Plastic, the Hidden Threat! with the tagline “There is no PLANet B” was held at PES University

The event, “Plastic, the Hidden Threat!” with the tagline “There is no PLANet B” was held at PES University on 2nd August 2024 at the MRD Auditorium, PES University RR campus. 

Organized by the Changemakers Society the event aimed to educate the youth about the significant impact of plastic usage and explore innovative ways to substitute plastic while preserving our environment. The event was a collaboration of various dignitaries, faculty members, and students from PES H.N Campus. It included seminars, documentaries and interactive sessions. 

The event commenced with a warm welcome to the honorable dignitaries and highlighted the vision of Dr. M R Doreswamy, the founder and chairman of PES Institutions. In order to set a divine and melodious tone for the day, the event was then adorned by shloka recitation, followed by the lamp lighting ceremony which included Dr. KS Sridhar, Registrar, PESU, Prof. MV Sathyanarayana, Director, PES HN Campus, Dr. V Krishna, Dean Student Affairs, Dr. Jaidev, an industry expert in polymer technology, Mr. Rajesh Babu, Chief Operating Officer at Swachha Eco Solutions Private Limited, Dr. C. Narayana Reddy, Principal, PES PU College, Dr. Devaraj, Principal, PES Polytechnic College and Mr. Madhukar, Program Manager, Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, CIE, PESU.

Post this, our guest speakers took the stage. Dr. Jaidev, an industry expert in polymer technology with over 2.5 years of experience at Saahas Waste Management Pvt. Ltd., delivered an insightful talk on transforming plastic waste into valuable resources and driving innovation in circular economy solutions for plastics. Mr. Rajesh Babu, Chief Operating Officer at Swachha Eco Solutions Private Limited, shared his extensive experience of over 11 years in the industry, discussing sustainable practices and innovative solutions for plastic waste management. 

“The Plastic Age: A Documentary featuring Pharrell Williams” by Jake Sumner was then screened which dealt with the pressing issue of plastic accumulation in the Pacific. This was followed by another documentary with the name “Meet 8 Young Founders Turning Trash into Cash” by Business Insider which showcased a few examples of how everyday trash can be recycled using simple economic techniques. These documentaries offered a visual and narrative perspective on the impact of plastic pollution and the potential for recycling and innovation. 

The guests and attendees were later escorted for lunch, after which an interactive Quiz competition and Ideathon was organized. This aimed at further spreading awareness about plastics, its hazards and its overall impact on all living beings. It also covered a plethora of other topics including famous personalities working towards environment protection, famous slogans and awareness programmes, segregation and waste-management etc. The ideathon fostered creativity and collaboration among participants, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in environmental conservation.

This event successfully educated and inspired attendees on the critical issue of plastic pollution and the importance of sustainable practices. The combination of expert talks, interactive sessions, thought-provoking quizzes and ideathons provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and potential solutions in plastic waste management. The event wouldn’t have been a success without the constant support delivered by Prof. D. Jawahar, Pro Chancellor, Dr. J Suryaprasad, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ajoy Kumar, COO of PES Institutions, Dr. V Krishna, Dean of Student Affairs and Prof. M V Satyanarayana, Director of PES College Hanumanthnagar.

Team Changemakers Society is extremely thankful for the opportunity provided and believes that we could instill ideas of innovation and collaboration in addressing environmental issues, among all attendees.