The third edition of ABP Network's 'Ideas Of India Summit' is set to make a comeback, showcasing distinguished figures from diverse fields. Scheduled for February 23 and 24, 2024, this event will bring together prominent luminaries for insightful discussions and exchanges. In the session titled 'A More Sustainable World' Sonam Wangchuk, Engineer Turned Education Reformer, Innovator and Founding Director, SECMOL will highlight the need for a sustainable world.
Born in 1966, Sonam Wangchuk is a mechanical engineer and the Director of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL). He was honored with the Magsaysay Award in 2018. Wangchuk's persona inspired the character of Phunsukh Wangdu portrayed by Aamir Khan in the 2009 film '3 Idiots'. The Ladakh-based engineer is renowned for establishing his innovative school, the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), operating entirely on solar energy without fossil fuels for cooking, lighting, or heating.
Established in 1988, SECMOL aims to support Ladakhi children and train students considered failures by the system. In 1994, Wangchuk initiated Operation New Hope to reform government school systems. He played a crucial role in designing low-cost solar-heated buildings made of mud to regulate temperatures during Ladakh winters.
Wangchuk's invention of the Ice Stupa addresses water crises in mountain regions. In 2021, he created an eco-friendly solar-heated tent for Army personnel in frigid regions like Siachen and Galwan valley. In November 2022, he received the seventh Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award from former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, given every alternate year in memory of the first Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese and philosopher Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios.
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