Interview with Mr. Manish Agrawal - Part of Series 'Know a Member'

For this week's interview as part of the series 'Know a Member' we have Mr. Manish Agrawal. Please continue reading below to know what he has to say.

1. What was your biggest take-away from the training at IIT? 
Response: It’s been said by one of my professor of IIT that Graduates are Products of IITs, Post graduates are By-products of IITs and Doctorates who further produces, Products (Graduate students) are so called Slurries of IITs that possess immense experience. In my personal life, I was not as fortunate as other members who might have found their love in their alma matter. However, professionally, in general, during my PhD career, I learned that if you want water to rest your thirst, then, you need to dig 50 feet in one place rather then, 1 foot in 50 places. So, for me the biggest take away from the training at IIT as a Doctoral student is to learn and realize that to achieve something in the life one has to be honest, consistently hard working, patient, possess self-belief and deep hope.

2. What is your dream? What do you want to be in 15-20 years from now?
Response: I will try to live happy and make others happy by helping, loving and respecting them for what they are.

3. In your nearly a year stay here in Korea, what has been your most memorable experience? Why?
Response: It’s just 3 months for me to be here in Korea. For me it’s yet to be explored a lot about Korea, Korean culture and Korean people. However, in first sight I can say that Korea is trying hard to preserve its natural beauty. Korean citizens are disciplined, love and respect their country and keep it clean. They care their environment like an infant baby. That is something needs to be initiated in India, all together by Indian citizens and Indian Government.  

4. How is working in a Korean research institution like? How is it different from India?  
Response: Korean Research Institutions are focused and determined. They try to explore new research areas in the collaboration with different disciplines of science and technology. However, in India it seems that still the researchers are trying hard to find research gap in their core areas. Korean research institutions are financially well secured. In India, a researcher has to compromise with his/her research quality for the financial reasons. However, Indians are doing very well in Korea and if the equal opportunities and facilities are provided to Indian researchers in India then, they can do much better there.    

5. What are your expectations from this alumni association?
Response: I expect that we all members of this group collaboratively work for its unique and focused initiatives so that this association would become a benchmark Indian association for the citizens of India, Indian Government and other Indian association in rest of the world.

6. Any other thoughts?
Response: No matter how hard and tough our present is. Present is a present (gift) for all of us, that will be remembered and cherished in future as our past golden days. So, we all should try to love and live in it. All the Best and God bless us all.

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Manish Kumar Agrawal received his Masters (2009) and PhD (2014) in Mechanical Engineering from VJTI Mumbai and IIT Indore, respectively. He belongs to Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India. Currently, he is serving as Senior Researcher in the field of Nuclear Thermal Hydraulic and System Safety at Environment and Energy Technology Inc., Daejeon, South Korea. He has authored over 11 research papers in reputed international journals and conference proceedings. His current research interests include the thermal hydraulics and multi-phase flow analysis of nuclear reactors. His hobbies includes singing, cooking and travelling to explore observatories.

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