ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2021
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. In 2021, over 25,000 young leaders on 2,000+ campuses across 153 nations applied to join the Class of 2021. 136 campuses worldwide (just 6%) were selected to host the 2,000+ Millennium Fellows. The Class of 2021 is bold, innovative, and inclusive.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT PRASHITHA S, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2021.
Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women | Pune, India | Advancing SDG 12 & UNAI 1
" Architects are not only responsible for the execution of building construction but create new design concepts that provide solutions to modern-day people and bridge gaps between people. I believe that being a Millennium Fellow will provide an excellent learning platform for me and help widen my perspective towards sustainability and bringing people together. In addition to this, the project would help me in developing my teamwork and leadership skills. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Agroscape
The project ‘Agroscape’ deals with landscapes interspersed with agriculture. The pandemic situation 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. 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.
1. Under Project Agroscape, a small-scale organic farm has been set up in the college campus of ‘Dr. B.N. College of Architecture, Pune.’ Agriculture based landscape has been designed which includes plantations of vegetables such as ‘Eggplant (Solanum melongena), chillies (Capsicum frutescens), Potato (Solanum tuberosum), Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)’. This produce is readily available and is planned to be utilized for food requirements in the college canteen. In order to set this farm, site visits to Urban farms and Biophilic projects in the vicinity were conducted to gain prior knowledge.
2. To increase our outreach, awareness in community and gain insights from experts in this domain, we have successfully conducted four online webinars under our ‘Organic Farming Techniques’ series. Speakers widely focused on topics such as the Importance of Bees in farming, Urban farming and Understanding an Architect’s role in SDGs.
3. An ‘SDG day’ event was also organized to educate and create awareness among fellow students through fun activities and quizzes. It held a crucial role in team bonding, communication amongst fellows and strengthening intra-team relations.
4. The project will further focus on expanding with Hydroponics (sustainable plantation technique to optimise water usage), Vertical gardening modules and Biophilic installations (with upcycled material) campus-wide.
5. An SDG Student hub has been set up on campus to gain participation of interested students which will ensure there’s no dead end to this initiative.
6. Along with this, we have also launched an outreach program by partnering with the regional Rotaract club. Within this program, our fellow mates are coworking with the Rotaract members to set up urban farms within old age homes and orphanages.
About the Millennium Fellow
Prashitha S. is a final year student, pursuing Bachelor in Architecture from Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture, Pune, India. She is a hardworking and ambitious student who possesses the design and social abilities needed to plan, coordinate and be involved in all academic and co-curricular activities. Throughout her school and college years, she has lived in and visited various cities throughout her life and had the opportunity to witness and experience various types of people, their culture and understand their social issues. She was also a part of Rotaract Club, where she participated in community service activities. Being part of the Club has given her a different perspective of life which makes her appreciate how fortunate she is. Prashitha aspires to be an architect with emphasis on curating socially inclusive habitats and buildings which are context and climate responsive and she also aims to provide her own contribution in the United Nations' Sustainable Goals by bridging gaps between people.
