 yrs died, how many were having other collateral diseases along with covid-19 virus? This becomes important medico social data.

Analytics

Still further, if one examines whether a country was successful in lock down and control covid-19 or lock down was unnecessary in that country?  Using mask was very effective or not? Using mask really prevented each and every person from getting infected? This is analysing the data for some sort of experiment or research purpose.

Results

In research no one knows the result of the experiment.  In other words you cannot conclude the outcome of the research. You have to accept the outcome as it comes which is the pre requisite for research. Most of the classic inventions in the human history are totally accidental. They are serendipitous outcome of unscheduled research work or even accidental one. First antibiotic Penicillin, was an accidental outcome.

Physics & Chemistry have some lineage of sequential outcome with interaction of elements. But Bioscience is a very vast subject for collecting data and analysing is equally complex. In life sciences everyday some species get extinct, some species change their habitat, migrate and modify accordingly. Most of the bacteria as well as viruses mutate for some reason to survive.

Fallacies & Blind faith

Keeping blind faith on some of the hypothesis or the concepts while learning or in research work is not unknown in the scientific community. Such dogmatic interpretations hamper research. Getting over it is and sticking to the rational thinking is required. This is the important point to be a scientist or researcher. It is the responsibility or in technical language logic.

Variables in Research

In principle, things work in normal habitat or in normal situation in laboratory in accordance with the physical or chemical theories. but sometimes what is proven in the labs shows deviations in real life. For example the laws about temperature, pressure, volume are very well defined in Physics and taught in for last 100 years. But when it comes to Climate theories sometimes  it is not  possible to predict with the same accuracy as in laboratory. The reason is unanswerable because of huge data variations are involved in it.

Another example is still obscure even to understand, the surface temperature of sun is around 6000 Degree Celsius, but the same temperature rises to more than 10 lakh Degrees Celsius as you go away from the surface of the Sun. which is still an unexplained phenomenon.

Moon is very close to earth as compared to other planets but still we don’t know or know very little about the other side moon which we don’t see from Earth.

Superconductivity is the dream of human beings. It is achieved in laboratory 25 years back, but in practice it has eluded us constantly.

Genome of all viruses is known or analysed in the Laboratories. But treating the viruses is totally unknown to us and no medicines are available.

Big Data

Understanding of the system or structure does not mean that you can control it. Such grey areas are always very challenging for the researcher. The information and data plays key role in the advancement of Science…Big Data and Information plays a bigger role…

Dr Shreeram Geet

Senior Career Counsellor

‘HARMONY FOR TOMORROW: A SUSTAINABLE SYMPHONY’

“SOWING SEEDS OF WELL-BEING: NURTURING HEALTH AND MINDS”

Introduction:

As we progress through the journey of “Harmony for Tomorrow: A Sustainable Symphony,” our movement resonates with the theme, “Sowing Seeds of Well-being: Nurturing Health and Minds.” This episode delves into the profound objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, fostering inclusive education.

SDG 4

Quality Education

The fourth movement in our symphony focuses on SDG 4, emphasizing the significance of quality education. The 2030 deadline challenges nations to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all, breaking down barriers and fostering lifelong learning opportunities.

In India, a transformative success story emerges from the realm of education, where digital initiatives and inclusive policies have revolutionized the learning landscape. The narrative unfolds in classrooms equipped with digital tools, reaching students in urban centers and remote villages alike.

Digital initiatives, such as online education platforms, smart classrooms, and e-learning resources, have transcended geographical constraints, democratizing access to quality education. These initiatives not only cater to the diverse learning needs of students but also bridge gaps in educational opportunities.

Inclusive policies, such as those promoting gender equality in education and providing support for children with special needs, ensure that no one is left behind on the journey to knowledge. The success story in India’s education sector exemplifies the harmonious integration of inclusivity and technological innovation, fostering an environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

A Symphony of Well-being and Inclusive Education

As we reflect on the success stories from India under SDG 4, a harmonious integration of well-being and inclusive education unfolds.

Good health is not merely the absence of disease; it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. In the educational context, quality education goes beyond the classroom, nurturing the holistic development of individuals. The symphony we aim to create involves recognizing the synergy between health and education, as both are foundational pillars for a sustainable future.

The success stories from India under SDG 4 highlight the potential for holistic solutions that address the interconnected challenges of well-being and education. It is a melody that harmonizes diverse notes- like digital initiatives, and inclusive policies- to create a balanced and sustainable future.

The Urgency of Sowing Seeds of Well-being and Knowledge

The urgency of sowing seeds of well-being and knowledge is underscored by the realization that time is of the essence. The 2030 deadline for the SDGs demands concerted efforts to ensure the well-being of societies and the empowerment of future generations through education.

College students, as the torchbearers of the future, must recognize their role in nurturing both individual well-being and the collective wisdom of society. Their ideas, energy, and commitment are instrumental in creating the world we aspire to inhabit.

As we progress through this sustainable symphony, the success stories from India regarding SDG 4 serve as beacons of hope, illustrating that a harmonious and sustainable future is within our grasp. In the grand orchestration of “Sowing Seeds of Well-being: Nurturing Health and Minds,” let this symphony resonate in the hearts and minds of college students, inspiring them to be active participants in the creation of a better world for all. Together, we can sow the seeds that will blossom into a legacy of harmony for generations to come.

Prof Sanjay Deshmukh

Professor of Life Sciences

Ex VC Univ of Mumbai

 

Perspective

Avenues for Research

21^st Century is the knowledge driven society. The Scientific Knowledge has many avenues for conducting and implementing Research. This article explores the different avenues for Research…

Knowledge is the product of processed information analysed, digested and enriched with experiences. Mere knowledge is of no value as it needs to be utilized for a useful purpose for the benefit of the society at large

Integration

As Physics teaches universal principles. Engineering methods are used to convert these principles into technology resulting into products which are created and utilised by the society.
Similarly, you know elements and their properties by learning Chemistry. The conversion of this knowledge into chemical products gives us  almost everything what you see around us which are very much needed for our daily routine.
By learning Botany we know about the plants, know the classification, identification and properties applying this knowledge, using agriculture techniques, we know how to plant them, utilize as a crop and convert them into food for all . Same thing applies in Zoology or Microbiology as well in every other basic science subjects.

Comprehensive Approach

When a scientist or researcher starts his work he doesn’t segregate the above subjects as separate entities. He utilises integration of the Knowledge from various branches which leads to developing technologies for the benefit of Society

Let us take an example of solar energy.
Solar panels are needed to absorb sunlight. Here all types of expertise is needed. Physics, Chemistry with the help of Mechanical, Metallurgical, Electrical as well as Electronics principles are integrated. For the installation of these heavy panels at a place where maximum sunlight will be available is to be selected and erected by a Civil engineer but design is provided by an architect.

Integration

Scientists integrates all these ideas on paper keeping in mind their merits and demerits. When such a model is conceptualised on paper and tested, or replicated the cost effectivity is also calculated to make the technology viable.

When you are dealing with environmental or ecological science, interdisciplinary information and its analysis is a must. More in-depth analysis is needed in astronomy, astrophysics, oceanography and meteorological science. Fields like atomic energy, rocket science and advance computer technology need very complicated research. Here teamwork, collaboration is needed to establish or to achieve any reasonable success .

Agricultural needs

In past many need based agricultural products have been developed by the farming community. The major resources needed for agriculture, along with soil is the manpower.. the availability of the agricultural labour is in shortage in the country.. To overcome this, The mechanization is the answer… The development of the advanced technologies used in agriculture such as tractors, tillers need the integration of various technologies other than pure agriculture.
In the agricultural sector various small instruments are operated using electricity or diesel. Availability of power is becoming crucial; however, the Problem arises from load shedding or non availability of the diesel. The solution to overcome the problem could be to make the power available or by creating small novel devices to help farmers .

Waste Disposal

All over the world the major problem is disposal of various type of waste products. Composting or utilising that waste for power generation is practiced. Though in small scale in different areas of the city it is now a model used in various countries. Discarded electronic material waste is incising beyond proportion. Recycling them and procuring the rare metals poses a challenge …

Recycling the polluted water in the rivers is a very big issue in India. At the same time how to stop evaporation of water from the dams is also an age old issue.

,Thus to discover the various research avenues in modern times the integration of the different subjects is needed…The approach should be interdisciplinary… While solving the different problems and to help the society, you must focus on any such area of your interest with interdisciplinary approach then you can discover or even invent something.

-Dr Shreeram Geet

Career Counsellor

Expanding Horizons of Existential Corporate Sustainability: ESG

Sustainability has been the buzzword in science and scientists have been ceaselessly creating a prolific literature on the subject. It all has the milestone mark and seal of Garret James Hardin’s essay in Science Journal in 1968 titled the Tragedy of Commons. He went on with his majestic march of 27 books and no fewer than 350 articles with his much-quoted maxim “Freedom to breed is intolerable.” This academic blockbuster lingers like an unloved guest….

The articulation of a universally acknowledged definition of Sustainable Development by physician-politician Gro Harlem Brundtland in 1987 as “development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” was the second milestone. This stuck strikingly.

The formulation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly  is the third milestone. These goals are a collection of 17 interlinked and crosscutting objectives designed to serve as a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and into the future.” Most targets are to be achieved by 2030 and are being monitored by the UN High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development. Actionable plans started unfolding.

With sustainability waves impacting every facet of human activity, the Corporate responsible leadership started responding to them in a spectrum ranging from the reactive to the proactive. The landscape of Environmental Social and Governance and the three letters ESG became common terms of the CEO conversational vocabulary. It is the widely used New Equation entering into company reports painstakingly prepared providing the health status of the company.

E

The E in ESG signifies Environment. Concern for compliance with environmental laws and regulations became high priority. Beyond that, other environmental criteria, such as the energy the  company takes in,  the effluents it discharges and  the resources it consumes came into laser focus. Expanding the  E dimension, carbon emissions and climate change issues engaged engineering attention. Every company uses energy and resources; every company affects, and is affected by, the environment. E is now deeply entrenched in all company affairs.

S

The S signifies Society. It is the people and neighbourhood factor. Social criteria, addresses the relationships the company has with the social space in which it operates. The community around a company and the totality of stakeholders are admitted into company affairs in a way different from the corporate mindset of business as usual. S includes labour relations, diversity and inclusion including the LGBTQ+ community. S is now a critical variable.

G

G signifies governance. A company being a legal creation is a legal entity and all its activities need to be necessarily lawful and ethical. Governance  is the internal system of management practices, administrative controls, and operational procedures the company follows in order to govern itself. It covers decision making processes. Compliance with laws and meeting the needs of  external stakeholders are integral to The make-up of the  Board of directors and the take-away executive compensations, lobbying and political contributions come in the ambit of G.

Leadership

Responsible and responsive corporate leadership involves assuming and asserting  proactive initiatives to addressing ESG issues and envisioning the long-term health of the company ensuring value to stakeholders.  Leadership demands a holistic perspective to company operations weighing in grudging scales the merits and the demerits of them on environment, communities, customers and employees. Leaders will keep eternal vigil on environment reducing the use of natural resources, eliminating waste generation and downsizing greenhouse gases. The source of electric power will be reviewed and renewable energy will be selected. Supply chain management will look at the green colour of  all suppliers and two and three tier suppliers till the very primary supplier.

Transformational leaders will  be operating in the sensitive elevations of absolute transparency and unfiltered communication ringing in a new corporate ethical culture. An analysis of the leadership and stewardship styles of CEOs against the evolutionary background of ESG shows that in the formative phase of ESG the leaders could be characterized as Guardians, Pioneers, integrators and Pilots. Guardians zealously guarded their monogamous straight jacket of profitability. Pioneers  were ahead of their times and had implemented most of the ESG demands. Integrators scurried into action and brought together their ESG sensitive functions under a common umbrella. Pilots went into driver mode giving power and direction to ESG destinations.

With mounting pressures of ESG demands and heightened public understanding of ESG benefits, sustainability is at the core of the company purpose. There is a marked change in the transformation characteristics in the second phase. An X-ray analysis coupled with an MRI scan of the contemporary CEO mindsets reveals the fine structure of ESG compliance by the Corporate sector. This can be stylized as the  Scale of Sustainability Ambition of CEOs. We find Sceptics, Pragmatists, Strategists and Idealists based on their approach to and perspectives of ESG. CEOs of Private Equity Firms and  Portfolio Companies are seeing  the opportunities and challenges in value creation in the business environment guided by ESG.

Owing to the interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary character of ESG universities have entered the horizon to prepare future ESG leaders.

-Dr. A. P. Jayaraman

Chairman, NCSC, Mumbai

 

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Earth is the only planet to sustain several technologies innovated by humans. Many of these technologies have been either treating the environment positively or impacting it with negative impacts. Environmental technology has by far been the prime tool to deal with the altering environment….

What is Environmental Technology?

Often referred to as green technology, Environmental technology is basically the application of environmental sciences for the betterment of environment. These sciences help in the development of new technologies that observe, protect or reduce the harm caused due to the excessive use of natural resources. Environmental technology aims for development that benefits the environment and slows down the depletion of natural resources and reduce the amount of pollution.

How can it be pursued as a career?

Environmental technology is a broad field. It includes anything and everything related to technology that would benefit the environment. In short, it is technology that would help sustain the environment in its natural form.  The field has multiple aspects that can be termed as specializations or individual careers. Each of these aspects of the field brings in various ways and methods to conserve the environment. Let’s learn about a few careers that the field offers –

Environmental technician

These technologists inspect and maintain tools, manage waste and look after waste operations by collecting samples and studying them in testing laboratories. They monitor the environment to find the sources of pollution that affect human health and often work under the guidance of an environmental scientist.

Environmental scientist

A scientist collects data from air, soil, water, food samples and perform detailed research. On the basis of their findings, they develop plans to prevent, control or fix environmental problems. They prepare technical reports and presentations to explain their findings.

Environmental engineer

An engineer designs systems or tools and implements measures to prevent, control or fix environmental dangers. They often work on recycling and treating all kinds of waste after studying the data collected by technicians and researched by scientists.

Environmental manager

A manager often supervises environmental activities in private and public organisations. He/she work on plans and observes various strategies to promote environment sustainability. A manager also sees to it that the necessary changes are applied.

Environmental Consultant

A consultant conducts desk-based research. He/she understands data collected by field surveys to check the pollution levels or contamination caused in an area. Through the interpretation, he/she writes reports with the help of software to share the survey findings.

What educational requirements do careers in Environmental Technology offer?

A career in environmental technology usually needs formal education with a bachelor’s degree for entry-level work. To pursue a career in Environmental technology, one needs to hold a bachelor’s degree from science stream. One can enrol for B.Sc. in Environmental sciences or enrol for a B.E. in Environmental technology. He/she would need a study of chemistry, biology, geology and hydrology. To study environmental technology on a post-graduate level, one can enrol for M.Sc or M.Tech. Students can also enrol for two-year skill based degree programs which enable them on-the-job training. Many institutes also offer certificate programmes for undergraduate or post-graduate candidates.

What personal attributes does one need to opt a career in environmental technology?

Careers in environmental technology need technical skills and abilities. One needs to possess excellent reading skills to understand data and survey. He/she also needs to have critical thinking skills. Often one needs to possess good communication skills as one may need to be working as a team member. One thus needs to have strong listening, speaking and writing skills. One must also have good social skills in order to convey facts correctly and clearly. Above everything, one needs to have very good observational skills. He/she must be able to recognise and identify possible environmental issues and try to find appropriate solutions.  Candidates should also have excellent maths, science and computing skills so as to plan and design systems and understand the data. He/she should also have a passion for working towards a better environment and conserve natural resources. One should be able to learn new techniques and adapt to newer technologies.

-Noel Fernandez

Team ScienceNow Digital

 

Meditation

Think of indulging in Meditation to get Mindfulness…

Human curiosity has propelled extensive exploration, yielding remarkable insights into the understanding of the mind and techniques to enhance our mastery over it. The stresses of contemporary life have intensified interest in wellness practices, particularly mindfulness and meditation. Although often used synonymously, mindfulness and meditation are distinct concepts.

Secular meditation, a practice open to all regardless of individual beliefs or religions, can be described as a formal exercise in focused attention. This may involve concentrating on the breath, hands, feet, body contact points, or undergoing a body scan meditation, where attention moves from head to toe, observing sensations with equanimity. Such practices not only induce physiological changes in the brain, such as strengthening the prefrontal cortex through increased neural connections but also lead to behavioral transformations like improved self-regulation.

The efficacy of meditation is supported by a wealth of scientific literature within neuroscience and psychology. These findings are synthesized in several seminal books, including ‘Altered Traits’ and ‘The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind, and Body’ by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson.

A consistent meditation practice fosters an objective perspective, offering individuals and potentially the world a pathway to enduring health, peace, joy, and contentment.

– Dr Tushar Bhagat

MBSR Facilitator, USA

Soil Saviour

If you have a passion for knowing more about the soil and want to seek answers to problems relating to the environment, then a career as a Soil Scientist will be apt for you

Soil Science plays an important role in the life of a human being. It is not only the resource for food production, but it also helps us on waste disposal, to maintain playgrounds, to distribute and store water and nutrients, and support our environment.

What does a Soil Scientist do?

A soil scientist is a person who is qualified to evaluate and interpret soils and soil-related data to provide information about its quality and structure. Information about the composition of soil is required to assist with planning and surveying for land development purposes; to assess the effect of agrochemicals used in farming; to aid land restoration and reclamation projects; to gauge drainage and irrigation requirements; or to investigate environmental, climatic and pollution issues.

What attributes will you require?

Aspiring soil scientists usually have a passion for nature and are enthusiastic about working outdoors. They should also have the willingness to communicate their knowledge to others, a hunger to learn and seek answers to problems relating to the environment. Since soil scientists often serve as consultants for landowners, farmers, and environmentalists, it is crucial that they have excellent communication skills – both written and oral.

He/she must also possess good observation and concentration skills to be capable to examine and verify the properties of different soils. Physical fitness is also a prerequisite because of the manual work that is involved. Many soils are very complicated and a soil scientist must analyse diverse locations before plantation. Therefore, they must be willing to face various challenges and adapt to different working conditions.

What are the qualifications required?

A four-year bachelor’s degree in soil science, either environmental or agricultural science is necessary to qualify. Students interested in pursuing a career in soil science should have a strong background in subjects like mathematics and science in high school. Some employers favour a master’s degree or a doctorate from an agricultural university. Those who wish to teach at universities and colleges or conduct research will need to obtain a PhD degree. In addition to formal education, internships can be very important in securing good positions because they provide on-the-job training.

What is the scope of work?

Soil science is a relatively small field and the demand for soil scientists is anticipated to grow in the coming years, given the government’s initiatives. That being said, a significant number of soil scientists with advanced training and strong educational backgrounds will be required to improve the quality of farm soil. In addition, they will also be needed to help urban and regional development as well as for ecological preservation. Therefore, employment opportunities for highly educated and trained scientists will continue to be plentiful.

What are the opportunities available?

Soil scientists usually begin as helpers or subordinates to senior soil scientists. Those who gain enough experience or perform exceptionally are generally promoted to more advanced positions with greater responsibilities, such as project heads or supervisors. Positions in management are secured by those who have a graduate degree or an MBA.

Institutes offering courses in Soil Science

• Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology of Kashmir
• Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
• Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour
• AKS University, MP
• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

-Team ScienceNow Digital