Why Columbia?


I am fascinated by the emphasis Columbia places on blending the humanities and the science through its core, training both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The interdisciplinary focus of Columbia can help me identify how to create self-sustaining systems in emerging countries to drive sustainable infrastructure development.


During my free time, I started researching the application of statistical modeling in predicting anthropogenic impacts on the environment. Columbia’s course Environmental Data Analysis and Modeling taught by Professor [name] can guide my research and help me explore the confluence between data science and sustainability. I am especially interested in course content focused on ecological change, resource assessment, and soil pollution dynamics. My goal is to create a predictive analytics system that forecasts potential environmental hazards to help local governments shape policies accordingly.


I realized that there is a potential to mix waste and energy, as sustainable resources go untapped. Developing countries like India produce around 600 million tons of agro-waste, giving a resource that can be channelized for energy production. Columbia’s Combustion and Catalysis Laboratory offers the opportunity for me to explore the mechanics behind agro-waste gasification. I am also interested in learning about catalytic fast pyrolysis and the ZSM-5 catalyst by collaborating with experienced faculty like Dr. Marco Cassidi. With this research experience, I can create a cost effective agro-waste conversion systems that can be used to optimize energy production in industrializing nations.


I want to reside in Columbia’s Residential Incubator to collaborate with my fellow entrepreneurial Lions on ideation strategies for my future ventures. At the core an entrepreneur needs support to refine ideas and strategies while building out a full scaled project. I relish opportunities to discuss and learn from alumni startups. The supportive mentor network can help me scale my vision.



List the titles of the print, electronic publications and websites you read regularly. (150 words or less)

Websites:

techcrunch.com

espn.go.com

goal.com

cleantechnica.com

enn.com

entrepreneur.com

wired.com

quora.com


Print:

San Jose Mercury News

Tri-City Voice

The Atlantic



List the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year. (150 words or less)

Movies:
Steve Jobs

Spectre

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Ant-Man

The Internship

The Imitation Game


Lectures:

Steve Johnson’s Ted Talk: Where good Ideas come from

Angela Lee Duckworth’s Ted Talk: They key to success? Grit

Dr. Guido Jouret’s lecture on localization of resources

Nick Bostorm’s Ted Talk: What happens when our computers get smarter than we are?




List the titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year. (150 words or less)

Disciplined Entrepreneurship

1984

The Great Gatsby

The Lean Startup

Pygmalion




Engineering

My uncle, like many living in rural India, suffers from arsenic poisoning due to groundwater contamination. I want to help people like him gain access to clean water by improving waste management systems and turning waste into a benefit.


Spending my freshman and sophomore years in India, I realized that there were issues with energy distribution channels and waste management due to internal funding discrepancies between rural and urban areas. I noticed that in India the energy infrastructure was antiquated, which prevented opportunities to balance out energy distribution. I recognized that at the same time, as sustainable sources go untapped, there is potential to mix both energy and waste.


I knew that it would be difficult for the government to make drastic changes to infrastructure and that there is a need for new channels for energy production. To address this issue, I want to create a potential waste management system that converts biomass and waste residue to energy. Developing countries like India produce up to 600 million tons of agro-waste each year, giving a potential resource that can be channelized for energy production.


My goal is to develop an approach that removes waste sources to prevent further water contamination and in turn improve rural energy production. I believe using agro-waste for energy  can lead to fewer outages, while simultaneously reducing chances of environmental health hazards.



Activity

In school, I noticed that students were more interested in STEM clubs and ignored the environmental clubs. In response to the student body's growing interest in technology, I co-founded FIERCE, an organization that focuses on leveraging policy and scaling technology to stimulate interest in sustainability . 


This past May, FIERCE hosted the Green Summit, an event that brought legislators and technological innovators like the CTO of Nokia to talk about sustainable innovation. We also plan to host Green Hacks, a hackathon for students to collaboratively solve environmental issues through programming, next spring. Through FIERCE, I realized that getting young innovators interested in sustainability could help the world take a step forward towards solving the energy crisis.


Cofounded FIERCE, an environmental organization focused on engaging youth. Raised over $8,000 for events, brought renowned speakers like CTO of Nokia.


In response to the student body's growing interest in technology, I co-founded FIERCE, an organization focused on engaging youth through sustainable innovation. 


In response to the student body's growing interest in technology, I co-founded FIERCE, an organization focused on engaging youth through sustainable innovation.  Brought renowned environmentalists like CTO of Nokia, CEO of Ohm connect to Green Summit. Helped raise over $8,000.  


While attending the MIT Launch program, I founded [name], an application that brings social accountability and structure to the habit-formation process. Worked on backend development, handled customer acquisition strategies and secured partnerships with . Expected Launch on mid-2016