Wipro earthian Awards 2023 Celebrate Excellence in Sustainability Education

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a prominent technology services and consulting company, hosted the 13th edition of the Wipro earthian Awards for the year 2023.

These awards mark the conclusion of an annual program dedicated to promoting integrated sustainability education and recognizing Indian educational institutions that actively advocate for sustainable practices and mindset. The ceremony took place on February 24, 2024, at the Wipro Limited campus on Sarjapur Road, and was attended by hundreds of students.

Wipro earthian stands out as one of India's most expansive sustainability education initiatives for educational institutions. In its 2023 edition, the Wipro earthian school program attracted over 1,200 project submissions. An independent jury carefully evaluated these entries, ultimately selecting 22 winning projects and shortlisting 18 others. The teams from the winning schools showcased a profound grasp of biodiversity, waste management, and water conservation, employing a blend of hands-on learning activities and written essays.

In collaboration with IIT Madras, Wipro earthian introduced the Ideas to Impact challenge for college students in October 2023. The challenge attracted over 1,000 entries, from which 20 teams were shortlisted for the next phase. This competition offers extensive training, mentorship support, and a prototype development fund of up to INR 50,000 for the top 20 teams. The top five teams will be chosen for their most innovative concepts related to Air, Water, Energy, Soil, and Material. These winning teams will be awarded a prize of INR 100,000 and will also secure a direct entry to the interview round of Carbon Zero Challenge 5.0, an all-India eco-innovation and entrepreneurship contest initiated by IIT Madras.

Rishad Premji, Executive Chairman, Wipro Limited, Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer, Azim Premji Foundation and Narayan P.S., Global Head of Sustainability and Social Initiatives, Wipro Limited, commended the winning teams with certificates and cash prizes. The teams will also get an opportunity to engage with Wipro's sustainability partners through collaborative programs that will enable a deeper understanding of issues critical to sustainability.

Narayan P.S., Global Head of Sustainability and Social Initiatives, Wipro Limited, said, "The Wipro earthian program serves as a clear reaffirmation of the need for ecological sustainability in today's world. As we navigate rapid technological advancement in tandem with climate change and environmental stress, the 13th edition of Wipro earthian Awards acknowledges and commends the efforts of our younger generation towards building a more sustainable future."

This year, the winning students and teachers had the opportunity to be a part of workshops organized by partner organizations - Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and ArtSparks Foundation. Additionally, a workshop around the topic of "Nature and us" was facilitated by Spiders and the Sea, an environmental services group. The students and teachers also participated in a nature trail, led by the Early Bird team at NCF, and they will also experience the "Rivers of life & Forests of life" exhibits, curated by Azim Premji University.

Since 2011, Wipro has collaborated with over 17,000 schools, 1,300 colleges, engaging with 60,000 students and 10,000 teachers. This year, the participation remains significant, with over 2,000 submissions from schools and colleges. The support from Wipro's education partners, including the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), C.P.R Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), Wild Ecologues, IIT Madras, state governments, organizations, and educators in the Sustainability Educator Program, has played a vital role in expanding the program's outreach.