Suvangi Rath: Breaking New Ground Through Academic Research

Suvangi Rath: Breaking New Ground Through Academic Research

The world of research and academics has most often been associated with age and years of experience. It is believed that with age only comes knowledge. But gone are those days. Gen Z is here to outshine themselves in every field they venture into, to prove their mettle. Though youngsters are coming up with great ideas and better knowledge, their age becomes a potential constraint in making them stand out in the academic community as potential resource persons. 

25-year old Suvangi Rath, is one such researcher who has gone far to defy the age-old predominance. She has been an ardent researcher, entrepreneur, speaker and resource person. With a mindset to bring about change, she has been one of the very few researchers in the State to work on the topic of Valuing Natural Agro-ecosystems. Her work on ecosystem services valuation of agriculture is perhaps the first of its kind in the State and among the very few attempts taken across the country. Recently her work was selected at the prestigious World Conference on Natural Resource Modelling organized by iDiv, Germany, in June 2021, where she was even selected as a session chair despite her young age. 

For Suvangi, research is all about passion and ethics. Her in-depth knowledge about her field of research and its related topics have made her a prominent and popular face in the research community. Her excellent communication skills have made her one of the most in-demand resource persons over the nation. She has been invited by prestigious institutions of the country to deliver lectures to over 1000 faculties across the country. She was the only student who was invited as a resource person at a National Faculty Development Program in August 2021.

“The news of my research paper being selected in the World Conference on Natural Research Modeling came as an utter surprise to me. I had put in all my efforts and was hoping for the best. Post that, I got another mail stating that I had been selected as one of the panel members to chair the session as well. I checked in the website and true enough my name was published as one of the chair members. So clearly I was very elated. Everybody was encouraging. The moderators welcomed me as the youngest member. This is what I really like about western countries. They do not put age as a bar for any achievement. A person’s potential is not necessarily in proportion to his/her age,” she shared. The session consisted of scientists and researchers from different parts of the world, mostly London and Germany. Her speech was followed by a loud round of applause which was very encouraging and overwhelming followed by offers for collaboration, she added. 

A First year PhD scholar of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, she was the youngest and the only student amongst all the resource persons who were invited for the talk in the National Webinars and Faculty Development Programmes conducted recently by reputed institutions. She recalls a funny moment during this experience. “Initially I was told not to reveal my age or designation as people might feel that I wasn’t qualified enough for the chair. But as the session ended, I was flooded with messages and calls from different faculties, to attend to their doubts and expressing their appreciation for the insightful session. I was apprehensive as to how I would deliver a lecture in the presence of such highly learned personalities but now I have the confidence and the zeal to tackle any lecture to any group,” she smiled. 

Suvangi is also an entrepreneur and has her own e-magazine named Vigyan Varta- An International e-magazine for Science Enthusiasts. It is the first monthly English e-magazine for agriculture and allied popular articles in the State. Along with publication of articles, the magazine also takes up skill development workshops on various topics of research regularly. Her vision is to foster interest among the students towards research and academics and help students get easy and affordable accessibility to the research techniques, skills and writing. 

“Vigyan Varta is my brainchild. The idea behind creating this magazine was to inculcate quality scientific writing skills among the students. There are similar magazines in the country, but they are priced at exorbitant rates. When I came across a few such magazines, I realised that the quality of writing was not upto the mark as per scientific standards. So I decided to start my own magazine where young researchers can not only present their scientific articles but also learn to hone their writing skills in the field of research,” she shared what motivated her to start the magazine in May 2020. She now has subscribers from across the globe. Vigyan Varta follows a strict format and style of writing, so as to uphold her vision of inculcating scientific writing skills. Quality over quantity is her motto. 

An very creative person, Suvangi never has any time to while away doing nothing. “I love doing anything that involves any sort of creativity. Since school I have actively participated in debates, art, singing, dancing, theatre and many more. Co-curricular activities refresh my mind,” she laughed. “Creativity is my forte and I enjoy indulging myself. Though my field of study is agricultural economics, I tutor students in english and good communication skills and inculcate confidence in them through spoken english. Apart from that, I have studied psychology, and that has given me the opportunity to talk to people in difficult situations. I am patient enough to hear them out and make them feel needed. I am into counselling as well.”

“But career-wise, being an academician who delivers quality education to society, is what I aim for. I always believe in sharing whatever knowledge I have and in a complete form. Through Vigyan Varta, I want to encourage the young minds to hone their writing skills in research papers and be well-known in the scientific arena. I believe in a humanitarian approach,” she signed off. 

Suvangi is a two-time Chancellor Awardee of her university. She has been felicitated at both National and International level with many awards like the Emerging Scientist Award, Woman of Excellence Award and many more. She has won the Make in India contest’s best paper award in Chennai. Owing to her oratory skills, she has been invited as a special presenter by organisations of repute. She has always been a bright student since her days of schooling and has gone far to top her institute in her masters.

In India, particularly in Odisha, there are young scholars who are discouraged from moving out of the cocoon and trying new things, owing to their age. Breaking this notion, Suvangi has led the way and encourages others too to always be open to changes and be limitless in their approach and learning. My City Links wishes her a brighter future and the zeal to bring laurels to the State and the country.