Asian Development Research Institute Archives

Ms. Anchal Sharma is a Ph.D. candidate at IIT Delhi. Her research encompasses tactile perception of objects in the visually challenged. Drawn towards innovations exercising imagination, scientific thinking, and strong user empathy, she has mentored and participated in diverse social innovation projects and won two awards by IISc, Bangalore and IIT-Delhi with her team. She has led and been a speaker in events propagating innovation including those by AIM, NITI AYOG.

She completed her M.Des. in Industrial design (from SPA, New Delhi) and interned at GVIC, PepsiCo, India. She was acknowledged for her thesis work for integrating cultural spatial forms in a unique product using principles of light and shadows to educate children about unity. The project was sponsored by the Design Clinic Scheme by GoI and NID and was featured as a finalist in Toycathon 2021 and TISDC 2018. During her B.Arch. she emerged as a 2nd ranker both for her thesis work on ‘a school for experiential learning’ and overall 5-year academic performance.

In her Fulbright-Nehru project, she will analyse how to better convey three-dimensionality in two-dimensional tactile stimuli. Although layered and complex, she believes with continual deep-work and problem-solving acumen, this work can profoundly advance and contribute towards accessible STEM education for those without vision.

She believes in a multi-faceted growth and commends the perseverance sports can bring to life. She has played Throwball at National level and won silver medal (Badminton) at college level. Being perceptive towards life, she exercises self-expression through art, writing, and short videos.

Mr. Vivek Tejaswi is a public policy research and governance practitioner with a strong background in technology, social science, and climate change mitigation. He has dedicated over a decade of his career to studying and working on interdisciplinary aspects environmental science and sustainability, and collaborating with private, government, and non-governmental organizations at the sub-national level.

As a Founding Member and De-facto Director, Mr. Tejaswi has led the Centre for Studies on Environment and Climate at the Asian Development Research Institute, a prominent social sciences research think-tank in Bihar. His work in Bihar, particularly on policy framing and implementation was supported by major philanthropies such as the World Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Tata Cornell Institute, and Oxford Policy Management. In his brief professional stint, he has led several other projects and team in this prior professional instant, specially with institutions such as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (Government of India), and the Department of Finance (Government of Bihar). Prior to his involvement in policy research, he was worked with major grassroots organizations like Tata Trust, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India), and Selco Foundation. Mr. Tejaswi’s dedication to community development and sustainability is exemplified by his recognition as a State Bank of India Foundation’s Youth For India Fellow. During this fellowship, he implemented a project that positively impacted over 500 households in remote regions of Madhya Pradesh, providing them with access to basic energy sources and farm-based technology.

Academically, Mr. Tejaswi received training in ‘Development’ with a specialization in ‘Sustainability’ from the Azim Premji University, Karnataka. He also holds a degree in ‘Electronics and Communication Engineering’, from Ranchi University, Jharkhand. He is trained in applied technology design and installation, focusing on areas such as robotics, small-scale wind energy turbines, and decentralized solar energy systems. As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Mr. Tejaswi aims to gain international exposure and receive comprehensive training in climate change science, policy, and leadership to better address the socioeconomic impacts of climate crisis. After his return from the Fulbright-Nehru grant, Mr. Tejaswi envisions continuing his work in critical thinking and strategic policy dialogues related to climate change mitigation and resource sustainability at the regional scale. He intends to bridge alliances between the international research community and regional practitioners, aiming to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, planning, and implementation tailored to the specific needs of the region.