Report on
National Conference on “Science of Climate Change and Earth’s Sustainability: Issues and Challenges” 

12-14 September, 2011, Lucknow

The Society of Earth Scientists (a not-for-profit scientific society registered under Societies Registration Act) organized National Conference on “Science of climate change and Earth’s sustainability: Issues and challenges” 12-14 September, 2011, at Malaviya Hall, Lucknow University Campus, Lucknow on scientists-people partnership. The conference received overwhelming support from scientists of all the domains and from all parts of the country. A total of 142 abstracts were received. Seventy four papers were presented orally and 33 in poster sessions. The registered delegates who attended the conference were 212 no. (including 96 delegates from outside Lucknow) along with other invited participants and guests. Scientists, research scholars and technocrats from IMD; IITM, Pune; NIH, Roorkee, PRL, Ahmedabad; ISM, Dhanbad; GSI; IIG; NGRI; IIT, Delhi, Kanpur, Bombay & Roorkee; NIO, Goa; NPL, Delhi; BSIP, Lucknow; WIHG, Dehradun; UPRSAC, Lucknow; UP Jal Nigam, DMG, Kerala, IITR, Lucknow; Ashoka  Trust, Bangalore and various Universities viz. Lucknow, Allahabad, BHU, Udaipur, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Pune, Kanpur, Nainital, Chennai, Agra, Coimbatore, JNU and Guwahati participated in the conference. One of the most striking features of the conference was the passion and interest shown by the research scholars and students, many of them were from outside Lucknow and attended the conference with full participation. Therefore, the conference was successful in infusing interest among the upcoming-scientists.

The inaugural session was chaired by AVM (Dr.) Ajit Tyagi, Director General, India Meteorological Department along with other dignitaries Prof. Ashok Sahni, FNA, Dr. N.C.Mehrotra, Director, BSIP, Lucknow, Dr. Rasik Ravindra, Director, NCAOR, Goa. Dr. Rasik Ravindra, Chairman of SES welcomed the delegates and Dr. Satish C. Tripathi, Secretary, SES presented details about the activities of the Society. Organising Secretary Dr. Usha bajpai provided brief about the conference. Abstract volume was also released during the conference. A soft copy (PDF) of the abstract book was circulated to all the delegates well in advance by email.

The papers were presented in seven technical sessions under following themes:

1. Climatic changes in the geological history, impact on Earth, and imprints of Quaternary and recent climatic change as studied in glacial, fluvial and marine systems.

2. Indian monsoon and climate change

3. Atmospheric processes and climate change

4. Natural resource management- surface and ground water, mineral and fuel wealth.5. Environmental pollution, solid-waste management

5. Green chemistry and related studies and impact on ecology and agriculture, forestry

6. Sustainable Development and renewable energy resources     

Apart from regular technical session, a plenary session was organized where Prof. Anil K. Gupta, Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun and Prof. Rajiv Sinha, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT, Kanpur delivered invited talks. The session was chaired by Prof. Ashok Sahni and Prof. Santosh Kumar. Eminent earth scientists from research institutions and Universities were requested to chair and co-chair various technical sessions. Their observations strongly pointed the facts that the presentations were of high quality. Another most striking feature of the conference was (as can also be seen under themes) that all the spheres of earth science- geophysics, geology, atmospheric science, meteorology, environment, solid waste management, mining, green chemistry and renewable energy were covered and except for third day, there were no parallel sessions and scientists attended all the themes thereby, fulfilling the objective of constituting “The Society of Earth Scientists.”

Apart from regular technical session a Panel Discussion on “National strategies and plan for human and institutional capacity building in climate change” was organized which was chaired by Prof. S. K. Dubey, Chairman, Climate Change committee (DST) apart from Dr. D. R. Sikka, Dr. Rasik Ravindra, Dr N. C. Mehrotra, Dr. Malti Goel, Prof. Rajiv Sinha, and was coordinated by Dr. Akhilesh K. Gupta, Advisor, DST (Climate Change Cell). Various distinguished scientists gave their opinion on the topic and it was a lively discussion. Amongst the delegates, Mr. C. K. Sharma emphasized that the green cover of the earth must be saved while planning the development, Dr Ranjit Kumar requested that the participation of small institutions and universities should be ensured to which Dr Akhilesh Gupta informed the house that DST has started the mapping of climate scientists and participation of all such individuals will be ensured. Mr. Ahmad Lashkar requested that national level research facilities should be strengthened so as research scholars can use them for better results.

The concluding session was chaired by Dr. D. R. Sikka and Sri N. K. Dutta (Ex. DG, GSI) and recommendations are given at the end of the report.

Outreach activities during the conference:

* Under collaboration with Regional Science City, Lucknow, a science poster competition of school children on ‘Save Your Green Earth’ was organized in two categories and about 350 students from various schools of Lucknow participated. Fourteen winners were awarded by the chairman AVM (Dr.) Ajit Tyagi during the inaugural function.

* Two delegates namely Dr. M R Ramesh Kumar, Goa and Dr. Ranjit Kumar, Agra delivered popular science-talk in schools of Lucknow during the conference period and interacted with the students as part of our outreach attempt.

* An exhibition of solar energy equipments was also organized during the conference.

Financial Support: The Society of Earth Scientists received financial grant to support the organization of the conference from Ministry of Earth Science and Department of Science and Technology (Climate Change Cell), Government of India, for which SES expresses its gratitude. The Society of Earth Scientists is registered in Central Plan Scheme Monitoring System [CPSMS] and details of the grant are available online.

Acknowledgement: SES sincerely thanks Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Science, Government of India and Patron of SES for his all round guidance and support to the organization of the conference. SES also expresses gratitude to Vice-Chancellor, University of Lucknow; Dy. Director General, G.S.I., Lucknow, Directors of BSIP and NBRI, Lucknow for providing the logistics for successful organization of the conference. The National Advisory Committee members extended their guidance and support from time to time and are thankfully acknowledged. Financial supports by Ministry of Earth Science and DST, that made SES comfortable in making arrangement for delegates and invited scientists, is sincerely acknowledged.

 Recommendations

1. Researches in earth system science have direct bearing on society, therefore, earth scientists should also interact with social scientists and NGOs working in the field so that they can understand their needs and to educate the common people. A DST scientist  proposed that an interactive session with social scientists and NGOs be organized by SES.

2. Thrust areas which need to be strengthened in field of climate change should be identified and additional data should be generated with the financial assistance from Government of India.

3. Scientific community should come forward in using techniques in earth system monitoring, prediction and services by integration of physical, chemical, biological and social data.

4. Capacity building is supposed to be an important aspect for proper orientation to quality research. Institutions having such facilities and expertise should come forward and organize such training programmes for research scholars.

5. National level research facilities should be established where research students can easily access for their analyses and allied jobs.

6. The Society of Earth Scientists should act as a bridge between Government, scientists and the people.

7. A national level research institution should be established for multidisciplinary research activities in earth science (e.g. Indian Institute of Earth Science) which, in addition, may also act as a  central data repository.

8. Researches in New and renewable energy resources should be encouraged with the participation of public/private industrial sector.

Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to:

1. All National Advisory Committee members
2. The Secretary, Ministry of Earth Science, Government of India
3. The Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India
4. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
5. The Advisor, Department of Science and Technology (Climate Change Cell), Govt. India
6. The Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India
7. The Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India
8. The Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India
9. The Director General, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata
10. The Director General, India Meteorological Department, New Delhi
11. The Director General, Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi
12. The Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow.