ThinkWithEarth Season 1 Concludes In Bengaluru, Igniting Global Innovation For A Sustainable Future

The inaugural edition of ThinkWithEarth Season1, a pioneering global sustainability hackathon and ideathon, has successfully concluded, marking a milestone in the global pursuit of a sustainable future. The transformative event united brilliant minds from across the globe, sparking collaboration and innovation to tackle pressing environmental and societal challenges.

At the heart of this initiative was Prof. Piyush Kumar Pareek, Professor and Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology ( Nitte Deemed to Be University ), Bengaluru. His vision of integrating technology with sustainable practices shaped ThinkWithEarth into a significant platform for emerging innovators. Prof. Pareek’s leadership reflects ThinkWithEarth’s forward-thinking approach to education and its commitment to addressing global issues through innovation.

The event featured a wide spectrum of inventive solutions, from “From Menace to Energy: Transforming Water Hyacinth into Bioethanol” to projects like Nano-EO-X, AQUAS, BioCap Smart Biochar Sensor Network, ResueSwarm, MediTrack, MoodMirror, Astral Cities and Green Steps Forward. Innovations such as AI-Powered Pulse: The Decentralized Smart Grid and Vidyoday stood out, winning top honors for their potential to deliver real-world impact in sustainable energy, resilient cities and quality education.

The hackathon’s global relevance was underscored by its direct alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate action and quality education. Discussions are already underway to explore partnerships that could scale these solutions into actionable projects with international impact.

The event’s success was strengthened by the contributions of its leadership and expert panels. Alongside Prof. Pareek, the organizing team of NMIT students, Rohith Vishwanath, Srivathsa S Murthy, Wilfred D’Souza and Sriram P S, played a pivotal role in executing the initiative. The jury panel, comprising Chaithanya Reddy Bogadi, Hari Suresh Babu Gummadi, Narendra Chennupati, Sahithi Donkina, Sathish Krishna Anumula, Ranganath Nagesh Taware, Ohm Hareesh Kundurthy, Shashank Pandya, Nishant Shrivastava, Yogesh Ramaswamy, Vijaykumar Krishnapillai, Vijaya Bhaskar Oggu and Amit Chaudhary, brought a wealth of expertise to evaluating projects.

Keynote speakers included Mrinmoy Aich, Narendra Chennupati, Darshan Bhavesh Mehta, Rajender Chilukala, Ranganath Nagesh Taware, Dhruv Shah, Amit Taneja and Hari Suresh Babu Gummadi, who inspired participants with their insights. The Technical Committee, led by Hari Suresh Babu Gummadi, Narendra Chennupati and Dr. Sravanthi Dontu, along with the Advisory Committee — Mrinmoy Aich, Narendra Chennupati, Hari Suresh Babu Gummadi, Mahesh Kumar Goyal and Dr. Sravanthi Dontu — provided strategic and technical guidance throughout the event.

ThinkWithEarth Season 1 was made possible through the support of its partners and sponsors. Academic partnerships included Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, East West College of Engineering and K.S. Institute of Technology, while industry collaboration came from HiDEVS. Media support was extended by Thanks Creation 9. Their contributions enabled mentorship, funding and technical assistance for participants.

Reflecting on the event, Prof. Piyush Kumar Pareek said, “ThinkWithEarth Season 1 has truly exceeded expectations, showcasing the incredible potential of young minds to innovate for a sustainable future. I am immensely proud of the dedication and creativity displayed by all participants.”

The winning team, Vidyoday, shared their experience: “Participating in ThinkWithEarth was an inspiring journey. The mentorship and resources provided were invaluable, and we are thrilled to see our idea recognized as a step towards a more sustainable world.”

More than a one-off event, ThinkWithEarth Season 1 aims to serve as a launchpad for lasting change. Incubation opportunities are being explored, and winning teams are being connected with potential funding and collaboration partners to further develop their ideas. Plans are already in motion for the next edition of ThinkWithEarth, which promises to bring even greater innovation and impact.

The conclusion of Season 1 reaffirms a powerful truth: collective action and bold innovation can drive monumental change. As the initiative looks ahead, it calls upon innovators, organizations and individuals across the world to join in shaping a more sustainable and resilient planet, where groundbreaking ideas become tangible realities for a brighter future.