Soma Mandal has built her career at the intersection of education, environmental awareness, and climate action. A science educator, environmentalist, and climate education advocate, she holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology, a B.Ed., and an M.Sc. in Environmental Science. She graduated as a gold medallist from Bangalore University. Currently, she serves as a Science Educator at GD Goenka School, New Delhi, where she focuses on promoting experiential learning and sustainability education among students.
For Mandal, one of the most rewarding aspects of her role is seeing students realise that their ideas and actions can contribute to positive change. She believes education should extend beyond preparing students for examinations and instead empower them to become innovators, changemakers, and responsible global citizens. In her approach to teaching sustainability and renewable energy, Mandal emphasises understanding real-world challenges before exploring solutions. Rather than first introducing students to technical definitions of solar energy or wind power, she encourages them to observe issues such as rising temperatures, air pollution, growing energy demand, resource depletion, and the impacts of climate change. Once students understand these challenges, they become more engaged in exploring clean energy and sustainability solutions. Her teaching methodology is strongly rooted in practical learning. Her students undertake activities such as energy audits, assessments of household energy consumption, and investigations into local sustainability issues. They also explore renewable energy technologies and develop practical solutions through research projects and innovation challenges. Through these activities, students move beyond theoretical understanding and learn how to apply concepts in real-world situations.
Mandal’s students have worked on a range of sustainability-focused initiatives, including hydroponics systems, sustainable agriculture projects, environmental monitoring activities, waste management campaigns, and pollution mitigation solutions. She notes that one of the most significant outcomes of these projects is a shift in mindset, with students beginning to see themselves as part of the solution rather than viewing environmental challenges as someone else’s responsibility. She is a strong advocate for integrating sustainability literacy into school curricula across India. In her view, today’s students will inherit some of the most significant environmental and energy challenges in history, making sustainability education as essential as literacy and numeracy. While acknowledging challenges related to teacher training, infrastructure, and resources, she sees these as opportunities for collaboration among educators, policymakers, industry leaders, and communities.
Outside the classroom, Mandal enjoys spending time in nature, observing biodiversity, and participating in environmental initiatives. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue nurturing a generation of changemakers while working with organisations worldwide to scale ideas that benefit communities and the environment. She believes that some of the most impactful climate solutions may emerge from classrooms where students are encouraged to think boldly and act with purpose.
