Written by: Hendra Gupta.

 

The Georgia Tech-AIT International Camp for Young Leaders 2023, held from 15-21 December 2023 at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), was a remarkable event that brought together 20 students from Georgia Tech (Shenzhen Campus), China and the Asian Institute of Technology. The theme of the camp was “Innovation for Environmental and Sustainable Development: Applying Science to Practice and Policy”.

The camp aimed to provide the young leaders with an opportunity to learn about the latest research and technologies in environmental science and sustainable development, and to encourage them to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The camp was organized by AIT in collaboration with Georgia Tech and other partner institutions, such as Tianjin University. The camp consisted of various activities, such as lectures, workshops, field visits, group projects, and cultural exchanges. The participants had the chance to interact with renowned faculty and researchers from different institutions, as well as to network with fellow students and alumni from different backgrounds and disciplines.

On December 20, GWSC engaged with the young leaders and faculty members and deep dived into various aspects of water and sanitation. The participants visited the AIT performance Testing Lab, where they learned about performance testing for wastewater treatment products. The lab tour was led by Hendra Gupta. Kim Tupaz and Sichu Shrestha explored the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Planning Framework & Geospatial Approach, which is a comprehensive and participatory approach to designing and implementing sanitation systems that provide safe and sustainable solutions for human waste management.

Santosh Dungana offered an insightful perspective on data governance, which is the policies, processes, and standards that ensure the quality, security, and accessibility of data. Mostafizur Rahman shared his experiences with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives during the Rohingya crisis, emphasizing the transformative impact on sanitation.

Siksha Adhikarya presentation centered on the importance of gender inclusivity in sanitation efforts, which means taking into account the needs and preferences of women and girls, as well as other marginalized groups, in the provision and use of sanitation facilities and services. Hendra Gupta presented range of global and country standards for water and sanitation.

In the reflection segment, the participants shared their learnings and impressions from the camp. For example:

  1. Application of big data to their field of study, especially for sanitation planning. Big data could provide more accurate and detailed information on the local context and the diverse needs and perspectives of the target communities.
  2. Inclusion of topics covered in the GWSC session to their curriculum, along with the technical know-how focus on environmental engineering. This would provide a comprehensive and holistic education for the students, preparing them to be competent and responsible environmental engineers.

The Georgia Tech-AIT International Camp for Young Leaders 2023 was a memorable and meaningful experience for the participants, who gained new knowledge, skills, and perspectives in environmental science and sustainable development. The camp also created a network of young leaders who are committed to making a positive difference in their communities and the world. The camp was a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration for environmental and sustainable development.

 

Visit to the performance test lab.

 

Lecturer’s reflection about inclusion of GEDSI, big data, and standards for water and sanitation into their curriculum..

 

Student’s reflection about utilisation of big data and GEDSI.