By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 26 Nov: The Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) and Doon University will jointly organise the 19th State Science and Technology Conference from 28 to 30 November at Doon University. This information was shared at a press conference addressed by Director General, UCOST, Dr Durgesh Pant at a local hotel today.
Announcing the event, Dr Pant stated that the theme of this year’s conference is “Water and Natural Resource Management in the Context of Uttarakhand”. The theme highlights the integration of sustainable resource management and scientific advancements to address the challenges unique to the Himalayan region.
He added that this conference will be inaugurated by Governor Gurmit Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. A booklet will also be released at the inaugural ceremony. The conference aims to serve as a platform for discussions, lectures, and brainstorming sessions on various scientific topics. Pant added that the Conference is aimed at encouraging young scientists from Uttarakhand to present their research and contribute to advancements in science, technology, and education within the state.
Dr Pant reminded that such state level conferences are being organised annually which bring together members of the scientific community, researchers, academicians, and students. He shared that the key attractions of the event would include the inaugural session and an exhibition where rural innovators, entrepreneurs, NGOs, self-help groups (SHGs), academic institutions, and government agencies would showcase their achievements.
The DG, UCOST, added that a special session would also be held to review the success of the Silkyara Tunnel initiative, which has demonstrated transformational impacts and contributions to sustainable development in Uttarakhand. The Council has invited abstracts of original research, experiments, and success stories from scholars and researchers across disciplines, including agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry, medical science, botany, geology, mathematics, engineering, rural science, and biology. These contributions are expected to come from those affiliated with research institutions, universities, colleges, or recognised private or autonomous organisations in Uttarakhand.
Dr Pant further asserted that UCOST is committed to fostering scientific research, collaboration, and innovation in Uttarakhand. The conference remains a flagship initiative, encouraging knowledge exchange through discussions and case studies.
The event will feature seven brainstorming plenary sessions involving subject experts on seven important topics. During, the session on Water Security in the Himalayas, discussions will focus on advances and policy strategies for water management in Uttarakhand and other Himalayan states, emphasising sustainable usage, groundwater recharge, pollution control, and community participation.
During the session on ‘Mitigation of Water-Related Disasters’, experts will address strategies to mitigate disasters such as flash floods and glacial lake outbursts, with a focus on integrated water management and scientific solutions. The Session on ‘Building Emotional Resilience’ will explore emotional adaptability, the impact of stress on mental health, and strategies to enhance well-being and conceptual clarity.
There will also be a session on ‘Indian Knowledge Tradition, Sanskrit, and Science’ which is expected to explore the relevance of ancient disciplines like mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and environmental science to modern research and human well-being. The session on ‘Community-Based Forest Resource Management’ will undertake discussion on sustainable strategies for mitigating forest fires and human-wildlife conflict, emphasising local community roles in forest governance.
The Session on ‘Importance of Science Communication in the Himalayas’ will explore the use of communication tools to bridge the gap between science and society, blending traditional and modern knowledge, and addressing climate challenges.
Considering the rapidly growing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there will also be a detailed session titled, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Modern Warfare in the Defence Sector’ During this session, topics for discussion will include AI, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, modern warfare strategies, and industry-academia collaboration in India’s defence sector.
