Building Artificial Glaciers in Ladakh: Sonam Wangchuk

Faced with retreating glaciers high in the Himalaya, engineer Sonam Wangchuk invented a way to store winter water for irrigation—a 78-foot-tall “ice stupa”. Built in one of the most arid regions of northern India, these artificial glaciers delay the release of meltwater by freezing it into a cone of ice shaped like a stupa—a Buddhist structure which represents enlightenment.In this Season 3 premiere episode of the Create the Future podcast, we speak to Sonam about the origins of the Ice Stupa project and his ongoing mission to inspire global change. We discuss the importance of connecting technology with tradition to inspire local communities, hear how he resolved the issue of Ladakh’s cold school buildings using mud and the sun, and find out how his 1.6 million-strong social media following helped bring about local governmental action.New episodes of ‘Create the Future: An Engineering Podcast’ every other Tuesday. www.qeprize.org/podcastsFollow @qeprize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Engineering is for everyone and impacts all our lives. At this crucial moment for humanity, it couldn’t be more relevant to listen to engineers, thinkers, and designers as they debate how our future could - and should - look.Hosted by Roma Agrawal MBE and 2022 Young Engineer of the Year George Imafidon, this podcast facilitates deep conversation about how we might restructure and rebuild the world we live in, from microscopic cells to sustainable cities to intergalactic travel.New episodes every other Friday.Follow @QEPrize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more.The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering - the world’s leading award for engineers - champions groundbreaking invention and bold innovation which benefits humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.