University of Edinburgh

STIS 08007

LETTER OF MOTIVATION
My motivation to apply for the chosen MSc program / elective track in relation to my previous
education / work experience:
My inspiration towards pursuing higher studies in Environmental Sciences stems from various global
movements that I have come across such as, The Venus Project[1], which advocates for a "resource-
based economy" to achieve a sustainable civilisation of abundance for all and The Zeitgeist
Movement[2], found in 2008, which promotes the transformation of society by changing the very
nature of our social and economic structure. The idea of a natural resource-based economy, as
advocated by these movements, is a holistic socio-economic system where the world's energy would
be operated entirely by renewable energy. Such movements have primarily influenced my interest in
pursuing a career in the field of sustainable management.
During my undergraduate study, I was fascinated by the various aspects of a course in "Environmental
Engineering", which led me to undertake a research project in the same field. We investigated the
heavy metal concentration in the water table of a particular region in Kerala, India, which was affected
due to the pollutant discharge from nearby industry. Our thesis was presented at the International
Conference on Green Energy for Environmental Sustainability in 2020 and is also under consideration
in "Environmental Monitoring and Assessment" (Springer). On a more fundamental level, writing a
thesis allowed me to learn the art of literature reviews and conduct and manage research in a
profound manner. I received in-depth practical and theoretical know