Akash Brings a Sustainability-Driven Mindset to Engineering Problems

Meet Our Interns Blog Series: Akash Praharaj

In an ever-changing world, never has the need for sustainability been greater. Unfortunately, the leaps and bounds of progress that humanity has made in the field of engineering have come at a great price to the ecosystem around us. With temperatures rising around the world and the frequency of natural disasters increasing at an alarming rate, we are already getting a preview of the future that we are creating for ourselves. The call for sustainable development has never been greater than it is now; this is something I realized pretty early in my odyssey into the field of engineering.

It might be an understatement to say that I was destined to be an engineer. Ever since I was kid, I possessed the inquisitiveness to question the workings of everything around me. It was this inquisitiveness that finally led me to obtain a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST). While at MST, I was given the opportunity to gain critical problem-solving skills that made me a better engineer and cemented my passion for engineering.

Akash (pictured middle, bottom row) and his Formula Electric team at Missouri University of Science and Technology (photo courtesy of Akash Praharaj).

However, as I delved deeper into the world of engineering, I began to discover the environmental challenges that rapid industrialization had brought upon us. While there have been quite some advancements in the field of sustainable development, there is still a lot of work left to be done. It is up to us—as responsible global citizens—to create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.

This is why I decided to use my passion for engineering and the knowledge I have gained over the years to work towards creating a better tomorrow. Through my years of education as a mechanical engineer, I have bolstered my understanding of the environmental challenges we face and the steps that need to be taken in order for our global community to meet its sustainable development goals.

Despite my years of studying and mastering my craft of Mechanical Engineering, I still felt like I lacked experience putting this theoretical knowledge to the test. Fortunately, I found enFocus this summer. With their experienced and expanding industry team, enFocus gave me the opportunity to both expand my knowledge in the field of manufacturing and apply that knowledge by working directly with local manufacturers.

Throughout the summer, I have been able to take a small step toward sustainable development by working to eliminate waste in manufacturing processes. Moreover, working with enFocus has allowed me to bring my goals to a personal level by helping me learn more about building better communities and gain a higher understanding of the servant-leadership mindset.

Learn more about the 2021 enFocus Summer Interns weekly in our Meet Our Interns Blog Series.