Make It Sustainable
Dyanesh S, India
Hi Dyanesh! Please introduce yourself.
I’m Dyanesh. I’m currently studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Sri Krishna College of Technology in India. I’m really passionate about creating sustainable solutions to electrical demand, which will help us move towards net zero carbon emissions. I’m working on that right now. I’m also looking at AC and DC solutions to help us create a sustainable future.
What inspired you to start this path?
In my third year of the course, we developed a prototype for the EV batteries that don’t use traditional fuel like petrochemicals. Instead, it runs on hydrogen. So, through my involvement in that project, I gained a lot of knowledge, and it really inspired me to explore sustainability further. I really wanted to make an impact, so I decided to move forward. The fellowship also gave me a lot of guidance in terms of sustainability. I learned a lot from the coaching sessions!
What led you to start the fellowship?
At our college, they’ve suggested doing fellowships. They’ve recommended a “Make An Impact Fellowship.” (Note: it’s now called Your Big Year Fellowship) I’ve registered for the cohort, even my friends have registered, but they haven’t been selected. I have, though. What really inspired me to register for this fellowship is the program’s ideology and the professional and new educational learnings that inspired me to attend.
What are your main learnings from the fellowship? How are you applying them in everyday life?
In one of the sessions on the Sustainable Development Goals, I learned a lot about the economics of sustainability and how to apply that knowledge. In our electrical department, we keep an eye on the machines to make sure they’re in good shape. If the machine isn’t in good shape, it’ll generate a lot of heat, which means higher carbon emissions. To tackle this problem and find a solution, we’ve built a machine learning model that can predict the heat output of the machine before it reaches that point. So, if the machine isn’t performing well, the model will flag it and we’ll take the necessary steps to fix it. As a result, we’ve been able to cut the amount of carbon being emitted by the machine by 17% across our college. I also picked up a lot of useful tips on personal branding and effective communication.
What are some challenges that you faced throughout the fellowship?
My first challenge was to align my schedule with the coaching sessions. I was really eager to attend. When I joined the fellowship program, I had a limited understanding of SDGs. I did, however, recognize the value in upgrading my knowledge to a higher standard. It took time, but these challenges ultimately proved beneficial.
What was your biggest highlight from the fellowship?
The best part is that I learned how to create an impactful product for my college to help reduce carbon emissions. That was the main thing I took away from the fellowship map. I was able to use those learnings to create a valuable product.
Would you recommend the fellowship to your peers?
Yes, absolutely. I’d highly recommend getting involved because I loved the curriculum of the fellowship! Plus, the homework you assign really helps us a lot and raises our standards in sustainability. The future is all about sustainability. We need to focus on driving a sustainable future, and this will be the best platform for it.
What advice would you give to other young people worldwide?
No matter what course of study you’re currently pursuing, it’s important to make it sustainable. Even small actions can make a big impact. I suggest incorporating sustainable concepts into your current studies because we’re not just aiming to reduce carbon emissions in one country — we’re a global community, and we’re all in this together.
What are your next goals?
My goal is to create an efficient battery for electric vehicles. I want to create a battery that doesn’t use non-renewable resources for its propulsion and doesn’t emit carbon. Currently, we have a lot of batteries like lithium and hydrogen fuels, but they eventually emit carbon. My aim is to minimize those emissions.
Any other last words or things you want to say?
I just wanted to say a big thank you for organizing this fellowship and for inviting me to the Think Tank meetings. These calls really help me to explore different concepts in depth and to think about things from a new perspective. They’ve made a big impact on me, both personally and professionally, and I feel much more confident about applying what I’ve learned to sustainability. I’ve gained a lot from this complete curriculum.
