Submission Number: 289
Submission ID: 995
Submission UUID: ee8c7489-4bbe-439b-8c24-508825787eb4

Created: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 23:01
Completed: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 23:01
Changed: Tue, 05/06/2025 - 08:32

Remote IP address: 2601:285:c880:70f0:84df:89e4:a1df:cc44
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No

Flagged: Yes
{Empty}
Nikhila
Narayana
she/her/hers
Castle Pines
CO
United States
80108
Chemical Engineering
English (5), Spanish (3), Telugu (3)
My family is from India, so I have had the opportunity to travel there several times and experience global economic perspectives that I would not have seen otherwise. I saw stark contrasts between the rich and the urban poor, differences in access to food and clean water, shelter, and sanitation. Without access to these basic necessities, diseases like tuberculosis spread easily, increasing the number of preventable deaths. People living in poverty in India do not have the freedom to make choices about their life or take advantage of certain opportunities. People are often unable to attain education or health care, and are subject to violence and exploitation.

Too often, efforts to promote sustainable development are geared toward wealthier communities. Education prepares us to work in more industrialized countries, leaving us less informed on how to help impoverished communities that lack certain resources. I plan to use my education in global engineering to reduce these large economic differences, like those I see in India, and work towards all peoples’ access to basic necessities. Specifically as a chemical engineer, my greatest interest lies in renewable energy, and I hope to research and develop ways to make renewable energy technologies cheaper and more accessible to all. By embracing sustainability, advocacy, and equity, I can become part of the solution to global challenges.
I hope to be surrounded by people who embrace dichotomy. After attending global engineering classes, I would love to be able to bring stimulating discussions back to the dorms. I want to hear what my peers have to say about the impact of COVID-19 on access to essentials, or what they feel are the most intriguing ways to address global health challenges. But I also would like to be able to debate whether Sims have consciousness late into the night, or argue about what kind of bear is best. I am looking for dorm mates who have a desire to get involved at CU, just as I plan to participate in the Solar Decathlon and become a member of the Quiz Bowl team, and I hope they can accompany me to see concerts by the College of Music, or cheer on Buffs at football games. But I also hope we can spend relaxing Sunday mornings together getting breakfast and discussing our week. As a student pursuing a dual degree with engineering and music, I hope that other RAP members are passionate about engineering and using their knowledge to do good in the world, but still fulfill their enthusiasm for music, art, and dance.
Throughout high school, I have sought to ask meaningful questions with real world applications. It was through this curiosity in chemistry that I discovered my interest in renewable energy technology, which has shaped my goal of college education in chemical engineering. Just as important as asking questions about scientific concepts, is asking questions about how this knowledge can be applied to help the community and society at large. The burdens of climate change weigh heavier on poorer communities and communities of color. Energy policies often fail to help these people as they target wealthier communities. For example, solar power became more widespread in rich neighborhoods, because the tax breaks and other financial incentives offered were only relevant to the affluent. It is imperative that we hear from and work with marginalized communities on how to implement programs and technologies that actually benefit them.

As a member of the Global Engineering RAP at CU, I can work towards eliminating these inequalities. Through the Introduction to Global Engineering class, I will learn how to use my engineering knowledge to increase access to food, water, energy, and sanitation. Other classes, such as Intro to Development Economics for Engineers, allow me to explore the intersection between policy and engineering, discovering how to best implement technology in order to best help communities around me. Interactions with other RAP members will open my eyes to new areas of need and new ways to address disparities between rich and poor communities. As an individual, my penchant for creative solutions will prepare me to develop innovative technologies and designs that allow me to be a more effective advocate. I have been able to develop new methods of increasing efficiency of conventional solar panels, by altering the wavelength of the light rather than the technology of the panel using household fluorescent materials, cheaply boosting power output. I hope to continue researching new ways to improve technologies throughout college. My empathy pushes me to identify and engage with the needs of those who are impoverished, and my imagination helps me to envision a more sustainable and inclusive future.
{Empty}