Pune (P&V News Service): Around 20 students from MKSSS’s Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women ( BNCA ) have been selected for the prestigious Millennium Fellowship under the United Nations Academic Impact Program . Out of the 25,000 applicants worldwide, only 2000 are selected from which 20 students are from BNCA . This year MKSSS Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for women is proud to be selected as a Millennium Fellowship Campus. The selected Millennium Fellows form a cohort led by two Campus Directors and work to create social impact incorporating one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Beginning in 2018, Millennium Campus Network and United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) partnered to present the Millennium Fellowship, creating a robust global network of undergraduate leaders advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program to make a greater social impact. The Fellowship runs from August-November and works to incorporate one of the 17 SDGs.
Millennium Fellows Class of 2021 at BNCA consist of Saima Shaikh, Samiksha Chavan, Pranita Patil, Sayali Palve, Manasi Phade, Akshata Madrewar , Trushna Dantale, Neha Gaikwad, Isha Gore, Anushka Kulkarni, Prashitha Selvakumar, Samruddhi Purohit, Shreya Kolte, Ruchi Saoji, Rajishri Rathod, Pooja Jaju, Manjusha Wale, Pallak Singh, Sakshi Munot and Moullie Jain.
The cohort of Millennium Fellows at BNCA, developed a project called ‘Agroscape’, which deals with landscapes interspersed with agriculture. It was conceptualized and executed under the guidance of Prof. Asmita Joshi, Director of United Nations Academic Impact at BNCA and helped by Prof. Neha Adkar of Landscape lab at BNCA
“The pandemic has shown the rise in concern over food security and interest in healthier diets and quality lifestyles. Thus, it has become crucial to develop ecologically sensitive urban landscapes which integrate food rather than just aesthetics said Dr.Anurag Kashyap, Principal BNCA and he encouraged by providing full support for the project.
To put this concept into practice, our project “Agroscape” has focused on developing urban farms in the form of edible landscapes that can be cultivated at the home, institute, and corporate levels.” Says Campus Director, Saima Shaikh.
“Our primary focus to begin with was to target our own peers on campus. By successfully installing a u-farm within the college campus we aspire to have set a beginning note to inspire fellow students, faculty members and staff to spread this wave of change and awareness further on.” Says Co-Campus Director, Samiksha Chavan.
The fellows continue to be an active part of the SDG Student Hub on campus to further develop Project Agroscape. Community Partnership and active collaboration is essential for the growth of any social project. The fellows look forward to collaborating with institutions on a local and global scale.
