Berhampur: With an MCA degree in hand, most would chase a comfortable career in the corporate sector. But 23-year-old Shibani Padhy from Odisha's Berhampur chose to traverse on a different path, dedicating all her time to protecting the environment and empowering community through social service activities. That dedication led her to the prestigious IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 held recently in Abu Dhabi, where she represented India to discuss her work on climate change and environment protection.

A resident of Ganesh Nagar in the silk city, Shibani was India's only representative at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held from October 9-15, joining 15 young changemakers from around the world.

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which happens to be the world's largest environmental organisation, holds this conference once every four years, bringing together environmental scientists, policymakers and young leaders from across 160 countries to discuss strategies for sustainable development and conservation.

'Project Dolphin'

At the conference, Shibani presented 'Project Dolphin', a Machine Learning-based Submarine Detection System designed to track and remove plastic from rivers and water bodies. Earlier, this innovative idea was recognised the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) as well as the UNICEF, and later appreciated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.