Neerja Sonowal is a second-year MEng Chemical Engineering student at Imperial College London with a deep interest in sustainability, innovation, and storytelling within engineering. She is passionate about using technology and communication to drive meaningful change, bridging the gap between technical expertise and social impact.

As Articles Lead for IChemE’s National Early Careers Group, Neerja works to highlight the stories and ideas of early-career engineers, helping make the profession more connected and inclusive. At Imperial, she has contributed to departmental sustainability initiatives as a Subcommittee Officer and strengthened student engagement as Secretary for the Live Music & Pilates Society.

Outside university, Neerja founded DiscoverYourself, a youth-led initiative improving access to healthcare and STEM education across India. The organisation’s community projects have reached thousands of students and families, earning national recognition through the CSR Gold Health Impact Award. Her experiences with Indo US Rare and Combat Blindness International have further shaped her interest in applying chemical engineering to global health and sustainability challenges.

A published author with Scholastic India and founder of DY Press, Neerja enjoys exploring how creativity and communication can amplify the impact of science. She aspires to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future by combining engineering insight, empathy, and leadership that inspires collaboration and long-term change.