Shneel Malik on Humans of TEDx

We recently featured Ms Shneel Malik, an Architect, a Bio-Design PhD Scholar from UCL, a social entrepreneur and the lady behind the Micro Algae wall, which purifies water. She has been a speaker at TEDxGateway 2020, and it was an absolutely lovely experience capturing her amazing story.

Here is what she had to say about her - 'Life at Amity University and as an Architect in the Corporate Sector'

"Design & the sciences have always interested me. Traditionally, these are subjects that are considered quite independent and distinct to each other. As a Science student, I was always expected to pursue engineering. Instead, I took up architecture as a tool to bring my designs to life. To begin drawing the dreams I had all my childhood been visualising into tangible shapes and forms. I soon realised that architecture is not just about drawing volumes, instead, it is about understanding materials, their textures, their compositions, the techniques of fabrication, surrounded by how we interact with and in those spaces - allowing us to begin playing with our creations. 

After completing my Bachelors from Amity University, I joined an architectural practice in Delhi to understand the finer components of the architectural and the construction industry at large. We had often studied about sustainable architecture, but it was during my internship that I actually began understanding the different elements that would make a building sustainable. Complete with rating systems, both designers and contractors seemed to have found the right recipe of converting buildings into ‘mechanically-controlled energy-sustaining’ machines. An extremely fascinating learning for an intern, but something felt really odd, like a major piece in the puzzle that goes missing. 

My thirst for more grew and I decided to pursue a research-based masters degree & then a PhD that allows me to venture out into the wild, into territories less travelled before. Allowing me to bring my love for the sciences closer to architecture, innovating a new aesthetic, a new vocabulary of what building design could mean for our future. I feel empowered around my design tools, having the freedom to draw and to actually be able to make these visions a reality. Find your passion and create!"

We further asked her about her Life as a PHD Scholar in UCL -

"I think I am an extremely curious person when it comes to life and the grander concepts of creation that we see in abundance around us. Through my PhD research and via my collaborations with colleagues at the Bio-Integrated Design Lab at UCL. We are constantly exploring, discussing and experimenting new ideas and tools of designing. Our very early investigations began with me stepping into a tiny kitchen space (our lab) with Dr Brenda Parker, a biochemical engineer conducting our own experiments - asking scientific questions from a designers perspective. This kitchen is now a full-fledged ‘wet lab’ in the department of architecture at UCL. 

With the constant flow of ideas complete with madness and excitement, the birth of inter-disciplinary learning and innovation became a game-changer. An Architect and a biologist working together? Seemed like a distant dream to me as well, until we started creating magic out of our insane theories. Working collaborative, we can work with micro-organisms, develop new living materials, discuss matter and energy, affixed with design at its heart. 

I never imagined being in these shoes, but its funny where life takes you. I sure wanted to be a Formula 1 racer, and although I do drive like one of them every once in a while, it feels great to be a part of something that is transforming conventional ways of learning, collaboration and innovation. Thus, sometimes, it probably is for the best to go with the flow and keep experimenting while you still can.

Finally, we go around to her most exciting innovation and creation - "The Algae Wall"

What's the point of research, when it can’t be translated into the real-world. This question often loomed us especially with the 3D printed photosynthetic membranes we had been investigating via my PhD. 

It was around that time, in 2017, that I got a chance to visit small-scale artisans in Kolkata with my colleagues & friends, Brenda Parker & Laura Stoffels. A team consisting of an architect, a biochemical engineer and a biologist. It was appalling to see the poor conditions of infrastructure, water & sanitation cleanliness, and healthcare above all. 

Life takes you to places you never thought you would and makes you stumble upon the most surprising things ever. As it turns out, we first hand witnessed the miserable conditions of those living below the poverty line, and their usage and re-usage of water, which was highly contaminated and threatened the lives of their near and dear ones. 

It is only imperative to begin thinking of innovative solutions that could empower these communities. Therefore, we began amalgamating the knowledge we each had from our disciplines. And we conceptualised a living algal wall that could be built by the small-scale artisans, using traditional techniques already available to them - allowing them to clean their polluted water while uplifting their infrastructure, all by themselves. 

It’s incredible to see how my passion for architecture, science and human empowerment began to align so well. And am completely devoted now to developing futuristic solutions that can allow our culturally-rich communities to leapfrog into the future. 

This is the beauty of design and multi-disciplinary collaboration. So, get out there and collaborate, you do not know what you may end up innovating."

It was an extreme pleasure interacting with her and getting great insight into her life story, and her contributions to the field of architecture, design and social entrepreneurship.

For further stories, check out - Humans of TEDx!