5 Indian Climate Scientists, Including 2 From US, Win Inflection Awards

Photo (Left to right): Eshaan Patheria. Garima Raheja, Mahendra Patel (top row), Monali Priyadarshini, Vikas Dhamu (bottom row)

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Five promising Indian researchers have been selected for the prestigious Inflection Awards, which recognize the 30 most outstanding young scientists working on breakthrough solutions to combat climate change. The awards were presented at a special ceremony in Paris, the birthplace of the International Treaty on Climate Change.

The Inflection Awards, organized by Marble—a European climate-tech venture studio—and supported by Breakthrough Energy Fellows and the Quadrature Climate Foundation, celebrate early-career scientists who are addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges.

Chosen from hundreds of applicants worldwide, the 30 awardees were selected for their scientific excellence, innovation, and potential to drive real-world environmental change. Among them, five Indian scientists stood out for their groundbreaking work in clean energy, sustainable fuels, carbon capture, and environmental engineering:

• Eshaan Patheria, a PhD candidate in chemistry at Caltech, is developing low-cost, high-energy-density lithium-ion battery cathodes. Passionate about energy equity, Eshaan previously helped launch India’s first lithium-ion microgrid in Odisha with the NGO Gram Vikas. He is a National Science Foundation Fellow and a Switzer Foundation Fellow.
• Garima Raheja, a PhD candidate at Columbia University, works at the intersection of air quality, big data, and energy. She has contributed to climate policy at the White House, worked with NASA, and served as a U.S. climate diplomat. A dual-degree graduate from UC Berkeley, she’s also an AGU Community Science Fellow and U.S. State Department Air Quality Fellow.
• Mahendra Patel, a PhD student at EPFL, Switzerland, is advancing solar fuel technology by creating an integrated photoelectrochemical device that converts sunlight, water, and CO₂ into sustainable fuels. His innovations could one day power vehicles and aircraft with clean energy.
• Dr. Monali Priyadarshini, an Assistant Professor at VIT Vellore and IIT Kharagpur alumna, specializes in wastewater treatment using cutting-edge bio-electrochemical systems. With 27 published papers and multiple awards, she’s also an editor for major scientific journals like Scientific Reports and Discover Water.
• Vikas Dhamu, a PhD student at the National University of Singapore, is pioneering methods to store CO₂ in deep-sea sediments as clathrate hydrates—a potentially game-changing strategy for carbon sequestration and reducing global emissions.

The awardees participated in a high-impact bootcamp in Paris, where they gained access to world-class mentorship and opportunities to amplify their work. They will continue to receive support to help drive innovative climate solutions and influence global environmental change.