Bhubaneswar: The four-day National Symposium on Tropical Meteorology (TROPMET-2016) has recommended development of a research project along the Odisha coast to study the impact of climate change incorporating various sectors like water resources, farming, health, infrastructure and ecosystem.
“A multi-disciplinary research team may be involved in developing and implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies for a sustainable coastal zone and such projects should be replicated in other coastal states,” Prof Ajit Tyagi, President of the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS) said on the sidelines of the four-day National Symposium on Tropical Meteorology (TROPMET-2016) which concluded at the SOA University on Wednesday.
A pilot site for the project should be identified soon, he said.
TROPMET-2016, which attracted a large number of researchers and scientists working on climate change from within the country and abroad, was organized by the IMS in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, SOA University and the ministry of Earth Science.
The symposium also strongly recommended that the subject of “Climate Variability and Change” should be introduced in the curriculum at the school level encompassing the science, impact, adaptation and mitigation aspects.
Besides, theme-based short term training programs on Climate Change at the undergraduate and post-graduate level for 2-3 weeks supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Tyagi, a former Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD), said.
The recommendations suggested setting up of inter-disciplinary academic centers on Climate Change and sustainable development and short term facilitation programs for administrators, managers, NGOs, media persons etc on issues pertaining to the subject.
The other recommendations included conduct of orientation programs for members of Parliament, Legislative Assemblies and other people’s representatives and popularization of climate change issues through articles in regional language newspapers, magazines and mass media through examples and illustrations.
Tyagi said it was also felt that the present environmental science/studies paper taught at the graduation level should provide thrust on Climate Change issues.
Speaking as the chief guest at the valedictory function, Prof Amit Banerjee, Vice-Chancellor of SOA University, said the recommendations needed to be taken up with all seriousness. “Every scientific endeavor or discussion would become infructuous if the benefits did not reach the community at large,” he said.
The subject of the symposium directly related to the community and was of utmost importance, Banerjee said.
SOA University’s Dean (Research), Prof PK Nanda said the university had already set up 10 research centers and 29 research labs and would be keen to partner any venture on climate change.
Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of the Meteorology Centre at Bhubaneswar, said the conference had six plenary sessions and 23 parallel sessions on various subjects relating to Climate Change.
Prof UC Mohanty, Professor of School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences of IIT-Bhubaneswar, Prof Manas R Das, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at ITER and Prof Tyagi also spoke.