Theme: COUNTDOWN

Global climate change is a threat of the gravest magnitude that has become irrefutable in recent times. At the heart of TEDxSIULavale 2021 lies the theme COUNTDOWN, an initiative by TED to accelerate solutions to the ongoing climate crisis and progress towards preserving our planet.

The goal of the COUNTDOWN campaign is “To build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 in the race to a zero-carbon world – a world that is safer, cleaner, and fairer for everyone.”
TEDxSIULavale aims to contribute to this green-climate drive by hosting this TEDx Countdown event curated by the Symbiosis Institute of Technology. A more sustainable, prosperous world is in reach. Join us in taking action to claim it, starting now. #JointheCoundown #TEDxSIULavale

While we know our planet is facing a crisis, there’s still time to make amends. Our theme centered around the TED campaign, COUNTDOWN, helps in turning ideas of some of the greatest thinkers into a series of actions. Aimed at leaving a mark, these actions will enlighten young minds and stimulate society at the most basic level towards an optimistic tomorrow. Countdown sets a realistic pathway to answer five pivotal and fundamental questions to sketch a blueprint for a cleaner future. These questions cover the aspects of cleaner energy, upgraded transport, eco-friendly materials, healthier food systems and majorly focusing on “regreen-ing” the Earth.

The COUNTDOWN Campaign was launched in 2020 and is actively working ever since, to seek progress on the five fundamental questions and more. The latest addition to this noble motive was the Global COUNTDOWN Summit Livestream in October of 2021. This event saw leaders, excelling in their respective fields, come together and share a social moment while also creating unique blueprints for a beautiful “Net-zero Future”. It consisted of talks, case studies, and workshops causing a unified effort in breaking people from their silos and inspiring them to work towards a successful goal.

Symbiosis Institute of Technology
Symbiosis Institute of Technology Constituent of SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL (DEEMED UNIVERSITY) Near Lupin Research Park, Gram: Lavale, Tal: Mulshi, Pune 412 115
Pune, Maharashtra, 412 115
India

Abhiir Bhalla

Youth Environmentalist, President - Executive Council at Youth Connect Centered

An active youth environmentalist at the national and international level, Abhiir has been working in the field of environmental conservation for over 8 years. The BBC recently identified him as one of the foremost emerging youth environmentalists at the international level. His work focuses on air pollution and waste segregation, and he is currently producing a climate change podcast with a UK-based think tank. As a prominent youth leader, Abhiir is passionate about driving youth climate action.

Dr Bal Ram Singh

Professor and President at Institute of Advanced Sciences, Dartmouth, MA; Prime Bio, Inc.

Dr. Singh has been a Professor since 1990 and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-scholar since 1997 at UMass Dartmouth (until 2014) and the Institute of Advanced Sciences (INADS), Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. He is currently the President of the Institute of Advanced Sciences, and also the founder of Prime Bio Inc., a biotechnology-based company. He has been researching botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins and is also the Founding Director of the Botulinum Research Center. His field of research also includes Ayurveda, yoga, mind, and consciousness, and has published 14 books and over 325 articles. Dr. Singh is also the President of Prime Bio, Inc., a biotech company of 23 years, working with botulinum and tetanus toxins, vaccines, antibodies, detection and diagnostics, drug delivery, biosensors, Ayurvedic green chemistry, nanomaterials, and drug development.

Dr Gurudas Nulkar

Ecologist, Teacher, and Author

Dr Nulkar has a PhD in environmental management within industrial ecosystems and has been the Endeavour Fellow of the Government of Australia, and the Sir Ratan Tata Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru. Gurudas has published three books, several research papers, and articles, with his area of research in the alternative economy for a sustainable planet. His Marathi Book "Anartha Shashtra" has been awarded the Maharashtra State "C.D.Deshmukh award for economic literature”. He is a trustee of Ecological Society, Member-Secretary 'Carbon Neutral Pune 2030' and a founding member of the Ramnadi Restoration Mission, an advisor to the Meenanadi and Agrani River Restoration Programs. He is also a member of the Indian Society of Ecological Economists, India, Association for Sustainability in Business, Australia, and an adjunct faculty at Symbiomotivatingsis Centre for Management & HRD, and the Biodiversity Committee of SIU.

Dr Medha Tadpatrikar

Chief Plastic Warrior, Writer, and Serial Entrepreneur

Dr Medha Tadpatrikar, a serial entrepreneur, writer, and Director at Rudra Environmental Solutions (India) Ltd. Environmentally conscious from an early age, Dr Medha started working on waste plastic issues after witnessing the death of deer in a wildlife sanctuary. The passion and determination to find a solution to waste plastic resulted in pioneering and innovation that successfully converts waste plastic into usable fuel. Looking at the bigger picture has led Dr Medha, a trustee of “Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust” to create awareness of waste plastic and segregation at source for better waste management. She is the recipient of many awards and was among the top 30 Women Transforming India of Niti Ayog 2019.

Dr Rekha Lalla

Programme Manager-Green Campus Program The Climate Reality Project, India

Dr Rekha Lalla is a CII-Certified Expert in Climate Change and sustainability. She is also a Buddhist scholar. She has been an educator for over twenty-four years. She has taught Science for twenty-Four years and was also the Head of TERI Prakriti School, Gurgaon. Dr Lalla holds a PhD. masters' degree in Botany. She is an Environmentalist; she is also a Mentor and a Climate Reality Leader. She is an artist having conducted Painting Exhibitions at India Habitat Centre and CSOI. She has authored children’s books in GK and Science. She has played a vital role in several educational and environmental projects undertaken by the Department of Environment, Government of Delhi. She has designed educational toys for LEO METTLE Thomson Connect. She has worked with several NGOs and was also awarded for her environmental projects by the then Chief minister Ms. Sheila Dixit.

Mr. Abhishek Rana

Entrepreneur

Mr. Abhishek Rana , 23 years , is an engineer turned entrepreneur. With just 3 folks they have scaled their company called CODENERA to more than 100 employees in just 1 year span of time. With most of his work in educating students and also a bottom-up approach towards nature. They are trying to restore forests , helping various NGOs to achieve the sustainable development goal and trying to have minimum carbon footprints. From childhood he believed in making a difference towards climate and at this young age , with the help of Codenera and other organisations they are achieving that.

Mr. Sanjeev K. Kanchan

Environmental Research & Advocacy Expert, Advisor, Consultant, Author

Sanjeev K. Kanchan is an environmental expert who has contributed to the development of various regulatory tools, real-time pollution monitoring systems, and new pollution norms for industrial sectors in India. Besides being an Independent Environmental consultant, he is currently also associated as Faculty Advisor at various firms working towards sustainability. He has also trained hundreds of environmental practitioners across SPCBs, industries, and consultants in India.