Three undergraduate students from Azim Premji University — Anuja Krishna, Shivaani Arunprasad and Vanya Hegde — have been selected as Avery Dennison Foundation EnviroChamp Fellows 2026 as part of a 10-member national cohort.

Azim Premji University said in a release that fellows are selected through a rigorous, independent selection process conducted by the Avery Dennison Foundation in partnership with the Institute of International Education (IIE). The three students will receive a scholarship of $1,500 each during the fellowship.

The Avery Dennison Foundation EnviroChamp Fellowship is an initiative designed to empower young women in India to become future leaders in environmental sustainability.

The release further stated that all three students — Anuja, Shivaani and Vanya — are pursuing a B.Sc. (Honours) in Environmental Science and Sustainability at Azim Premji University. However, each of them will undertake a different project as part of the fellowship.

Anuja will study pollution in Chennai’s Kosasthalaiyar River, combining water quality analysis, biodiversity assessment and community interviews to inform sustainable river management. Shivaani’s project focuses on tackling light pollution in Bengaluru through awareness, citizen science and community-based action. Vanya’s project examines traditional tuber-based food systems as scalable models for climate-resilient agriculture, drawing on cultivation practices and women-led knowledge systems.

The 10 fellows, selected from institutions across the country, including IIT Bombay, TERI School of Advanced Studies, Delhi Technological University, IISER Bhopal and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, will receive a scholarship of $1,500, along with access to expert-led learning sessions, personalised mentorship and a special recognition ceremony.