Ms. Soma Mandal is an internationally recognized educator and sustainability leader whose work spans STEM education, climate literacy, curriculum innovation, environmental science, and youth-led solutions for sustainable development. With more than a decade of experience in education, she has emerged as a strong voice for transforming classrooms into spaces for scientific inquiry, climate action, and innovation.

She is the 2026 Global Winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards. She is also the Oxford Climate Change Challenge 2025 Winner, representing India as one of four global finalists.

A Gold Medalist in Environmental Science, Ms. Mandal has developed interdisciplinary climate and sustainability learning models and led impactful student initiatives in waste management, biodiversity conservation, resource efficiency, plantation, and environmental innovation. Her professional engagement includes the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership, international youth and sustainability forums, and global education initiatives. She has contributed as a judge, mentor, evaluator and speaker, bringing expertise in assessing innovation and impact across science, STEM, climate action, sustainability, research, and education.

As a jury member, Ms. Mandal is particularly interested in identifying original thinking, evidence-based solutions, scientific depth, scalability, sustainability impact, and the ability of young innovators to translate ideas into meaningful real-world change.