Eight
students from Jaypee
University of Information Technology spent the past six months at South Dakota School of Mines &
Technology contributing to the NSF
funded BuG ReMeDEE research project.
The
students, including three master’s level and five undergraduates, came to Mines
to both learn about research methods in the United States and to contribute to
the overall BuG ReMeDEE project (https://www.sdsmt.edu/BuGReMeDEE/).
“I've
been able to learn many new techniques and instruments due to my work here at
SD Mines, and I'm so thankful for that,” says Anandita Govil with Jaypee
University, whose work included a study of biofilms in the effort to produce
electricity from microbes.
The
work of Govil and others in the exchange involved a wide range of study,
including converting solid waste to electricity, efforts to control methane as
a greenhouse gas, efforts to understand and improve the ways that cells absorb
medicine, new approaches to biofuel production and making biodegradable
plastics from plant material.
For
Rajesh Sani, Ph.D., a professor in the Chemical
and Biological Engineering Department at SD Mines, this exchange effort highlights the importance
of diversity in science and engineering fields. These students not only learn
while they are here, they make important contributions to the effort.
“Diversity is key to the future of science and engineering,” says Sani. Large science
and engineering efforts, such as the $6-million BuG ReMeDEE project, require
multiple teams of researchers. “We have found that a good blend of team members
with multiple backgrounds gives incredible results,” Sani says.
Sani
and others point to studies that show when
the proper work environment and leadership are provided, diverse teams can
produce creative and robust scientific results. Students like Anandita Govil
agree. “That is the beauty of working with people from different places,” she
says. “Some are good at managing everything, some are good at making equipment
available for work, some are very creative in their thinking, some
are very strong and can work for hours and hours. And that makes a perfect
team.”
This
exchange is thanks to a Memorandum
of Understanding between SD Mines and Jaypee University. This
agreement is one of many
mutually beneficial partnerships Mines maintains with universities around the
world. These sorts of agreements encourage staff exchange and collaboration,
joint research and publications, and student exchange opportunities. The agreements are also tied to SD Mines inclusion statement
and the efforts to promote diversity in science and engineering fields.
The
Ivanhoe International Center
develops and supports activities and programs for international students,
faculty, and staff coming to SD Mines, and for those who want to engage in
international and global experiences, in alignment with Mines Advantage.