By Nitipol Kiravanich
February 24, 2022 -- Anika Bushra, a master’s student in Sustainable Energy Transition, shares her insights into her internship experience with Power and Climate for Asia Department of the Rockefeller Foundation. Equipped with broader and deeper knowledge of renewable energy situation in Southeast Asian countries through her internship, Anika is even more convinced now than ever that renewable energy is the future of our world.
Earlier last year, through the internship program, Anika saw a posting that the Rockefeller Foundation’s Power and Climate for Asia Department was looking for an intern with extensive knowledge in the field of energy and understanding the context of the Southeast Asia energy sector. She knew she was a good fit. Through a rigorous selection process where she had to submit a Statement of Purpure, be interviewed, and complete an assignment, she was able to secure the internship from August to December of 2021.
Trained as an electrical and electronic engineer in her undergraduate level in Bangladesh, Anika can see how renewable and sustainable energy is soon to have immense impact in the world – “it is the future,” she affirmed. Having been accepted by an organization whose goal is to end energy poverty, Anika has found herself driven towards becoming part of the sustainable energy development at a global scale.
Working in the Power and Climate for Asia Department, she was tasked with conducting research to provide context of energy landscape, covering different aspects including political, technical, economic as well as energy policies of countries in Asia.
“Anika Bushra had made an invaluable contribution to our energy research during her internship,” said her supervisor, Pariphan Uawithya, Director of Power & Climate Initiative, describing that, “she conducted extensive secondary research of the renewable energy sector in four Asian countries and produced a comprehensive analytical metric that aided The Rockefeller Foundation in ranking countries for program development”.
Reflecting on her internship, Anika gave an insight into how the collaborative and supportive environment at the Rockefeller has helped her cultivate essential research skills and well as to learn to work as a team. The experience also has widened her horizon to see the bigger context of current energy situation, including the integration & implementation of renewable energy, and statistics & status of Southeast Asian countries.
Giving insights into the student intern from AIT, Anika’s supervisor, Mr. Uawithya added “Anika is a fast learner who brought the right level of energy to the team and consistently showed interest to take on more projects”. The Director of Power & Climate Initiative concluded, “I would like to thank her for her support during her four-month internship at the foundation and wish her great success in her next chapter.”
Speaking of her future, Anika first looked back at how her journey started. Branching out from the field of electrical engineering, shared by her father and sister, Anika chose to study in the Sustainable Energy Transition Program at AIT which she felt has empowered her to become more “confident”. The multidisciplinary environment at AIT has stimulated her to look beyond the field of engineering and take notice of social impact, she explained.
Combining her experiences cultivated from both the Rockefeller Foundation and AIT, Anika reflected on how she has always been interested in renewable energy, “especially how it is being used in different parts of the world.” Noting that, “after my graduation, I am looking forward to excelling in this area and being one of the experts in sustainable and renewable energy.”
The world awaits.
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‘Intern Insights’ is a series of internship stories, told by students participating in AIT Internship Program. It provides a glimpse into student’s experience with a reputable organization, what they have learned and how it has inspired them. Each month, there will be a story of an internship with a different organization participating in the Internship Program – stay tuned!
The Rockefeller Foundation is an organization to promote the well-being of humanity focusing on the advancement of the new frontiers of science, data, policy, and innovation to solve global challenges related to health, food, power, and economic mobility.
More information on Rockefeller Foundation: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/