" Curiosity for knowledge and a drive to contribute positively towards the human society is what motivates and excites me about my Millennium Fellowship project. Since early in my childhood, I have always been driven to preserve our environment and engage in sustainable activities. I remember as early as in my elementary school I used to participate in activities like tree plantation drives, environmental awareness campaigns etc. and it is since then that I have set my goal of life to work towards achieving a more sustainable future.

The Kansas river is extremely important, both from and ecological perspective and a cultural perspective, as it is very important to many of the indigenous people of the region and their everyday lives. After going through a detailed discussion regarding this with my peers we decided to work on a project based on the preservation of the Kansas River. My project aims to preserve the health of the Kansas River by combatting the primary issues it currently faces which include sand dredging, littering and pollution (especially nonpoint source pollution), the effects of climate change, invasive species, and inaccessibility. Maintaining the river’s health and ensuring that all people have equal and sustainable access to its resources is vitally important to ensure the maintenance of local ecosystems and to keep the river safe for future generations. I am very excited for this project and to share my ideas and knowledge while at the same time also learn from the experiences and success stories of other Millennium Fellows! "