Akshara Gopinath

Modules -   Bio-refinery Engineering, Energy System, Distributed and Renewable Energy System, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Sustainable Development and Industry 

Knowledge/Experience

• Awarded first class in dissertation study titled "The Impact of Organics on the Enhanced Actinide Removal Process". This study involved submission of an initial proposal along with a complete risk assessment and a final dissertation report which studied impact of organic compounds on the nuclear effluent treatment process and its relevance to the industry.
• Producing various environmental performance and review reports as a part of my Sustainable Development and Industry study, which helped gain experience in the production of a Life Cycle Analysis using C Calc of a fizzy drink production plant.
  
• Energy System study provided the opportunity to gain skills in specialised software STAR to design a Brayton-Rankine Combined Cycle Heat & Power Plant integrated with solar and wind power system.

Modules : Advanced Transport Phenomena, Air Pollution, Environmental Management, Hazardous Waste Management, Water Treatment, Hydrology & Hydrogeology, Plant Design, Project Management

Knowledge/Experience

• Awarded The University of Nottingham Bircumshaw Prize for having shown the most academic progress in the Engineering faculty for the academic year.
• Design study project based on a Sulphuric Acid Replacement plant design accompanied by PID, PFD, GA drawings, economic analysis, mass & energy balances, environmental and sustainability report.
• Plant design project based on the designing a waste water treatment process to enable recycling 45% of the up-stream processed water, not only meet environmental sulphur limit but also to reduce economic cost.
• Introductory Geology project required guiding a team of 6 to complete a phase 1 desk study followed by phase 2 risk and impact assessment to obtain a first class grade.
• Awarded a high second class for the environmental field course study which involved the analysis of soil samples, basic phase 1 desk study for a site and finally presenting an environmental impact assessment based on the results obtained.

• Involved in many international projects from various industries including water treatment, chemical processing etc. 
• Preparing Environmental Impact Assessments, Cumulative Impact Assessments, Strategic Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment for projects as per Equator Principles, IFC and WHO Organisation regulations.
• Setting up Social Management Plans and Frameworks for all projects that adhere to the WHO, IFC and General EHS Guidelines.  
• Work in diverse teams of professionals towards tight deadlines and on various projects simultaneously
• Preparation of Stakeholder Engagement Plans to aid in the Social Management Frameworks.

• Elected Social Secretary for Belly Dance Society.
  
• Organised an event as Social Secretary that won the Best Inter-Society Collaboration Award from the University of Nottingham, Student's Union.
  
• Successfully negotiated and organised various paid performances on and off campus.
  
• Reviewed past performance of the society and introduced creative themes for future events that eventually resulted in a 15% increase in member participation for the academic year.
  

• Held responsibility for producing the chapter on waste management to be included in a white paper on The Development of Regenerative Campuses in India, which has now been published.
• Examined various waste management processes that could be implemented within building structures in third world nations, that is feasible in budget and technology constraints.
• Experience critical analysis of findings and producing innovative solutions that could be implemented on campuses that is economically and practically feasible.
• Addressing challenges together with potential solutions during discussions to match the project criteria.

• Analysed working of the small-scale industrial water treatment plant on-site.  
• Familiarised myself with the environmental practices, legislation, limits and processes in an engineering organisation.
• Collated information regarding design, working and environmental impact of the plant.