Bhubaneswar: Renowned Odia researcher and internationally acclaimed academic Dr Manoj Dora has called for a shift in mindset from “Gen Z” to “Gen S” (Generation Sustainability) to ensure a healthier and sustainable planet for future generations.

Dora, Professor of Sustainable Production and Consumption and Director of the Centre for Intelligent Supply Chains at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK, was speaking at the second day of the third edition of Punashcha Pruthibi, organised by Sambad and Ama Odisha.

Speaking on the need to balance environmental, social and economic priorities, Dora said the focus should move beyond simply avoiding plastic use or littering towards building a generation committed to sustainability.

“The main objective of this thinking is to meet our own needs while taking steps to ensure that the Earth remains safe and liveable for future generations,” he said.

Addressing young people, Dora stressed the importance of reusing and recycling materials instead of simply throwing them away. He advocated a process of collecting used materials, converting them into new products and using them again before disposing of what remains unusable.

Such practices, he said, can help reduce the number of landfills while conserving natural resources and saving energy.

Dora also cited an example from Brazil, where students spent three years directly engaging with farmers to understand their problems. The students documented the issues faced by farmers and subsequently analysed them at their universities and colleges to explore possible solutions.

He said such initiatives can encourage young people to engage directly with problems in their communities instead of waiting for others to address them.

“If you see a problem somewhere, do not think about who will solve it. If you can solve it yourself, do it immediately. Finish today’s work today and do not leave anything for tomorrow,” Dora said.

Dora also announced the launch of a Sustainable Odisha Scholarship, saying the initiative aims to bring more students into the programme in the coming days and encourage them to contribute to sustainability-focused efforts.