By Priyanka Gupta

Copyright india

The cause of environmental degradation can be attributed largely to industrialization. Therefore now the question is how we can save the environment with technical innovations. The main vision behind the development of green technology is to minimize the damage that was caused and create a balance between environmental sustainability and technological advancement. The developments in green technology as people think is not a futuristic approach its already on the rise. Green technology innovators and scientists are constantly exploring various options. For example decarbonization methods are on the rise too effective ways of capturing and burying huge carbon deposits through processes such as carbon mineralization. How is this reach being broadened?
Shireen Bojja’s awards are well deserving; she has meticulously grown from creating a strong academic background for herself by earning advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering Business Administration and Engineering Management to becoming an inventor of public safety power electronics. This is a classic example that education is essential for global recognition. The Stevie® Award is equated to the “Oscar”. It is one of the most sought after awards in the U.S as it acknowledges exceptional stand-apart business executives technologists and engineering managers across various industries.
What do these awards mean to you especially as a woman in this niche sector? Comment on your ABA win and the Indian Achievers Forum (IAF) Award. Is academic excellence essential for global impact?
I have spent years in the niche sector of traffic and power electronics not just creating complex products but turning them into commercially viable solutions especially for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Therefore winning the Stevie® Award is incredibly meaningful; a validation of all my contributions encompassing designs design for manufacturability cost-effectiveness sustainability and boosting economic resilience.
On the other hand Im honored and humbled to receive the IAF award and share the same global stage with top leaders who are creating impact across continents. Undoubtedly education has played a powerful role along with critical elements such as discipline and commitment. My continuous learning and application of that to real-world problems have created an impact.
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is multifold: propelling economic growth keeping up with ongoing environmental goals while strengthening the manufacturing sector of America. You have aligned your motto with theirs by introducing green technology for USDOT. In parallel your ruggedized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has been widely recognized and approved by various U.S. agencies due to its originality and improvements to traffic power systems.
Describe your original contributions without needing proprietary information. How has government involvement influenced your innovations? How have these solutions influenced government standards and their initiative to address problems in traffic infrastructure?
For the longest time the traffic sector used power systems that were built for consumer IT applications; mainly indoor environments. However the traffic environment is starkly different; it is outdoors harsh climate requires faster response time prone to catastrophic shutdowns and other risk elements. These factors compromised public safety due to the use of incompatible electronics. Therefore the ruggedized UPS was designed from scratch to suit the needs of ITS setting a benchmark for modern electronics; highly efficient and resilient suitable for modern traffic operations.
The green technology energy storage is my latest contribution for a US-based manufacturer. The mission is to replace harmful lead-acid batteries which are unsuitable for harsh applications. I led the design process focusing on advanced materials. The design’s originality is in choosing the right variant of sustainable material with high electrical conductivity and meeting safety standards. The task has been achieved; the phase-1 tests by one of the federal agencies were completed recently and have successfully secured more orders for deployment at critical sites. I was personally involved in securing funding support through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce which is yet another critical feat. This achievement stands as a testament to the products innovation its broad value to both the USDOT and the economy.
You were invited as a reviewer for the prestigious 85th Annual Conference of the Academy of Management (AOM). One of the sponsors was the University of Glasgow associated with the “Father of Economics” Adam Smith. This is an indication of your accomplishments as an engineering manager. Your award as “Best Reviewer among the 1000+ global reviewers highlights your thought leadership indicating that your review matters in shaping innovation and economic resilience.
In the context of your professional journey and impact in engineering management comment on this recognition.
Due to my professional highlights as an engineering manager and scholarly publications this opportunity was granted to me. It is a meaningful milestone as the AOM is one of the oldest and most respected global institutions with 18000+ members from over 120 countries. It is interdisciplinary; that’s the nature of my work.
I evaluated research submissions identifying top papers eligible for conference awards earning me The “Best Reviewer” award and one of the papers I reviewed earned the “Best Paper” award at the conference. Understanding economics is essential for developing commercially viable solutions integrating engineering with management strategy for advancement.
Your career graph is incredible one of a kind and truly “Oscar” deserving. What’s next for Shireen Bojja? How do you plan to continue this momentum forward?
Thomas Edison is one of my heroes and has shaped my entry into electrical engineering. According to him the success formula lies in inventing products that have utility. I have a few critical projects already in the pipeline and a customer base waiting in anticipation. I am also collaborating with prolific researchers to extend the green technology product line to other niche sectors as well; to extend American products to the global market. This is just the start of a long road ahead.