My guest today is Dr. Aruna Ramakrishnan. Aruna earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota and has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from IIT Bombay. She is the co-founder and CTO of the Boston-based startup Copernic Catalyst. Copernic Catalyst designs novel chemical catalysts to reduce the energy use and carbon footprint of bulk chemical reactions. This will be a two part episode. Part one of this episode will unpack Aruna's journey from IIT Bombay to Exxon Mobil. Part two of this episode will cover her journey from big oil to a climate tech entrepreneur. I had a lovely time talking to Aruna and hope you guys enjoy it too. More about Aruna and Copernic https://coperniccatalysts.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aruna-ramkrishnan/ Reach out to the host or leave a comment at https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

My guest today is Dr. Aruna Ramakrishnan. Aruna earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota and has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from IIT Bombay. She is the co-founder and CTO of the Boston-based startup Copernic Catalyst. Copernic Catalyst designs novel chemical catalysts to reduce the energy use and carbon footprint of bulk chemical reactions. This will be a two part episode. Part one of this episode will unpack Aruna's journey from IIT Bombay to Exxon Mobil. Part two of this episode will cover her journey from big oil to a climate tech entrepreneur. I had a lovely time talking to Aruna and hope you guys enjoy it too. More about Aruna and Copernic https://coperniccatalysts.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aruna-ramkrishnan/ Reach out to the host or leave a comment at https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

In early 1900s, Fritz Haber discovered how to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases. Carl Bosch scaled up Haber's method at BASF to produce synthetic ammonia, enabling artificial fertilizers. This ammonia synthesis also became basis for munitions, with Haber pioneering chemical weapons for Germany in WW1. While ammonia synthesis revolutionized agriculture, it had the dark side of facilitating modern warfare's new deadly explosives. Haber's legacy was morally complicated - his invention fed millions but also enabled mass warfare and later, Zyklon B gas for Nazi camps. Learn more on this episode Please donate https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-neu-student-jahnavi-kandulas-family Reach out to the host on https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

The Asia Cup is a prestigious cricket tournament that showcases the immense talent of Asian cricketing nations. It serves as a platform for intense rivalries, thrilling matches, and moments of cricketing excellence. Every edition of the Asia Cup unites fans across the continent in celebration of the sport we love. The tournament features teams like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and others, creating an electric atmosphere that resonates with cricket enthusiasts worldwide. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

A QR code, short for Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional barcode that stores information such as text, URLs, or contact details. It consists of black squares arranged on a white square grid and can be scanned using a smartphone or QR code reader. QR codes are widely used for various applications, including mobile payments, ticketing, and marketing campaigns, as they enable quick and convenient access to digital content. They have become an integral part of our modern, tech-savvy world, simplifying information sharing and enhancing user engagement. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

The US healthcare system relies heavily on chargemasters - comprehensive lists of prices for each procedure and service at hospitals. Chargemasters are kept secret and lead to highly inflated costs. Insurers negotiate discounts, but uninsured patients can face massive bills based on inflated chargemaster prices. Lack of standardization and transparency in chargemasters contributes to high healthcare spending in the US compared to other nations. Regulations on hospital pricing and billing practices have been minimal. Moving to fixed-rate payments could help control costs and reduce reliance on chargemasters. Reach out to the host at https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

My guest today is the current mayor of the city of Carmel, Indiana, Jim Brainard. Jim has served as the mayor of Carmel since 1996. First elected in 1995, Brainard is currently in his seventh term as mayor of this fast-growing, affluent city just north of Indianapolis. Under Brainard's leadership, Carmel has transformed from a sleepy Midwestern town to a thriving hub of economic development and population growth. Mayor Brainard has championed massive infrastructure projects, including the building of roundabouts, trails, and other amenities that have helped attract corporate headquarters and new residents. In this episode, we talk about the initiatives Jim took as mayor for the city of Carmel including green spaces, getting rid of traffic lights and making it one of the most walkable cities in the US. The ad revenue from this episode will go to the Ocean Cleanup initiative. Please visit www.theoceancleanup.com to learn more. More on Mayor Brainard https://www.carmel.in.gov/government/mayor/biography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brainard @jimbrainard on Twitter Reach out to the host https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/?hl=en --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

My guest today is Dr Ajay Shah. Ajay is a prominent Indian economist and researcher who has made significant contributions in the field of public policy. He is a Senior Research Fellow and Co-Founder of XKDR Forum, an independent research organization. He co-hosts the podcast Everything is Everything on YouTube with veteran writer Amit Varma. He graduated with a BTech in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Bombay and a PhD in Economics from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. His past experience includes Professorship at the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi, and Consultant, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, New Delhi (2001-2005). About Dr Ajay Shah https://xkdr.org/ https://www.mayin.org/ajayshah/ Everything is Everything : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RHpE-B89Qg&ab_channel=amitvarma Dr Shah's research https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2C0fkiUAAAAJ&hl=en Reach out the host at https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/ 00:00 Introduction 00:00 Introduction 1:43 Ajay about XKDR 10:26 Meeting demand and supply in research 14:52 Philanthropy in India 21:00 Funding for Research in India 23:14 Climate change and electricity generation 40:17 States championing solar energy 45:19 on Indian Courts 47:35 Govt Contracting 54:27 Indian Corporations and Research 1:03:00 Conclusion and Remarks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

Today my guest is stand-up comedian Srijan Kaushik. Srijan has been creating waves in stand-up comedy circles with his poker-faced delivery of hilarious jokes. Not only that, he has an MBA from the Indian School of Business, one of India's premier institutes for management, and works full-time for the international Finance Corporation, a private arm of the World Bank. We will touch on all this and more in this episode, so let's get into it without further delay. The advertising revenue from this episode will go to The Ocean Cleanup. Check out their organization at www.theoceancleanup.com. About Srijan https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC47V0gb3xW1ttnlDCJknQNg https://www.instagram.com/srijan.kaushik/?hl=en Reach out to the host at https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/?hl=en --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support

My guest today is neurobiologist Dr. Vidita Vaidya, a professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. She received her Ph.D. from Yale University in 1998 and did postdoctoral research at the Karolinska Institute and Oxford University before joining TIFR in 2000. Dr. Vaidya is an elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, India. She has received the National Bioscientist Award (2012), Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (2015), the J.C. Bose Fellowship (2021), and a Nature award for excellence in mentoring (2019). In this episode, I speak with Dr. Vaidya about moving back to India to set up her lab at TIFR, her research on early childhood trauma, and the potential use of psychedelics as therapeutics. About Dr Vaidya https://www.tifr.res.in/~dbs/faculty/V_Vaidya.html Reach out to the host https://www.instagram.com/bala.deva06/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balakrishnan-devarajan/support