On April 29, 2022, POP Sustainability Ambassador and Mentor, Ivan Ransom Rodríguez, POP Youth Mentor, Finance and Enterprise, Kevin Morales Münstermann, and POP Youth Mentors Komal Mittal, Drishya Pathak, and Manish Gupta visited TERI Gram, a resource-efficient model retreat developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Gurgaon, India. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for developing green technologies, along with a residency called RETREAT (Resource-Efficient TERI Retreat for Environmental Awareness and Training).

The following is an account provided by Ivan Ransom describing the visit:

On April 29, 2022, the strong sunlight at 11:00 AM increased the temperature in the streets of Delhi. After a long trip through the city, Vishnu, Komal, Drishya, Kevin, and I were starting to feel the sultriness of the Indian summer, but our hearts were ignited far beyond that as our destination, the TERI Gram, held a promise of wonder and a chance to (re)connect with our late Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri.

Our first stop was at the Resource-Efficient TERI Retreat for Environmental Awareness and Training (RETREAT). We were received by Mr. Suresh Dev, Deputy Manager at TERI, and kind people who offered us cold water and tea to leave the heat behind. However, from the moment we entered, we could feel the difference in temperature—things were about to shift, for good. Mr. Suresh Dev told us about the RETREAT’s smart design and the way it incorporates different ecotechnologies to reduce costs, resource use, and increase its autonomy. Solar panels, solar heaters, earth air tunnels, and waste and water treatment, merged with ancient engineering techniques and deep environmental consciousness, allow these state-of-the-art facilities to operate and attract the finest minds, both nationally and internationally. But if that wasn’t enough, the beautiful cricket and golf facilities are tempting enough to receive youth from all ages to play and enjoy healthy competition.

After that, we were taken to the TERI-Deakin Nano-Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC). There we met Mr. Suresh Dev, who explained to us the story of how the center came to be, informed us about the importance of the facility’s asepsis, and guided us through a path that allowed us to fulfill the TDNBC’s safety guidelines. There we were able to witness first-hand the building’s smart design, efficient transportation, conscious residue management, and bulletproof health and safety measures. Beyond that, we could see their equipment, from optical and confocal microscopes to the breathtaking electron microscope, where we were shown mycorrhizae and nanofibers as part of their latest projects. As a former lab scientist, entering those spaces brought me back, at least for a little while, to that exciting part of my life.

Then we had the pleasure of visiting the Micropropagation Technology Park (MTP), where a staff professor taught us the basics of tissue culture from in vitro to in vivo and the plants’ way to the market. Afterwards, we were taken to the greenhouses, where they grow young banana plants in countless racks. If at the lab I got such memories back, this was a full-body immersion into the memories of my college years when I used to grow Arabidopsis thaliana. About that, I need to say that their plant’s survival rate left me speechless. Hats off to them!

Finally, we were taken to the open space where plants reach their last stage at the nursery and are ready to be sold. The staff showed us the botanical diversity of the area, and we could see butterflies, spiders, squirrels, and birds everywhere! What a beautiful sight of local biodiversity coupled with sustainable production!

Thanks to Mr. Suresh Dev and the TERI staff for having us there and making that learning experience so special for us. It is an honor for anyone to walk through this world-class center!

Sincerely, Ivan.

WATCH | Visual documentation of the visit by Manish Gupta