Membership Acceptance: A Moment to Remember
It was a truly joyful moment when I received the news of my acceptance into the GYA!
The email began: “We received an extraordinary number of excellent applications this year. However, your outstanding contributions to research, your dedication to serve society, and your potential to contribute to our community stood out from a very competitive pool.”
I must have read that paragraph a dozen times! I took a screenshot and shared it with my mentors, colleagues, and friends—it felt surreal. What followed in the weeks leading up to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) was a steady stream of welcome messages, pre-read materials, and event details.
I was doubly excited—this would be my first in-person GYA event and also a long-awaited opportunity to visit India and spend some time with family. I landed in Hyderabad at 2 a.m., and after a quiet 2-hour ride on an empty expressway, I arrived at the serene campus of the International Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad.
A Unique Campus Experience
Living on campus at IIT Hyderabad transformed this AGM into something far beyond a typical conference. It was a week of immersion—of living, learning, and connecting. Surrounded by green spaces and quiet mornings, I found myself jumping from thought-provoking plenaries to spontaneous brainstorming over lunch, to evening strolls, laughter, and board games with new friends. A running joke among members was that “Sleep is for the flight home”, and we certainly lived up to it.
The IIT staff and the Local Organising Committee went above and beyond—from providing power adapters and laundry access to coordinating logistics with kindness and efficiency. The delicious and thoughtfully planned meals only added to the sense of camaraderie and kept our spirits high.
Science Leadership: A Shared Mission
The Science Leadership Workshop for new GYA members took place over the first two days and was masterfully facilitated by Anina Rich and the entire Inclusive Innovation team. We were sent advance materials and even a reminder to bring reusable mugs and bottles—an environmentally conscious touch that felt very aligned with GYA’s values.
This wasn’t just another leadership training. It was the most engaging, empowering workshop I’ve attended—one that wove together empathy, creativity, and collective decision-making. Concepts I’d encountered before in scattered ways suddenly connected as part of a thoughtful framework for scientific leadership.
A particularly impactful exercise encouraged us to shift focus “from annoying to insightful”—a phrase I coined during the workshop, and was elated when the workshop facilitators later quoted it in one of their slides!
The emphasis on shared leadership in a non-judgmental space gave us tools to lead not from authority, but through inclusion and shared vision. The workshop concluded with a reflective yet creative and challenging exercise of crafting a six-word story to describe ourselves – this was both thought-provoking and rewarding.
A Conference with Vision
The AGM theme “Confluence of Visionaries: Empowering Science for Global Change”, brought together over 150 scientists, scholars, and stakeholders from across academia, industry, government, and policy. The event opened with a keynote by India’s Union Minister of Education and featured a blend of scientific rigor and cultural vibrancy.
Four dynamic plenaries tackled some of the most urgent global challenges:
- Innovation & entrepreneurship
- ESG and corporate responsibility
- Industry 5.0
- Global health and nutrition
These weren’t just static lectures and panel discussions — they were spirited conversations, visions of the future, and calls to action.
The lightning talks, short (3.5-minute) and sharp presentations from around 40 GYA members, were another highlight. Across a diverse range of topics including environmental perspectives, planetary health, and policy innovation, they revealed unexpected synergies and sparked ideas for cross-disciplinary collaboration, all delivered with clarity and precision.
Culinary and cultural amalgamation
Every meal was a mini culinary tour of India. The organizers curated an elaborate menu that represented diverse regional cuisines. In my home state, we say a wedding is remembered by its food—and I think this conference will be remembered in the same way!
We also explored the majestic Golconda Fort and were treated to a regal, state-sponsored dinner at the Chowmahalla Palace, where Telangana’s cultural heritage took center stage. Our return to the campus was just as lively, thanks to a few Indian National Young Academy of Science (INYAS) members on our bus who encouraged us to sing songs in our native languages. From morning yoga to traditional dress night, gala dinners to dance performances, every cultural experience deepened our appreciation for Indian hospitality and history.
My Executive Committee (EC) Election Journey
One of the most rewarding experiences was running for a seat on the EC. This year marked the first hybrid EC elections, and the energy was palpable—over a dozen nominees stepped forward to contribute. I put my name in for the EC, ran a modest campaign, and gave a heartfelt pitch.
Though I wasn’t elected, the process itself was transformative. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on the needs of the GYA community, articulate my vision, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers. I came away with new ideas for projects—particularly around EMCR (early- to mid-career researcher) empowerment, science-society integration, and equitable policy engagement. I have great respect for the newly elected Executive Committee and Co-Chairs who are dynamic and experienced and I wish them every success during their tenure.
Institutional Support and Encouragement
Kudos to the GYA Office Team—they were the unsung heroes behind the scenes. From seamless pre-travel coordination to session logistics, tech support, and even sharing session recordings afterward, they made it easy for us to be fully present and engaged. Their calm, responsive, and caring approach helped the entire meeting run smoothly.
Takeaways & Gratitude
This AGM was more than a professional milestone—it was a deeply personal journey of discovery, connection, and belonging.
I met brilliant minds from the incoming 2025–2030 cohort, long-time GYA members, alumni, and INYAS members. I am especially thankful to friends from INYAS who made extraordinary efforts to make the AGM in India a memorable event. I left IIT Hyderabad humbled, energized, and determined to carry forward the GYA mission.
The “Confluence of Visionaries” wasn’t just a theme—it was a lived experience. To the Organizing Committee, workshop facilitators, IIT staff, Telangana hosts, the GYA Secretariat, and my fellow members: thank you for an extraordinary week of purpose, passion, and shared hope for the future of science and society.
PS: Photos and recordings from the AGM and Conference sessions are available on the GYA Flickr and YouTube channels.