IGCS Alumni Experience- Smriti Saraswat

IGCS serves as a platform for research and academic exchange for Masters students, Doctoral candidates, and Scientists. Since its inception in 2010, we have been facilitating exchange of more than 1000 scholars from German and Indian academic institutions who are dedicated in contributing towards climate science.

The Experience Report Series celebrates our alumni and their success under IGCS. Today we share the experience report of Dr. Smriti Saraswat who had their exchange period between 08. July 2024 until 08. August 2024 at RWTH Aachen University under Prof. Axel Sowa. Their home institution is the Department of Architecture and Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India and their home supervisor is IGCS’ Research Associate Dr. Christoph Woiwode.

Smriti’s work focuses on on citizen engagement in various initiatives, including #SmartCity and Vibrant Village Development, #handicraft rejuvenation, and sustainable tourism in #Uttarakhand. Their research exchange with the IGCS included developing a concept note on higher education collaborations for such vibrant villages and sustainable communities in the #Himalayan and #Alpen regions. There, Smriti engaged with various professors and teams at RWTH Aachen, leading to initiatives and proposals for upcoming projects aligned with her concept.

Smriti highlights the value of cultural exchanges and interdisciplinary discussions, particularly enjoying her interactions during the IGCS Summer School, including a memorable lecture on circular economy in Mumbai. She aims to leverage the connections made during her exchange to foster interdisciplinary projects and enhance sustainable development initiatives in the #GlobalSouth, sharing insights with her academic and professional networks.

You can read her full experience report here: