India
I strive to create community (peer)-based integrated, experiential learning spaces to bridge geographical (rural-urban) and socio-economic divides along with the gap between science, innovation and society, in tiny little ways. With a background in Biotechnology and Anthropology, I am deeply passionate about Science for Society: the intersection of science, innovation, human society and environment. Since 2018, I have served as a Fellow for Foldscope Outreach, facilitating over 45 in-person frugal science workshops across 16 Indian states, alongside numerous virtual programs. For these efforts to bring scientific tools to grassroots communities, I was honored as a finalist at the 3M-CII Young Innovators Challenge Award. My commitment to sustainability and equity led me to the SBI Youth for India Fellowship, where I developed a Science-based WASH curriculum, which was successfully introduced in 150 Shiksha Kendras, reaching over 4,500 students. Also led several sustainable menstruation and menstrual health workshops in rural and tribal communities of Rajasthan. I have been honored to receive the Earthwatch Citizen Science Fellowship to support my work further. Whether I am designing environment-based curricula or expanding access to frugal science tools, my love for the natural world drives everything I do. I have also been a strong advocate for conscious consumption and sustainable menstruation for over a decade. Outside of my work as an educator, I am an avid traveler, an open-water diver, an amateur surfer, a yoga practitioner, and an amateur semi-classical vocalist. Specialties: Community Learning | Experiential Learning | Frugal Science | Rural Outreach | Citizen Science | Sustainable Menstrual Wellness
Developing and facilitating inclusive, experiential, multidisciplinary educational frameworks for rural communities. Key initiatives include spearheading pan-India citizen science and Foldscope projects (CSIRI) and driving on-ground sustainable menstrual wellness education (SuMWEd).
- Conducted and facilitated over 45 Outreach workshops across 16 states in india, and 1 in Bhutan. - Science popularization, Collaborations and Content development - Outreach & Community Engagement in Rural and Resource-constrained communities in India.
1. Citizen Science modules for integrating foldscope with local ecology, environmental education and microplastics. 2. Sustainable Menstruation with a citizen science approach.
Was invited as a Trainer by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India for 12 handson Workshops conducted on the use of Foldscope under DBT-Foldscope Programme in aspirational districts across the country between 2018-2023 as well as the Orientation Workshop at ICGEB, Delhi and India International Science Festival 2018, Lucknow.
- Developed a Science-based WASH curriculum, which was successfully introduced in 150 Shiksha Kendras, reaching over 4,500 students. - Led community engagement and school sanitation program for behaviour change in open defecation prevalent areas. - Led Sustainable Menstrual Health Management (MHM) workshops, educating rural communities on eco-friendly alternatives over disposables to tackle local waste crisis.