Design Challenge Finals 2022
Solar Decathlon India is an annual challenge for multi-disciplinary post-graduate and undergraduate students. They partner with real estate developers and the industry to develop net-zero energy, water, and climate-resilient building solutions. Their work on live building projects will set the course for carbon-neutral, sustainable, and future-proof buildings in India.
This year, Solar Decathlon India’s Design Challenge Finals will be held on May 7 and 8 from 10 AM to 7:30 PM, where the finalist teams will present their work to jurors who are building industry experts. The multi-disciplinary student teams have used innovative, cutting-edge technologies and approaches to make their buildings net-zero.
Watch it live on our YouTube channel.
Agenda
May 7, 2022 | |
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10:00 AM | Key Note Session By Aaswath Raman |
10:30 AM | Introduction to the Divisions Moderated by Dr. Nandini Kanan |
11:00 AM | Division Presentations Session 1 Six concurrent sessions |
01:30 PM | Break (Lunch) |
02:30 PM | Division Presentations Session 2 Six concurrent sessions |
04:00 PM | Break (Tea) |
04:30 PM | Division Presentations Session 3 Six concurrent sessions |
04:00 PM | Project Exhibit Work done by the teams will be exhibited. It will be open parallelly for viewers at 4 pm. |
May 8, 2022 | |
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10:00 AM | Students and Faculty Speak Moderated by Dr. Satish Kumar |
11:00 AM | Division Awards Moderated by Prasad Vaidya |
12:00 AM | Division Jury Impressions Moderated by Aromar Revi |
01:00 PM | Break (Lunch) |
02:00 PM | Getting to know the Grand Jury Moderated by Prasad Vaidya |
02:30 PM | Presentation to the Grand Jury |
03:45 PM | Break (Tea) |
04:00 PM | Remarks By Veena Reddy, Mission Director, USAID/India |
04:15 PM | Award Ceremony |
05:15 PM | Three Point Oh! |
05:30 PM | Internship Fair for Finalists |
Keynote Session by Aaswath Raman

Aaswath Raman is a TED speaker and an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at UCLA. He is known for his pioneering work in radiative cooling, including the first demonstration of daytime radiative cooling. He is a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of SkyCool Systems, a startup commercializing daytime radiative cooling, the technology he originated.
Remarks by Veena Reddy

Ms. Veena Reddy is the Mission Director for USAID in India. She is the first Indian-American to lead USAID in India and Bhutan. Ms. Reddy brings with her a rich background in development and diplomacy and previously served as USAID’s Mission Director in Cambodia, where she oversaw robust programs spanning food security, environment, health, education, child protection, and democracy and governance.
Prior to that, Ms. Reddy served in Washington, D.C. as an Assistant General Counsel, covering legal matters for USAID’s programs in Asia, the Middle East, and Afghanistan and Pakistan. With broad international experience, Ms. Reddy also served at USAID missions in Haiti, Pakistan, Central Asia and Central America. Before embarking on a career of federal government service, Ms. Reddy was a corporate attorney in New York, London, and Los Angeles. She holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Columbia University and an M.A. and B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Meet The Jury Members
Divisional Jury
Get to know more about the jury members here.