A 17-year-old student from Dubai is making waves on the global stage as he was invited to address the 79th UN General Assembly in New York. Aritro Chatterjee, a Year 12 student at Dubai College, was among 25 students worldwide and the only representative from the UAE to speak at the UN in September about the growing importance of youth involvement in institutional decision-making and environmental advocacy.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Aritro shared, “I feel privileged to have been invited to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York about enhancing youth representation in decision-making processes, promoting youth engagement in environmental issues, and how we can leverage applications in Math, Science, and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle environmental challenges.” This opportunity came after he was selected as one of the RISE Global Winners, a program by Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust aimed at identifying and supporting extraordinary young individuals making a substantial impact in their communities and beyond.
“RISE (The Research on Improving Systems of Education) selects 100 students from over 50,000 worldwide – recognized as the ‘World’s Most Promising Teens’ by Forbes,” he explained. “As part of my RISE project, I launched a podcast where I interviewed prominent young environmental figures from around the globe, including entrepreneurs, scientists, and activists. By focusing on diverse perspectives in environmental advocacy, I featured change-makers from countries such as Nigeria, Lebanon, Poland, South Korea, India, China, the US, and the UAE. Following my selection as a RISE Global Winner 2024, a UN representative invited me to speak at the General Assembly,” added Aritro, who has also delivered a TED Talk on the History of Mathematics.
Reflecting on his experience in New York, Aritro described the moment as both daunting and inspiring. “Walking into the room, thousands of miles from home, I met delegates from all over the world. For instance, I interacted with the South African Water Commission. Engaging with these influential figures – scientists, activists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers – initially felt overwhelming, but it also made me realize that the work I’ve been doing is gaining recognition on a global platform. I felt incredibly proud to speak at such a prestigious event.”
Aritro emphasized that the UAE’s commitment to sustainability, evident through initiatives like the Year of Sustainability, COP 28, and Expo 2020, has profoundly influenced his aspirations. “The country’s forward-thinking approach to addressing environmental and sustainability issues has significantly shaped my work,” he noted. He further explained that sustainability, as defined by the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, involves ‘social, environmental, and economic facets.’ “My focus extends beyond the social and environmental aspects of advocacy to include how we can empower youth to drive change in their regions and communities, supported by local institutions and governments.”
As an Indian expatriate specializing in applying quantitative methods to environmental research, Aritro traced his journey, recalling his childhood fascination with puzzles that evolved into a deeper interest in using mathematics to address real-world issues. “As I progressed through my senior years at Dubai College, I began to explore how we can apply quantitative methods and research to make a tangible difference in the world. This eventually led me to delve into environmental and social issues,” he said. Looking ahead, Aritro aspires to become an environmental scientist, ideally working with governments and large institutions to influence global policy and industry innovation. “One of my key goals is to bridge the gap between technical experts, research, and policymakers, addressing the divide that currently exists. This is an area I aim to tackle in the future,” he concluded.
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