On Episode 54 of #LearningStories we chat with Shaunak De on Why Study Engineering? Shaunak De received the B.E. Degree in electronics engineering from the University of Mumbai, in 2012, graduating as a gold medalist. He got his Ph.D. degree at the Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering (CSRE), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India. His research interests include polarimetric SAR, machine learning, and information theory. He is currently a senior radar engineer at Capella Space, where he leverages his PhD in machine learning for radar remote sensing. His work aims to provide high-resolution radar imagery from space for various applications, such as urban planning, disaster management, and environmental monitoring. We chat about stories from school, his undergraduate years, his doctoral studies, the world of academia and the role of radar remote sensing in the world today. You can find Shaunak on Linkedin.

Show Chapters

(00:10) - Introduction and Background

(01:55) - Childhood Stories, Observations and Adventures

(02:03) - "I am very stereotypically an engineer"

(02:18) - "I liked science as much as engineering"

(03:35) - "I loved science but did not have the patience for science"

(03:50) - What kind of learning you enjoyed the most?

(04:50) - Why I hated exams and cram schools?

(05:10) - "I got a tutor who was a working scientist"

(05:45) - How did your parents guide you as a student?

(06:00) - "My uncle got his PhD around the same time"

(06:45) - "I would have had a worst outcome if I got better grades"

(07:00) - "I was terrible at Maths at school"

(09:00) - Why did you chose a vocational education path in high school?

(09:45) - What science projects did you work on at school and university?

(11:10) - What did you learn from the inventor of the IGBT transistor?

(11:40) - "Education System should not be a sorting algorithm"

(12:00) - What was your experience teaching students?

(15:00) - Why should you understand the connection between education, history and colonization?

(17:50) - "Scientists are trying to make the world a better place"

(18:50) - What is the art of learning?

(19:00) - Why is it important to be open to ideas from parallel disciplines?

(20:05) - "There is so much overlap in human knowledge"

(20:30) - "In the western system you can switch areas of study at university"

(21:00) - Why I had to learn geography in my engineering doctoral studies?

(23:00) - "My greatest source of learning is Wikipedia, Open Books and Youtube"

(23:05) - How I learned Advanced Remote Sensing on Youtube

(24:20) - What can we learn from the life of Leonardo Da Vinci

(28:10) - How I used hacking to learn new skills and knowledge

(29:00) - "Putting things together in creative ways can reap you lots of rewards"

(30:00) - What was my experience studying at an engineering school?

(30:30) - "I started an electronics business in university"

(32:00) - "Everything I needed to learn was in the textbooks"

(32:20) - What was your experience job hunting after your undergraduate degree?

(33:40) - "I started working on a research project with a professor at IIT Bombay"

(34:00) - How did a mentor shape my career decision to pursue a PhD Program?

(35:20) - "It took me 7-8 years to complete my PhD"

(36:00) - What was your experience job hunting after your doctoral degree?

(37:00) - "My niche academic research got me a niche industry job"

(39:40) - Why doing random things is important early on in your career?

(43:40) - Why is radar remote sensing important for humanity?

(50:00) - Why creating a digital twin of Earth can help with research?

(54:00) - Recommendations and Closing Thoughts

On Episode 53 of #LearningStories we chat with Lovish Raheja on Teaching and Research as a Career in India. Lovish is currently a research scholar at IIT Bombay - Monash Research Academy working in the field of Circular Economy in the Context of Food Supply Chains. He was born and brought up in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. Prior to his doctoral studies he completed a M.Sc in Environmental Studies and Resource Management from TERI School of Advanced Studies and an integrated B.Sc/B.Ed in Chemistry and Mathematics Education from Parishkar College of Global Excellence. He has written 30+ research articles and has presented his research in local and national conferences. He has majorly worked in the areas of sustainable development spanning across various facets of environment and education and their nexus. You can find Lovish on Linkedin.

On Episode 52 of #LearningStories we chat with Samira Gupta about Life as a Creative Professional in India. Samira started her design career in 2008 after graduating from the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology (Bengaluru). After teaching design and consulting independently, she then co founded Studio Eksaat with Dhritiman Deb Pillai. Studio Eksaat is now a collaborative graphics and environments studio based out of New Delhi. Their work encompasses all aspects of design and communication. Over 14 years, she has looked at design with a multi pronged approach immersing herself in writing for brands, writing for theatre, writing books and collaborating with designers. She has published two books and is currently working on Naqab, a year long writing project that looks at the various masks she has worn as an Indian woman. You can find Samira on Substack, Linkedin and Instagram.

On Episode 51 of #LearningStories we chat with Devendra Kumar about the Life of an Information Technology Professional in India. Devendra is a Senior IT Consultant, certified Yoga Instructor, and advocate for sustainable weight loss and holistic well-being. From 2007 to 2013, he completed a Bachelor in Technology in Electronics and a Masters in Technology in Mechatronics. Since 2013, he has worked as an Information Technology Professional in the Logistics Consulting space for companies like IBM, Tieto, Flo Group, ITC Infotech and Accenture. He has also worked on startup ideas and projects in the fields of Robotics (TechRobo) and Ayurveda (Dirghayu). He has a passion for teaching and sharing his experiences with the world through ebooks, social media and courses. After transforming his own health and overcoming challenges with weight loss he released a digital weight loss guide where he draws on personal experiences to empower readers on their journey to better health. You can follow his journey on Linkedin.

On Episode 50 of #LearningStories, we chat with Anamika Suresh about building a career in the social development sector in India. Anamika is an aspiring social entrepreneur, program designer, educator, traveller, feminist, trekker and experimenter. From 2012 to 2016, she completed an integrated MBA (BBM and MBA) from the Dayalbagh Educational Institute in Agra. With a strong leadership, curriculum development and capacity building background she has led impactful initiatives for students, teachers and social workers across multiple states in India. From 2018 to 2020, she was a Teach for India Fellow based in Chennai. Her journey in the social sector started during this fellowship. From 2020 to 2021, she was part of the core team at Ed Zola Techologies, that creates technology solutions for non-profits. From 2022 to 2024 she was the Administrative Director at Akshar Foundation, an organisation founded on the belief that quality education is the undeniable right of every child. She is currently exploring building sustainable and resilient communities. You can follow Anamika and her journey on Linkedin.

On Episode 49 of #LearningStories, we chat with Yajur Lath about how he created a board game to teach entrepreneurship in India. Yajur is an entrepreneur, lawyer and board game designer. He is the founder of EntrePi, a startup making games to teach entrepreneurship in a fun and engaging way. He is focused on impact in three fields of education, entrepreneurship and gamification. He created Start Up High, a light strategy board game based on the startup life. He is a lawyer by profession with a BBA LLB from the National Law University in Jodhpur. He stays in Gurugram and loves playing sports in his free time. You can follow Yajur and his journey on Linkedin.

इस एपिसोड में, हम भारत में एक लेखक के जीवन पर मयूर राकेश मंजरे के साथ बातचीत करते हैं। मयूर मुंबई, भारत में स्थित एक लेखक और फिल्म निर्माता हैं। वे मुख्यतः हिन्दी में लिखते हैं। वह कविताएँ, पटकथाएँ, उपन्यास, उपन्यास और लघु कहानियाँ लिखते हैं। 2022 से 2024 के बीच उन्होंने ऊपरवाले की लाठी (उपन्यास), मेरी जमापूंजी (कविता संग्रह) और मेरे हिंदी विचारों का संग्रह (विचार संग्रह) प्रकाशित किए हैं। वह अपने यूट्यूब चैनल, स्पार्कलिंग पी फाउल फिल्म्स पर वीडियो और लघु फिल्में भी बनाते हैं। उन्होंने खोद (मराठी), हूज़ डॉग (मराठी) और कमेंसमेंट (हिंदी) जैसी लघु फिल्मों का संपादन किया है। 2019 से 2024 के बीच, उन्होंने पर्व (हिंदी), तुझत मी (मराठी) और आई अनसूया (मराठी) जैसी फिल्मों में सहायक निर्देशक के रूप में काम किया। 2015 से 2020 के बीच उन्होंने निर्देशन, कास्टिंग, वेशभूषा, ध्वनि संचालन और वीडियो संपादन जैसे क्षेत्रों में भी कार्य अनुभव हासिल किया। उन्हें सभी माध्यमों में कहानियां कहने का शौक है। आप उन्हें इंस्टाग्राम @a_lover_of_stories_mayur पर पा सकते हैं|

Zain Memon is a visionary game designer who has created 'SHASN' and 'AZADI' - the award-winning political strategy board games that have become India’s most successful tabletop IP. Zain’s games and authorship have introduced India to modern board games and created a new culture in the country. SHASN is now played in over 70 countries across the globe. SHASN and AZADI have also won some of the highest honors in the industry, including the ‘Games For Change’ award and the ‘IndieCade Award for Social Impact’. You can find him on Instagram at @z_ai_n.bot

On Episode 46 of #LearningStories, we chat with Anisha Lalvani about publishing her first novel in India. Anisha is a communications specialist and writer. She has lived in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and London. She has a Master's of Arts degree in English Literature from Mumbai University. She has worked in publishing, on various literary projects including literary television programme, 'Kitabnaama: Books and Beyond' and the Jaipur Literature Festival. She currently works in communications at a leading think tank that engages with the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. 'Girls Who Stray' is her first novel. The book is published by Bloomsbury India and will be released on November 18th 2024. It is a gripping tale of a woman’s return to India, where she lands herself into unexpected trouble. It is a coming of age thriller about a character caught between family chaos, an illicit affair, and a double murder, Through the book we dive into dark choices, fractured love, and a hypermodern city that mirrors the main character's turmoil. You can follow Anisha about her journey as an author on Instagram @anisha.lalvani.54.

Shruthi is a PhD scholar, environmental educator and conservationist. Early in her career, she worked on a Sacred Grove conservation project in the Thane tribal block of Maharashtra. That experience inspired her to become an environment educator and conservationist. She completed her BSC in Botany and MSc in Environmental Science from the Shivaji University in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. She then completed her PhD from Savitribhai Phule University in Pune, Maharashtra. Her PhD thesis was a study on butterflies and birds as bio indicator species in the Manoli reserve forest and Amba regions of Maharashtra. She worked as a project officer for Center for Environmental Education for 2 years. She also worked as an Associate and Senior at KPMG for 3 years. She then spent a year working as an Associate Consultant for Directorate of School Education Nagaland. She has worked with 70 schools and 700 students through her conservation and awareness work. You can find her on Linkedin.