Hi! I’m Meenu Anil, a data scientist from Kottayam, Kerala, India. Known for its backwaters, rubber plantations, and strong educational tradition, Kottayam has played a big role in shaping my curiosity about the environment and society. I completed my postgraduation in Computer Science with a specialisation in Geospatial Analytics from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
Currently, I’m an upcoming Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s student in Copernicus Digital Earth, a programme shared between Austria, the Czech Republic, and France, focusing on geoinformatics, Earth observation, GeoVisualization, Geocommunication, and GeoDatascience. Studying abroad has always been a dream — not just to deepen my academic journey, but also to meet new people, learn languages, explore different cultures and cuisines, and be part of global research that drives real-world impact.
My academic world usually revolves around maps, satellite images, remote sensing, coding, and data. But recently, I had the chance to step away from the screen and engage with real-world environmental practices through a remote internship with Friends in Need (FIN). I conducted fieldwork in Thiruvananthapuram to explore the use of Effective Microorganisms (EM) in sanitation and solid waste management. It gave me valuable experience in grassroots research and reminded me how important it is to connect scientific knowledge with community voices.
At first, this kind of work felt far removed from my academic background. I’m used to writing code, running geospatial models, and analysing datasets — not walking through neighbourhoods or speaking to people on the ground. But that’s what made the experience so powerful. I learned that real change comes from listening to people’s concerns, lived experiences, and their ideas for local solutions.
Now, I’m preparing for my next chapter as an Erasmus Mundus student — and I’m filled with excitement, hope, and curiosity. I hope to pursue a PhD in geospatial science, focusing on how Earth observation technologies can support climate resilience and community preparedness. I want my work to bridge the gap between technology and real people — to solve problems not just on screens or paper, but in everyday lives.
This internship with FIN reminded me that growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. It showed me that even when something seems unrelated to your background, it can still teach you something powerful — and sometimes, it’s exactly what you need.