Dr Pooja Basnett is a Senior Lecturer and Co-Course Leader for the Biological Sciences BSc Honours course in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Westminster, which is available in this year’s Clearing.
Dr Pooja Basnett is no stranger to the University of Westminster. She began her PhD studies here in 2009 after receiving the Cavendish Scholarship. Her research focused on developing biodegradable plastics from bacteria, exploring nature-based solutions to create a greener planet and reduce plastic pollution. She investigated the use of these bio-based materials for medical applications.
After graduating with her PhD, Dr Pooja Basnett worked in postdoctoral research roles, continuing to focus on the use of natural materials in medicine. She contributed to various European Union-funded projects and collaborated with universities and industries within the UK and across Europe to develop medical implants. However, it was not long before the University of Westminster called her back, and in 2019, she became a Lecturer in Biological Sciences and has not looked back since.
She began her academic career by leading the module Designing a Sustainable World. Since then, she has continued to teach on various modules and courses, inspiring her students to live more sustainably and demonstrating how they can positively impact the world through innovation. Dr Basnett has been honoured with several awards for embedding sustainability into the curriculum and for her outstanding contributions to the University's objectives and priorities. She has recently represented the University’s commitment to sustainability attending the THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024 in Bangkok in June this year. She is now also co-leading the Biological Sciences BSc Honours course alongside her colleague Dr Linda Percy, whom she considers both a mentor and a friend.
Her drive for sustainability took her to the creation of the Cavendish Living Lab, where students from all academic levels and disciplines have the opportunity to collaborate and develop sustainable solutions to combat food waste, plastic waste and wastewater. They have been growing food on campus, cultivating greens hydroponically, designing hydroponic systems and developing sustainable materials for fashion. They have also conducted several roadshows across campuses to promote food and fashion sustainability.
About her work with the Cavendish Living Lab, she said: “Linda and I thought the Living Lab concept would be a great idea because rather than teaching students in the classroom and speaking at them, they would have the opportunity to design solutions, gain hands on experience and learn about sustainability in a more dynamic way. What is great is that it is student-led, as they come up with the ideas and organise all the outreach and research. It is so great to watch them grow with confidence.”
Dr Basnett has always appreciated the importance of sustainability, a value instilled in her as she hails from Sikkim, a fully organic state in India and the first Indian state to ban disposable plastic bags and single-use plastic bottles. Growing up in a farming environment with her family and her inspirational grandmother, she learned early on how to live sustainably and work with the planet rather than against it.
Despite loving her home, she ventured to the UK to pursue her aspiration of doing a PhD. As an international student far from home, she recalls the challenges of living abroad. She said: “It was quite difficult as I didn’t know many people here, so I was really starting from scratch. Balancing part-time jobs with studying, dealing with financial anxiety and experiencing culture shock while missing my family made it hard, but it was completely worth it.”
Throughout her time at Westminster, her favourite part of the job has been connecting with students and colleagues who are passionate about new ideas and innovation and who embrace change with enthusiasm. She feels fortunate to be part of a university that champions the cause of sustainable development and is proud to contribute to this important mission. She also appreciates all the support she has received from her colleagues at the University over the years.
She said: “My favourite moments are seeing my students excel. It is amazing to watch them learn new skills, come up with innovative ideas and transform into confident and capable professionals. I see their passion for the environment and feel as though I’ve played a role in nurturing that enthusiasm. They’re the next generation and I have so much belief and faith in them.”
Find out more about studying on Biological and Biomedical Sciences courses through Clearing at the University of Westminster.
