Climate change is reshaping landscapes across India and the world, manifesting in extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and erratic rainfall patterns. The urgency to adapt and mitigate these impacts has never been greater. Innovative technological solutions are crucial for addressing the challenges posed by this global crisis. In this context, Anant National University in Ahmedabad launched the Anant School for Climate Action, India’s first climate school offering academic courses in climate studies and action.
Anant University is India’s first DesignX University. With its interdisciplinary approach, “DesignX” plays a pivotal role in crafting sustainable strategies for climate resilience. By merging technology, design, and social innovation, DesignX offers a pathway to develop scalable solutions that help communities and ecosystems withstand the growing threats of climate change.
Dr Anunaya Chaubey, Provost of Anant National University, has been instrumental in leading the institution towards these groundbreaking initiatives. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Dr Chaubey discusses these next-gen institutions and courses developed under his leadership. Excerpts:
What inspired the establishment of India’s first Climate School at Anant National University, and what are its primary objectives?
The reasons and implications of climate change in India and certain other emerging nations differ from those in the rest of the world. Thus, there is a need for a specialised climate studies programme that gives a regional context. It is important to train students to find and implement solutions, and develop technologies to adapt to and mitigate climate change for India as well as other parts of the developing world.
During the unique four-year undergraduate engineering degree programme in Climate Change, students learn to build technology solutions for mitigating or adapting to climate change, use specialised software for simulating climate impact and be part of live industry climate projects at the Climate Lab from the day they join. They get the chance to specialise in using climate technologies for business or policy, as well as a deeper specialisation in climate change itself. The final semester is a mandatory industry immersion where students are placed within the $23 trillion climate industry co-guided by an industry and an academic guide.
The curriculum is designed such that Semesters 1 to 6 offer incremental steps across eight climate change streams as well as applied research in the Climate Lab. The final two semesters offer students the opportunity to take courses they might have not been able to pass or take earlier, and focus on specialisation and then full industry immersion.
The global climate industry is expected to reach $23 trillion by 2030, according to the International Finance Corporation, and only 1,20,000 people globally and 5,000 in India are formally trained to cater to the needs of this growing industry. The Anant School of Climate Action teaches students to build technology solutions for mitigating or adapting to climate change by using specialised software for simulating climate impact and being part of live industry climate projects at the Climate Lab.
The Climate Lab is a significant initiative. Could you discuss its role in practical climate education and some of the key projects or research it has produced?
India’s first Climate Lab at Anant National University serves as a hub for practical climate education in areas such as climate simulation, climate physics, climate chemistry, energy and refrigeration and weather station management. The lab is designed to immerse students in practical project work that tackles environmental challenges.
Key projects of this Climate Lab include:
A desalination system for potable drinking water, which was created after the students conducting data collection through a community connect study organised at Zai Village
A portable air purifier and the application of the Miyawaki forest method in urban settings
The development of a waste-to-energy machine that converts mixed waste materials into resources through a plasma gasification system Anant’s Climate Lab is equipped with:
Visaka Industries’ ATUM integrated solar roof system, which has a capacity of generating 22 kW of electricity
The lab’s walls are constructed using Vnext Panels, a product by Visaka Industries. These lightweight, prefabricated wall panels offer thermal and acoustic properties that enhance energy efficiency
How does Anant National University prepare its students for these opportunities in the green economy?
Anant National University stands at the forefront of equipping the next generation for the rapidly expanding green economy. Our BTech in Climate Change, India’s first undergraduate engineering degree focused on climate technologies, equips students with the skills to tackle climate challenges. Students engage in innovative projects, such as developing solar-powered desalination systems and converting waste materials into energy.
As the world shifts towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy, our curriculum covers essential areas like climate simulation, energy technology and environmental engineering. Students can specialise in climate business, policy or innovation, ensuring they are well-prepared for impactful careers.
The programme’s applied research stream offers hands-on experience from the first semester, preparing students to work on real-world projects with industry partners. For example, they have conducted Life Cycle Assessments at Bharti Airtel, researched carbon sequestration with the Indian Space Research Organisation and contributed to climate action projects at The Commonwealth Secretariat.
These experiences, combined with internships at organisations like Tech Mahindra and Sustain Labs Paris, ensure our graduates are equipped with the practical skills and global exposure necessary to lead in the $23 trillion global climate industry and drive the green economy transition.
Can you elaborate on the ‘DesignX’ method and how it integrates community immersion, innovation, and collaboration to equip students with problem-solving skills?
Our DesignX way is unique in helping young designers develop a better understanding of the context we live in through community immersion, innovation and collaboration. The core of our pedagogy is sustainable design multiplied by a host of knowledge disciplines and technology to make problem-solving impactful. Our multidisciplinary undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in design, architecture, climate action and visual arts harness the knowledge from various disciplines and traditional practices to integrate it with cutting-edge technology to address diverse challenges.
At Anant, design education is about multiplying and enhancing design with experience and knowledge drawn from diverse disciplines, cultures and practices. We employ an interdisciplinary approach with a multidisciplinary curriculum to create problem-solving tools.
In today’s world, the combination of DesignX with disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Analytics, Biomimicry, Sociology, Economics, Behavioural Science and Public Policy is imperative. Such a multidisciplinary approach to learning builds a comprehensive understanding of the world we live in and serves as an exponential force multiplier to ensure that designers continue to deliver innovative and impactful solutions to the challenges of the contemporary world.
The university has moved from Western architecture to learning from the country – an indigenous design perspective. Kindly explain the significance of this move.
Anant is deeply rooted in tradition with a global footprint. Our centres like Indian Designs and Innovative Crafts (INDIC), Anant Centre for Documentation and Development of Craft, ANUSHILP and Handmate@Anant work towards conserving and promoting Indigenous designs.
Anant Centre for Documentation and Development of Crafts (ACDC): ACDC seeks to document, support, nurture and disseminate knowledge of crafts and traditional systems in India. It will act as a facilitator for students to take up projects, build and seed an e-commerce platform for designed artefacts, and facilitate student immersion and field training within craft ecosystems. The initiative also focuses on skill upgradation for women artisans promoting sustainable and inclusive development of the entire craft community, and undertaking research on tribal systems, crafts, folklore and culture. ACDC embodies the concept of M to M - Mind to Market, from ideation, practice, documentation to livelihood. Three constituents are:
Indian Designs and Innovative Crafts (INDIC) Centre: The centre aims to contemporise the ancient crafts industry to adapt to the needs of a changing marketplace. It seeks to bridge the gap between the demand for well-designed, modern artefacts and the artisan’s skills through education, training and documentation of vernacular designs. In the recent past, several artisan clusters have benefited from INDIC’s efforts, including artisans from Assam, Karnataka, Kutch, Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, etc.
3. ANUSHILP: Anant collaborated with USIN (United States India Foundation) in October 2022 for a two-year ANUSHLIP Project that emerged as a pioneering initiative to revitalise traditional crafts and craftsmanship for contemporary utilitarian product development that are global market-ready in the Narmada district of Gujarat. The project culminated with an exhibition at the Anant campus showcasing artisan’s work. Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, visited the exhibition. The bamboo box and applique world map were chosen as souvenirs for the G20 Varanasi meet, demonstrating the market readiness and cultural value of the crafted items. Anant then organised a streamlined production process with a one-week timeframe to produce 80 bamboo boxes and 100 applique world maps.
4. Handmade@Anant: Recognising the importance of preserving and nurturing the rich Indian cultural traditions, we established a platform through a pop-up store to showcase the creative abilities of our talented community, comprising students, staff and the artists in residence. Through Handmade@Anant, we seek to instil appreciation for artisanal skills and techniques and encourage the students and artisans to craft wonders, ensuring that the tapestry of Indian heritage remains vibrantly alive. The pop-up store epitomises a melting pot of ideas, masterful craftsmanship and cultural influences that mirror the heritage of India's illustrious art and design traditions.
Share with us some of the other major innovations and initiatives at Anant National University.
At Anant, we train our designers to become solutionaries - revolutionary thinkers with a solution-oriented mindset. Some innovative projects include:
Peeling Back the Future: Innovative bioplastic production from fruit peels
Biodegradable tableware and packaging for hot and cold items made from agricultural waste
Calamatrix, a card game to combat climate change
Voltaic, an off-grid mobile EV charging station
Reusable UV water bottle that advanced UV-C technology to neutralise up to 99% of harmful bacteria without altering the water’s taste
Moss filter air purifier
A waste mining venture that makes sustainable construction material
Sustainable toothpaste packaging
Decentralised RDF-to-energy conversion system
Accessible indoor navigation for educational institutions
Traffic simulator game to learn about correct and ethical driving practices
Prosthetic foot design
Dynamic, specs for children with special needs
Spine support belt
Recessio – a multi-terrain reconnaissance robot to provide audio-visual data to the military
Nap Pod, tailored hospital beds
What is the long-term vision of Anant National University and its role in shaping the future of education in design, architecture and climate in India?
Anant’s vision is to become one of the top universities in India by 2025, leading in the fields of design, built habitat and sustainability, reputed for its Indian roots and global standing. We have taken steps to integrate the National Education Policy 2020 into the curriculum and pedagogy, fostering interdisciplinary programmes and building on our multidisciplinary course offerings. We aim to deliver an inclusive pedagogy that is socially engaged and contextual.
