CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) celebrated National Science Day in the NEERI Auditorium on 28 February 2024. Dr. T V Ramachandra, Professor & Coordinator, Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru was the Chief Guest of the function. Dr. Atul N. Vaidya, Director, CSIR-NEERI and Dr. M. Suresh Kumar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NEERI were prominently present on this occasion.
Dr. Ramachandra delivered the National Science Day Lecture on ‘Society relevant science for human well-being – Indigenous technologies for viksit bharat’ aligning with the theme of the National Science Day 2024. In his address, he laid emphasis on urgent collective action to save wetlands, as wetlands support the livelihoods of people. We have to conserve and prudently manage wetlands so that we all have adequate and quality water, he added. He stressed on the need of planned urbanization to maintain the ecological, hydrological and environmental integrity of the region. He informed that ecologically sensitive regions in the Western Ghats reveal serious concerns. Deforestation and mismanagement of these pristine ecosystems have been threatening water security with severe challenges to people’s livelihood in peninsular India, he added. Describing about the revival of Jakkur Lake in Bengaluru, Dr. Ramachandraacknowledged this as a model for Integrated Urban Water Management System – reuse of the city’s wastewater for ecosystem services and ground water recharge, which needs to be replicated across the nation to make cities water resilience.He sketched the importance of the Regional Integrated Energy Plan (RIEP) which is flexible, adaptable, ecologically sound and optimal mix of renewable and conventional energy sources. He informed that his research group recently launched the Western Ghats Spatial Decision Support System (WGSDSS), which helps in the prudent management of ecologically and hydrologically vital Sahyadri hill ranges. He underlined the importance of ‘carrying capacity approach’ and ‘valuation of ecosystem services and goods’ as part of ‘cluster-based development approach’ in different taluks of the districts to get insights into the resources available in the district.
In his welcome address, Dr. Vaidya stressed upon “developing new technologies indigenously”. Harnessing indigenous technologies for sustainable management of natural resources is the need of the hour, he added. Dr. Vaidya informed that the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen CSIR-NEERI as a reference laboratory for tracking of emerging SARS-CoV2 variants and other viruses.
Dr. Debishree Khan, Scientist, CSIR-NEERI conducted the proceedings and Prakash Kumbhare, Sr. Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEERI proposed the vote of thanks.
50 B.Sc. (Microbiology and Biotechnology) students from Universal Girls College, Dist. Pandhurna (MP) and 50 High School students from Tapovan School, Nagpur visited CSIR-NEERI on this occasion