Highlights & Key outcomes
- Keynote lecture was delivered by legendry environmentalist and ecologist of India Prof. C. R. Babu, on “Ecological Integrity: A Key to Urban Environmental Sustainability”.
- Green Audit Training Module for teaching faculty and students was launched.
- Need and role of environmentalists in National Green Tribunal (NGT) at the district level was identified
- Bio based Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) can be setup at less than half of its cost at college level.
- Best research paper award was conferred
On 30th September 2020, Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, Vivek Vihar-110095 successfully conducted one day national seminar (webinar) on the theme of “environment and urban ecosystem: from individual to ecological”.
The objective and theme of the seminar was well conceived and idea to bring important stakeholders together to discuss the issues of urban ecosystem was well thought-out. Many congratulations to the college officiating principal Dr. Hina Nandrajog and convener of the seminar Dr Seema Sharma (Assistant Professor, Department of Environment, Vivekananda College). The co-convener of the seminar was Mrs. Purnima Vir (Associate Professor, internal quality assurance cell), Vivekananda College.
The seminar was successful in imparting knowledge to the academic participants from all parts of India by its expert panel discussion and question answer sessions. The seminar also highlighted the important action points need to be taken in urban spaces for further course of action with its sector experts in the area.
The Highlight of the seminar was the key note lecture delivered by legendry environmentalist and ecologist of India Prof. C. R. Babu, who was also chief guest of the event. The other distinguished speakers of the seminar were Dr. Raju EVR (domain expert-environment & sustainability, Ministry of Coal, Govt. of India) Dr Reena Sethi (Ex-Director, Ministry of Civil Aviation Specialist- Governance and Change Management Session), Mr. Sanjeev K. Ahuja (Founder & Editor Asian Community News Network) and Mr. Chetan Pathak (B.Tech. & MBA, Renewable Energy Enthusiast working on RE integration, RTS, EV, Storage).
Prof. C. R. Babu, delivered lecture on “Ecological Integrity: A Key to Urban Environmental Sustainability”. In his presentation, Prof. Babu talked about on ground realities of urban ecosystems and its restoration methods and processes. He also talked about Ecosystem Dynamics and functions with several success stories and on ground achievements by Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) team under his guidance and supervision. In his presentation He also clearly highlighted the significant roles of academia, industry, policy makers and community members to make the urban spaces a better place to live.
The second highlight of the seminar was launch of ‘Green Audit Training Module’ for teaching faculty and students. Dr. Seema Sharma, who is also the author of this module presented on the same. During her presentation, Dr. Seema Sharma mentioned the need, uniqueness and holistic nature of the training module. She also highlighted the fact that how the training module can equip faculties and students in academic institutions to fulfil the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) criteria VI, become more resource efficient and sustainable. She also mentioned how academic institutions or faculties can play a role as consultants which is a mandatory criterion for faculties under NAAC as a result of this module. Prof. C. R. Babu and all distinguished speakers and session chairs of the event praised the initiative of Vivekananda College and congratulated Dr. Hina Nandrajog and Dr. Seema Sharma for this initiative. Prof. C. R. Babu suggested to make this as a course module and he also showed his interest to take this to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi to make Vivekananda College the nodal college for this initiative.
An important outcome of this seminar was the need and role of environmentalists in National Green Tribunal (NGT) at the district level, thereby making the NGT more effective and realistic. This was highlighted by Dr. Seema Sharma and the point was well taken and applauded by all expert panelists and Prof. C R Babu. The point was strongly supported by Prof. C. R. Babu and he also assured her that in his upcoming meeting he will put forward the concern to the relevant committee and recommend the point raised by Dr. Seema Sharma.
The Another important outcome of this seminar was bio based Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) set up. In the response of the question raised by Dr. Hina Nadrajog regarding cost, Prof. Babu said that Bio based Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) can be setup at less than half of its cost at college level. it’s worthy to note that under his guidance this has already be done on ground in several parts of country including seven biodiversity parks in Delhi.
The second session of the event was a panel discussion titled ‘Role and Responsibility of Academia, Industry, Policy and Media in Current Discourse of Urban Ecosystem and the Way Forward”. Expert panelists for the session were Prof. C. R. Babu, Dr. Raju EVR, Mr. Sanjeev K Ahuja and Mr. Chetan Pathak. Moderator for this session was Dr Seema Sharma. Panel discussion was started with a very interesting question – ‘is academia playing the role what they are suppose to do?’ Prof. C. R. Babu in his response said that the answer cannot be simple. He raised his concern about the quality of research and teaching learning processes and gaps which need to filled in order to achieve academic excellence in throughout the colleges of University of Delhi. He also mention the need of community connect at the neighborhood level by the colleges. He added that colleges can play an important role in natural disaster situations and situation like covid-19.
Dr. Raju EVR (domain expert in Environment), in the response of the question on role and responsibility of policy makers, he highlighted the need to understand the gaps in the policy and lack of policy execution framework. In his discussion points, he pointed out the communication gaps between the stakeholders and lack of community connection. He emphasized on the need of partnerships with the academia for more inclusive and sustainable policy framework.
In the role of Media, Mr. Sanjeev K Ahuja, mention the importance of media and it’s reach to the community. He clearly highlighted the fact that becoming media partner to this kind of important seminars is important to bring these important understandings, information and knowledge to the table of common man. He said that It’s high time for media to rethink on what they are publishing. Publishing negative news or news which is politically driven and caste and crime driven is not sustainable. Its time for media to be driven by environment and sustainability.
The panelist, Mr. Chetan Pathak, emphasized, on the use of renewable energy and how BSES playing an important role in educating young generation for renewable energy at the school level.
At the end of the session, in response of several questions asked by the participants from all over India, Prof. Babu mentioned the need of academic excellence, skills, research and capacity building in academia and urges the participants to focus on these lines for urban environmental sustainability.
The technical session, which was research paper presentation session (Category I), Dr. Reena Sethi and Mrs. Purnima Vir as a session chair, awarded the best paper award to the Author of the Paper Dr. Arnab Bose (Professor, O. P. Jindal Global University, Haryana) paper titled –“Access, Inclusion and Sustainability: Making Urban Infrastructure accessible for Persons with Disability (PwD) will also improve sustainability indicators”.
The fourth technical session, which was research paper presentation session (Category II), Dr. Subhash Chandra (Assistant Professor, Vivekananda College and Dr. Chandra Prakash Kapoor (Assistant Professor, Vivekanada College) as a session chair, awarded the best paper award to the authors ( Charu Bisht, Hanuth Saxena, Tirthankar Ghosh, Palash Chowdhary Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh) paper titled—” Aerosol Optical Depth in lieu with Land Surface Temperature”. The paper was presented by Hanuth Saxena.
The seminar ended with very positive note and expert panelists and participants from all over India appreciated the seminar and effort made by the organizing team members (Dr. Deepa Varshney, Dr. Subhas Chandra, Mr. Arunabha Bose, Dr. Avaneesh A. Singh, Dr. Raman Singh, Dr. Anjana Kumari, Dr. Amit Kumar, Ms. Shikha Garg, Dr. Vedanidhi, Ms Priya Sharma, Ms. Kanika Kumar) to make this happen online successfully.
