Akash Applies Engineering Skills Toward Sustainable Development

It might be an understatement to say that I was destined to be an engineer. Even as a child, I possessed the curiosity to question the workings of everything around me. This inquisitiveness led me to obtain a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST). While there, I gained critical problem-solving skills that cemented my passion for engineering and, ultimately, made me a better engineer.

However, as I delved deeper into the world of engineering, I began to discover the environmental challenges that rapid industrialization had brought upon us. With temperatures rising worldwide and the frequency of natural disasters increasing at an alarming rate, we are already getting a preview of the future we are creating for ourselves. The call for sustainable development has never been greater than it is now—and it’s up to us, as responsible global citizens, to create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

For this reason, I decided to use my passion for engineering to create a better tomorrow. After graduating from MST, I decided to further my knowledge through a graduate program at Purdue University. There, I learned more about the theoretical applications of engineering toward environmental challenges and sustainable development—and how potential changes might affect manufacturing.

But, I still felt like I lacked the practical experience to help me put this theoretical knowledge to the test. Fortunately, I found enFocus last summer. As an Industry Innovation Intern, I worked with the experienced and expanding industry team to drive meaningful change for manufacturers in the South Bend - Elkhart Region. The internship showed me that I have so much more to learn.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to return to enFocus through the Fellowship. Over the next two years, I’ll continue to apply my mechanical engineering knowledge and passion for sustainable development to drive Industry Innovation to create more vibrant communities—communities that will be even more environmentally resilient because of this team’s collaborative efforts.

I’ve had so much fun already, and I’m so excited to be a part of this change in the region moving forward.