IIT Guwahati student selected as Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador
CYPAN is a youth-led initiative that operates across 56 member nations to promote peace, respect, and understanding while countering violent extremism.
A 4th-year student pursuing her B.Tech. in Biosciences and Bioengineering, Sonowal will serve as Lead - Communications & Public Relations for the 2025 - 2027 term.
Congratulating Sonowal on her accomplishment, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, "We are immensely proud of Sukanya Sonowal for her selection as a Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador. We are confident that she will make a meaningful contribution to peacebuilding efforts across the Commonwealth and inspire many other students to pursue initiatives with global impact."
Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors are selected based on their experience in peacebuilding, commitment to Commonwealth values, and understanding of relevant frameworks.
The selection process involved a rigorous three-stage process, which included an initial application followed by two rounds of interviews.
The evaluation process focused on the applicant's commitment to peacebuilding, community service, and leadership experience.
A native of Lakhimpur district of Assam, Sonowal's experience in communications and outreach-related activities helped her in becoming a suitable fit for the required ambassador position.
Over the past four years, she has actively contributed to IIT Guwahati's flagship techno-management festival, Techniche, as a key part of the Media and Branding team.
In her current roles, Sonowal is the co-founder of STEMvibe - STEM for Viksit Bharat Empowerment, an initiative focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) outreach that aims to empower students all over India. Through this platform, she has successfully engaged more than 3,000 participants from across the nation.
She is also spearheading The Integral Cup, a national-level mathematics competition for undergraduates that attracted over 2,500 participants from top institutions during its very first edition.
Her demonstrated ability to manage large-scale communication campaigns, lead youth-focused outreach initiatives, and build international collaborations with organisations such as Optiver, Qube Research & Technologies, and Jane Street reflects the experience and skills that strongly align with the objectives of the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network.
A native of Lakhimpur district of Assam, Sukanya Sonowal said, "I am deeply honoured to represent India and IIT Guwahati on this global platform. This opportunity stems from my belief that communication can be a powerful tool for positive change. My journey, from volunteering at campus events to leading international initiatives, shows that every experience shapes us for a larger purpose. I encourage fellow students to embrace opportunities beyond their immediate field of study. The skills we develop through such initiatives will not only shape our careers but empower us to become global citizens who can contribute to humanity's biggest challenges."
IIT Guwahati is proud of Ms. Sonowal's accomplishment and wishes her the best in her role as a Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador.
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Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
IIT Guwahati student selected as Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati's student, Sukanya Sonowal, has been selected as the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador, a leadership position in the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN) Executive Committee. Sukanya Sonowal is the co-founder of STEMvibe.(X) CYPAN is a youth-led initiative that operates across 56 member nations to promote peace, respect, and understanding while countering violent extremism. A 4th-year student pursuing her in Biosciences and Bioengineering, Sonowal will serve as Lead - Communications & Public Relations for the 2025 - 2027 term. Congratulating Sonowal on her accomplishment, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, "We are immensely proud of Sukanya Sonowal for her selection as a Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador. We are confident that she will make a meaningful contribution to peacebuilding efforts across the Commonwealth and inspire many other students to pursue initiatives with global impact." Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors are selected based on their experience in peacebuilding, commitment to Commonwealth values, and understanding of relevant frameworks. The selection process involved a rigorous three-stage process, which included an initial application followed by two rounds of interviews. The evaluation process focused on the applicant's commitment to peacebuilding, community service, and leadership experience. A native of Lakhimpur district of Assam, Sonowal's experience in communications and outreach-related activities helped her in becoming a suitable fit for the required ambassador position. Over the past four years, she has actively contributed to IIT Guwahati's flagship techno-management festival, Techniche, as a key part of the Media and Branding team. In her current roles, Sonowal is the co-founder of STEMvibe - STEM for Viksit Bharat Empowerment, an initiative focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) outreach that aims to empower students all over India. Through this platform, she has successfully engaged more than 3,000 participants from across the nation. She is also spearheading The Integral Cup, a national-level mathematics competition for undergraduates that attracted over 2,500 participants from top institutions during its very first edition. Her demonstrated ability to manage large-scale communication campaigns, lead youth-focused outreach initiatives, and build international collaborations with organisations such as Optiver, Qube Research & Technologies, and Jane Street reflects the experience and skills that strongly align with the objectives of the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network. A native of Lakhimpur district of Assam, Sukanya Sonowal said, "I am deeply honoured to represent India and IIT Guwahati on this global platform. This opportunity stems from my belief that communication can be a powerful tool for positive change. My journey, from volunteering at campus events to leading international initiatives, shows that every experience shapes us for a larger purpose. I encourage fellow students to embrace opportunities beyond their immediate field of study. The skills we develop through such initiatives will not only shape our careers but empower us to become global citizens who can contribute to humanity's biggest challenges." IIT Guwahati is proud of Ms. Sonowal's accomplishment and wishes her the best in her role as a Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador.
Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Indian Express
Learning to balance, lead, and grow: Lessons beyond the classroom at IIT Guwahati
– Mithil Sandhineni After my Class 10, I had to choose either science, commerce, or humanities. As someone who likes science, I was left with two major options – either the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG). I chose JEE not because of something I loved, but because of something I hated. My strong dislike for biology during school naturally pushed me towards the other subjects. Even though I had no clue about JEE at the time, I decided to move ahead with it, keeping in mind my comfort and interest in subjects like physics and mathematics. Later, I started finding physics interesting, which helped me prepare well. In addition to other teachers in my coaching institute, Rajesh Sir and Naveen Sir, who were IITians, shared stories about their life at IIT. These stories highly motivated me to aim for a seat and experience such a wonderful life at an IIT. Schooling and JEE preparation I did my schooling in DAV Public School, Hyderabad. My focus wasn't solely on academics; I took part in various school activities, including sports like volleyball and kho-kho. Due to the pandemic, my Class 10 exam was conducted online, and I missed making good memories of my final year in school. Later, I joined a coaching institute in Hyderabad. I completed my Class 11 and Class 12 in Sri Chaitanya Junior College. Even though my house was located in Hyderabad, I had to stay in a hostel to focus on my JEE preparation. As a person who gets distracted easily, I feel that the environment was suitable for me. I appeared for JEE Main and JEE Advanced in 2023 and secured a rank of 4278 in JEE Advanced and 6592 in JEE Main. I chose JEE simply with the wish to pursue engineering, not with any particular IIT in mind. Later, I decided that I wanted to get into one of the top seven IITs. After carefully evaluating all the options I had, the best ones were Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras and Mechanical Engineering at IIT Guwahati (IITG). Due to my interest in physics, I chose Mechanical at IITG. I'm thankful for this decision — not just academically, but also because it led me to meet my amazing friends. My days at IIT Guwahati I came to IIT Guwahati in July 2023. This wasn't exactly my first time away from home, as I had lived in a hostel during my JEE preparation. But this time, it truly felt like being away — since I had moved to the other side of the country and couldn't just go back whenever I wanted. I felt homesick for a day or two, but eventually, I made some amazing friends, and after that, I didn't think about home as much. Honestly, it wasn't very difficult for me to adjust here. We had classes for about three hours a day and three labs per week, each lasting three hours, with Saturdays and Sundays off. This schedule gave me the chance to explore other things. I made good friends in my class and hostel as well. Even today, I hang out with my hostel friends – it's like a mandatory part of the day. The schedule wasn't hectic for me to manage; it felt well-balanced between academics and extracurriculars. But one thing that did take time to adjust to was the food. It didn't taste like home-cooked meals, and that was a bit tough initially, but eventually, I got used to it. I used to play volleyball during my school days, but due to my JEE preparation, I didn't get time to play. So, after coming here, I started playing volleyball again in the evenings from 6 to 9 after classes with my friends. Then, I got into the volleyball club and also joined the cultural fest, Alcheringa team. I was also elected as the Branch Representative (BR). It was not hectic in the first semester since we had very little academic pressure and enough free time. From the second semester, I joined the Consulting and Analytics Club, the AI Club, and the Techniche team. When exams are near, I reduce the time I spend on non-academic activities like playing volleyball for an hour instead of three. I completely focus on my academics when I sit down to study and keep distractions as far away as I can. What I have learned at IIT Guwahati, my future plans Comparing the person I was before and who I am now, my personality has developed a lot. By interacting with people coming from various states across India, I understood different cultures and mindsets, which helped me become more open-minded. As a BR, I developed leadership qualities in order to act upon my branch-mates' concerns and communicate them effectively to the professors, along with guiding my juniors when they were new to the campus. As a team member of fests, I learned formal communication and coordination across different teams. Going ahead, now in my third year, I got a wonderful opportunity to be the Overall Coordinator of the Students' Welfare Board, where I manage the seven clubs under the Welfare Board. And as a student, I learned how to utilise my time efficiently, prioritise the things I have to do, and fulfil my responsibilities. Overall, I became a better version of myself and wish to improve even more. There is a stereotype that IITians only study, but trust me, students here are very good at living their life — managing and doing everything they want to. Being here for two years now, one of the biggest things I've learned is to enjoy what I'm doing. At IIT, there's always something going on – fests, hostel events, club activities, classes, exams – all happening at the same time. In the beginning, it was overwhelming, but slowly I understood that it's all a part of the journey. Managing so many things together, without letting my academics fall behind, was definitely tough. But in the process, I started learning how to manage my time better, how to prioritise, and most importantly, how to stay calm even when things get hectic. One of the best experiences has been being part of the organising teams of Alcheringa and Techniche. Alcheringa, especially, is very close to me. I've been a part of it for two years now. It's honestly one of the most memorable parts of my college life. Enjoying a fest is one thing, but being on the other side and organising it is a whole different experience. Those sleepless nights during the fest, back-to-back team meetings, last-minute chaos, working with over 200 people – it's tiring but also the most exciting and satisfying thing. Looking back, these are the moments that make college life special. We learn so much in the process – how to work in a team, how to solve problems on the spot, how to take responsibility. But above all, we make memories that'll stay with us forever. Hence, this is my learning: do what you like and enjoy doing it. In the process, we learn something valuable – something we only realise when we look back. After my BTech, I wish to get a placement in one of the big tech firms as a software developer. Recently, I've also been exploring non-tech fields, so I would love to see myself in a non-tech role as well, if the opportunity feels right. In the long run, I aspire to build something of my own – a startup or a project I'm truly passionate about. Mridusmita Deka covers education and has worked with the Careers360 previously. She is an alumnus of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University. ... Read More
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati develops mechanism to treat 1,000 litre contaminated water for Rs 20
New Delhi: Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, have developed a low-cost community scale water treatment system that removes fluoride and iron from groundwater and can treat up to 20,000 litre of contaminated water per day, officials said. The findings of the research have been published in the prestigious ACS ES&T Water journal. The researchers claimed the system was highly affordable and could treat 1,000 litre of water at a paltry Rs 20. According to Mihir Kumar Purkait, Professor at Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati , fluoride, a mineral generally used in dental care products, pesticides, fertilisers and some industrial processes, can enter groundwater either naturally or through human activities such as agriculture and manufacturing. "Consumption of water with excess fluoride presence can lead to skeletal-fluorosis, a serious health condition in which bones harden and joints become stiff, making physical movement difficult and painful. In India, states including Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Gujarat, among others, face high levels of fluoride in groundwater," Purkait said. The IIT Guwahati research team developed a four-step system that ensures a cost-effective and energy-efficient technology for contaminated water treatment. Purkait said the hydrogen and oxygen bubbles produced during electrolysis interact with air bubbles, assisting in lifting pollutant particles to the surface. The selection of electrode material depends on factors like low cost, low oxidation potential and high electro-positivity after dissolution. "Among available options, aluminum has proven highly effective, particularly in the removal of iron, arsenic, and fluoride under optimal operational conditions," he said. The research team tested the developed system under real-world conditions for 12 weeks and recorded consistent performance. The results have shown removal of 94 per cent iron and 89 per cent fluoride from the wastewater, bringing the levels within safe limits set by Indian standards. "A key feature of the developed system is its cost effectiveness, with Rs 20 per 1,000 liters of treated water, making it highly affordable. The developed technology requires minimal supervision and has a projected lifespan of 15 years with electrode replacement scheduled every six months," he said. The study proposes a method to estimate electrode life using a built-in safety factor to ensure timely maintenance. As a pilot project, in support with the Public Health Engineering Department of Assam, the developed technology has been successfully installed by Kakati Engineering Pvt Ltd in Changsari, Assam. "We are also exploring the use of solar or wind power to operate the unit and to utilise the hydrogen gas generated during electrocoagulation process . By integrating smart technologies such as real-time sensors and automated controls, we will be able to further reduce the need for manual intervention, making the system more effective for remote and underserved areas," he said. The research team also aims to combine the current system with other water treatment methods to enhance performance and provide a decentralised water treatment solution. PTI
