Stories of alumni

Taalai Mambetov, GRÓ LRT 2024 alumnus, works as a lecturer at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) and Kyrgyz National University (KNU), where he teaches courses on environmental sustainability, climate science, botany and plant physiology. Alongside teaching, he conducts research on ecological restoration, sustainable land use and soil carbon assessment. One of his main challenges in his work is promoting sustainable management of natural ecosystems, particularly pasturelands and degraded soils, which are crucial for Kyrgyzstan's agricultural sector. Currently, Taalai is pursuing a PhD at the Institute of Biology, National Academy of Science of Kyrgyz Republic, focusing on grass species for land restoration.

Kunzes Dolma GRÓ GTP alumna and PhD scholar is the first woman to be trained in the geothermal profession in India. She has also, since her return, been promoting the use of geothermal in her region of Ladakh, but also having a real impact in improving gender equality, focusing on the participation of women in decision making in Ladakh and opening people’s eyes to domestic violence against women and the need of shelters for women living in such conditions. She is India’s Ambassador for Women in Geothermal (WING), an international organization aimed at promoting the professional development, and advancement of women in the geothermal community.

Akhil Neelam, a distinguished alumnus of the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GRÓ GEST 2023), is a passionate social entrepreneur and policy professional dedicated to promoting gender equality and inclusive politics in South Asia. As the co-founder of the Centre for Gender And Politics (CGAP), Akhil leads a volunteer-driven think tank that has mobilized over 130 professionals from 14 countries to drive research and advocacy work on gender-inclusive politics. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and Liberal Arts, he has also played a pivotal role in implementing large-scale education reforms in India, benefitting over 6 million students through innovative EdTech initiatives.

Shakiru Idrissa Kajugus, GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP) alumnus and MSc Scholarship recipient from Tanzania, is dedicated to harnessing the country’s geothermal potential to drive sustainable energy development. As Director of Business Development at TGDC (Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited) Shakiru is leveraging his training and experience to overcome challenges in the geothermal sector. The TGDC is about to drill Tanzania’s first deep geothermal well at Ngozi, one of the country’s most promising geothermal fields, in the southwestern part of the country.