Vibrant reflection of the institute

Outreach Cell, IIT Kanpur brings you the 1st edition (Part 1 of 2) of the Distinguished Alumni Interview Series. We interview people who have contributed exceptionally to the society after graduating from IIT Kanpur and bring their inspiring life stories to you.

This edition brings you the journey of Prof. Viney Aneja, Professor and Co-Director of graduate programs in the department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA go.ncsu.edu/airquality

Prof. Aneja was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by IIT Kanpur in 2010. He completed his B. Tech from the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kanpur in 1971. He then went on to complete his MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University, Raleigh and his MBA in planning and control from Union College, Schenectady, NY.

He has won many awards including: the General Electric Company's Noryl Division Proprietary Innovation Award (1983); the Air and Waste Management Association's Frank Chambers Award (1998) - its highest scientific honor- and the Lyman A. Ripperton Award (2001) for distinguished achievement as an educator; as well as the North Carolina Award in Science (2007) for his contribution in the areas of environmental sciences and engineering. Dr. Aneja was also invited by the U.S. White House Council on Environmental Quality to assist in the BP Gulf Spill investigation and assessment (2010).

Here are some excerpts from our conversation with Viney Sir:

Q1. I believe that education is not the only thing we carry out of the institute as we graduate, we also take with us a lot of fond memories and valuable experiences. So, starting at the very beginning, can you tell us some interesting stories about how the campus used to be in your days?

Ah, well before I begin, first let me acknowledge the profound influence my parents had on me. My mother was a professor of English and my father was a senior army officer. I also want to highlight that in 1980 I met the finest and the most beautiful woman in my life, who became my wife. We have two wonderful children. These important aspects of my personal

Pennsylvania, USA, three years ago. It was fascinating to see so many people attending it. IIT is a very competitive environment and getting ahead is the natural instinct. But I believe we should put aside any grudges developed during our IIT days and reach out to each other. Here students come from all over the country, and we must strive hard in life to be friends with all the people we spend time with.

Q4. How do you think that your life at IITK shaped your interests and helped you in deciding your career path? You chose to be an educator, so how did your life influence that decision?

I feel different people will view it differently. To me, education and fundamental teaching offers a foundation for life. At IIT/Kanpur the first three years is an integrated program in sciences and liberal arts. And the last two years, are focused on your engineering discipline. This approach at IIT/Kanpur provides the foundation for fundamental thinking in science and technology.
Moreover, the competitive environment IIT provided has helped me become better. Not all the courses I took at IIT/Kanpur were necessary. But in general, the foundation was excellent. At that time, every student studied the same course at the same time, and we all graduated, in general, at the same time. We had electives only during the fourth and fifth year of our undergraduate study, for example to take some liberal arts and sciences courses such as philosophy, logic, or literature or whatever. Believe it or not, I did not take a single course on environmental sciences or in air quality as they were not offered at the time. These are now part of civil and environmental engineering at IIT/Kanpur. So, what I would suggest to IIT Kanpur is, now since we have lots of other fields that are becoming important including the environment, some of the courses from these emerging fields should be included in the curriculum.

Q5.What excites you about your field of interest?

My field of interest - Air Quality/Climate Science in a broad sense is part of environmental sciences/geosciences. When I graduated from IIT, and even when I received my PhD, the phrase'air quality' did not exist. It is a relatively new field but a growing and exciting component of science and technology. The environmental engineers/scientists, in general, don't make any sort of 'widgets', or a 'gizmo' that we can sell. What we offer is knowledge' and we share that knowledge to solve the problems that confront mankind. However, it does offer the opportunity to have a satisfying and meaningful life, which I have got. If you want to become a millionaire, leave it. Genetics or computer science, or some other field of study might get you there, but certainly not environmental science. The primary reason you join the environment and earth sciences is to solve problems that are relevant to humanity, and it offers a very productive life.

What excites you about your field of interest?

Let me share a few things with you. I am what I would call an environmental scientist or air quality or climate scientist, and several factors have drawn me to be in this area. First,one gets to enjoy the great outdoors. In general, in most of the engineering, you remain indoors; mostly at a desk or in front of a computer or working in a plant or something like that. I realized staying in a cubicle or an office room for 40 hours a week was not my cup of tea. I would rather have a career which offered the opportunity of working outdoors that supported not only me but also benefited the environment while making a difference. Air Quality experiments, in general, are conducted out in the field. For example, emissions, transport, transformation, and deposition of air pollutant measurements are conducted outdoors.
What is happening in India too today, is young people both men and women are eager to improve the world we live in. However, women in my judgment are very socially conscious, perhaps in general, more than men. Women are eager to learn environmental sciences and they are making a huge difference in this arena; and adding to diversity in science and engineering. I love the fact that I do a job that allows me to help benefit the environment, society, and future generations. Also, I cannot ignore that the national/international scientific and technical meetings I attend and the air quality experiments I have conducted offered me the opportunity to travel, discover, and study amazing things, and see the world and discuss ideas and to help at the same time to mitigate the damage that we, the humans have caused to the environment, while gaining a better understanding of the world around me. It is important to me to gain a better understanding of the world and the environmental issues that confront us. For example, the deteriorating air quality in the major metropolitan cities such as New Delhi, and the deteriorating water quality of the Ganga Ji river, and declining global biodiversity. I ponder about how these issues are exacerbated by climate change.
Recently, I wrote a paper in a journal called Atmospheric Environment, on the role of biomass burning in the Indo-Gangetic plain and its impact on air quality in New Delhi. I tried to make the connection between what is happening in the Indo Gangetic plain, which is the breadbasket of India, and the fate of all the stubble left after the wheat and rice are harvested. The stubble is burned, creating a huge amount of air pollution which impacts New Delhi and other cities. I was able to document this connection between the agricultural practices in the Indo Gangetic plain and poor air quality in New Delhi using satellite remote sensing. I feel this offers me the opportunity to study the impact on humanity and the environment.
Today, environmental sciences offer a lot of career options to students. It offers a meaningful, satisfying, and enjoyable life. You are preparing the students for careers that range from solving problems to offering suggestions to policymakers. And lastly, Environmental Sciences is a fast-growing job sector and has lots of career options. It allows you to offer suggestions to the corporate world on sustainability and offers you the advantage in terms of improving the air that we breathe or the water we drink.

Q6. Having done your PhD in chemical engineering, what motivated you to pursue an MBA in planning and control?

I am from a generation where the career objective was to join a multi-national company and getting a job in a multinational was the ticket to having a good life. I went to work at the General Electric Corporate R&D Centre in Schenectady, New York. General Electric at one time was the second or third largest chemical company because it made what is called engineered polymers or engineered plastics. What is engineered plastics? Plastics or polymers that can replace metals. They sent me to do an MBA. They paid for it, and when I was done, I realized that the corporate world was not for me. When you join the corporate world, you better be doing what the company requests off you. If you are not going to make money for them, they have little or no interest in you. I realized that the independent thinking element was not there and so I became an academician which offered me the opportunity to think and pursue independent ideas.

Q7. You have been frequently sought as a lecturer and consultant to the Federal and State governments, professional societies, international organizations, and the private sector on issues related to environmental science and public policy. Please highlight the importance of environmental aspects in formulating public policies.

Yes, I have had the good fortune of being on various national and international committees, and that has been very satisfying. Currently, I serve on the US Environmental Protection Agency's Board of Scientific Counselors Executive Committee. This body helps make policies for research and development for managing the environment in the US. I also served as the Chair Board of Scientific Counselors, Air, Climate and Energy (ACE) subcommittee; and serve on the Secretary's Scientific Advisory Board in North Carolina. Public policy is a complex and multifaceted process where it is crucial to have good scientific understanding of the issues. Public policy is also an interplay of many parties, including the private and public sectors, academia, and interest groups. It is very satisfying and gratifying to see my scientific thought formulated into some level of public policy. Public policy is not an endeavor that you show up one day, and tomorrow you have results. It is an ongoing discussion that takes place, but the main foundation is good science. The emerging issue of air pollution associated with the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) problem is what I have focused on the past many years. I find this very challenging and interesting.

Q8. You have done a great deal of research on the environment and climate change. Hence what according to you, is the greatest contribution of your research to the world?

I have done a fair bit of science. Still let me see how I can best answer this for you.
I have studied fundamental pathways of the biogeochemical cycling for sulfur compounds in the environment. This body of research conducted during the 1970's and 1980's and published in Nature showed that reduced sulfur compounds react photolytically to form sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere. These reduced sulfur compounds originate principally from microbiological transformations in soil. The connection between microorganisms in the soil and the stratospheric sulphate aerosol layer was a considerable advancement in understanding global biogeochemical cycles. For this body of research, I was awarded the 1998 Frank Chambers Award by the Air and Waste Management Association, the Association's highest scientific honor. During the 1990's I focused on atmospheric-biospheric interactions with a view to exploring the role of pollution in forest decline. My research on peroxyacetyl nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and oxides of nitrogen in the mountains of the eastern United States clarified the role of the long-range transport of pollutants and their impacts on the formation of acid deposition and damage to high-elevation trees. As part of this research, I examined the fundamental pathways for the transport of pollutants and cellular interactions of pollutants and oxidants with the biota. I was interviewed on CNN in August 1988 to discuss the role of environmental quality in high elevation forest decline.
I am now focused on quantifying the emissions, transformation, transport and fate of pollutants in the environment from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs); and to assess the contribution of animal operations to atmospheric nitrogen (ammonia) loadings, and examine atmospheric pathways for the increasing nutrient enrichment of coastal rivers, estuaries, and other marine ecosystems. This research was featured on the cover of the April 1998 Journal of Environmental Manager. For this body of research, I received the 2007 North Carolina Award in Science, the highest award a civilian can receive from the Governor of North Carolina.
I am now studying "Is nitrogen, the next carbon?".

Q9. What do you think is the effect of the pandemic situation on the environment because of the prolonged lockdown which locked us inside our houses?

It indeed led to a reduction in the number of vehicles operating on the road and helped nature in restoring itself. This is a very complex double-edged sword. The global population has been locked down for a while, and we saw huge environmental benefits. As the lockdown is being lifted, environmental situations go back to how they were. However, it should be a learning experience that we must have a good environment while having economic progress and we certainly learned that it is possible to have both. Why should clean water and air be a luxury for the rich? It should be for all of us. The world leaders need to comprehend that and make policies that will allow it to happen.

Q10. Many of us in our pre final or sophomore years face the dilemma of what we should choose as a career. What motivated you to go down the path of Research and Education?

This is what I would suggest to the student: enhance your life every day and follow your passion, that is what is in your hands. Take a deep breath and make yourself a better human being and enhance your life. Research and education have made my life meaningful and better. It has also offered me the opportunity to mentor students and young scientists-the future leaders in environmental science and technology.

Q11. What do you look at in students' applications for research internships, and how can a student make his or her application more effective?

Different universities and different faculty members look at different things in the new students. Some look at only the raw numbers, which is, well, what your grades are. While these metrics are important, they are not what I feel is the final answer. I have noticed that more and more faculty members now actually talk to the new incoming students and try to gauge their interest. And in fact, if a student is coming from overseas, they try to have a zoom, Skype or telephone call. This is the trend now.
I must say that I am influenced by diversity. Because environmental sciences are not the prerogative of atmospheric sciences or chemical engineering, you can be in liberal arts and be good from an environmental perspective. I try to bring diversity into my research group. I happen to be an engineer, and I have benefited from it. However, I believe we all have a role to play in enhancing our environment. I look for diversity.

Q12. So, can you give us some general advice for the students of IITK.

Five years ago, I did a sabbatical at IIT Kanpur, and my wife came with me. Professor Joshi, who is a faculty member of chemical engineering, invited me to his class to offer a lecture.
I asked the students who were ready to graduate in Dr. Joshi's class, what did they think of becoming chemical engineers? Their answers were rather surprising to me. The answer was that a good number of them wanted to be in computer science and engineering rather than in chemical engineering. I can understand that because Computer Science and Engineering offers you a high paying job before you graduate or develop a start-up. I could understand that line of thinking and frustration on the part of the student. However, disciplines are evolving and changing. When I joined IIT/Kanpur the best curriculum to choose from was not computer science. There was no degree in computer science at the time. There is no telling when you graduate what discipline of study would be 'hot' in terms of a job as it is today.
I would offer to the student to follow your passion. Be motivated in what you are going to do, and do not give up. Don't ever give up. Take risks and do not be afraid of failure because failure is a wonderful learning exercise. Develop strong work skills and ethics, always explore your options. Work hard and smart; just working hard is not the only credential. Lastly, accept yourself for who you are, and don't imitate anybody else. You will all do well. The students of IIT Kanpur make it a wonderful place, and I am delighted to be an alumnus