IIT Roorkee, HESCO explore science-driven solutions for Inclusive Himalayan growth
Dehradun: Science and technology could be leveraged more extensively to address challenges related to ecological, health, agricultural and livelihood issues of the Himalayan communities, the experts said during the workshop organised by IIT Roorkee, Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO). The workshop, titled "Science and Technology for Inclusive Growth and Prosperity of Himalayan Communities: An Ecological Pursuit" brought together scientists, policy-makers, academicians, researchers and institutional leaders to discuss translating research and technology into action for the Himalayan communities.
The experts also discussed ways to address these challenges, building on the existing MoU between IIT Roorkee and HESCO, which focuses on themes of sustainable development, rural innovation, joint research, eco-friendly technologies and community outreach in the Himalayan region.
IIT Roorkee, HESCO Come Together
The workshop, held at IIT Roorkee, was attended by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, ANRF; Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the PSA; and Prof. Anil P. Joshi, Founder, HESCO. The attendees also included representatives and experts from institutions such as HNB Uttarakhand Medical Education University, Forest Research Institute, National Institute of Hydrology, UCOST, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, ICAR-VPKAS, UPES and Uttaranchal University, as well as faculty members from IIT Roorkee.
The event was centred around a simple but crucial question: how can scientific knowledge be applied on the ground for communities facing challenges related to difficult terrain, ecology and livelihoods?
Director, IIT Roorkee sees need for interdisciplinary science, tech and institutional collaboration
Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, while addressing the opening session, highlighted the need for promoting interdisciplinary science, technology and institutional collaboration to promote sustainable development in the Himalayan region. The message was particularly pertinent given the fact that Himalayan challenges cannot be addressed through a narrow view of a particular discipline. Water security, agriculture, forests, health and livelihoods are interlocked and require researchers and institutions to come together.
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, said harnessing knowledge and technologies to address Himalayan communities' needs was a priority. Similarly, Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of ANRF, said research, innovation and collaborative ecosystems were key ingredients to addressing the challenges in the region.
Prof. Anil P. Joshi, Founder, HESCO, said the focus should be on local relevance, community-centric solutions and ecological sensitivity. The Technical Sessions Of The Workshop, Which Covered A Wide Range Of Topics, Included:
- Water Bodies
- Forest and Forestry
- Soil and Agriculture
- Millet Valorization and Beyond the Grains
- Human Health and Diet
The presentations were delivered by Prof. Hemant Kumar, Prof. Siddhartha Khare, Prof. Kritika Kothari, Prof. Naveen Kumar Navani and Prof. Bhanu Duggal, Vice-Chancellor of HNB Uttarakhand Medical Education University.
The topics reflected the broad scope of the discussions. Instead of looking at ecology as an isolated issue, the focus was on integrating natural resources with agriculture, nutrition, health and community prosperity.
Brainstorming Session Focuses On Action
A session, moderated by Prof. Ashish Pandey, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development at IIT Roorkee, identified challenges, opportunities and potential areas of collaborative interventions. The discussions also received inputs from Dr. R.P. Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, and Dr. Y.R.S. Rao, Director, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee.
The inputs helped bridge the gap between the challenges faced in remote Himalayan regions and the need to leverage institutional strengths and locally-relevant technology-enabled solutions. HESCO's focus on leveraging innovation and local resources for sustainable development and self-reliance of Himalayan communities also resonated with the event's overall goal of addressing the communities' needs through science and technology.
From Research To Community-Centred Development
The discussions culminated in suggestions for strengthening partnerships and promoting community-centric sustainable solutions for the Himalayan ecosystem. For students and researchers, the discussions provided an important insight into how Himalayan development is not just an ecological concern but intersects with aspects of agriculture, nutrition, water security, healthcare, technology and rural livelihoods. This makes interdisciplinary education and learning key to addressing the multifaceted challenges. Students of engineering, environmental science, agriculture, medicine, data science and social sciences can apply their respective disciplines to address various dimensions of the challenges.
The workshop also reiterated the commitment of IIT Roorkee and HESCO to leveraging science, technology and innovation for inclusive growth, ecological sustainability and prosperity of Himalayan communities. And now the challenge is bigger: taking ideas and discussions, which were initiated over the course of the day, and translating them into solutions, which communities may find relevant and sustainable.
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