GANDERBAL: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath Monday asked the university students, research scholars and faculty members to share their innovative ideas and designs for constructing eco-friendly structures at the designated Tulmulla campus here.
“The university will engage the stakeholders and ensure their participation for developing the campus on the modern lines to conserve natural resources, produce less waste and emissions, and utilize sustainable materials,” he said during a function “Our Planet: Our Environment Our Campus” for Mass Mobilization on Mission LiFE organized by the varsity’s Department of Botany in collaboration with the Department of Students Welfare (DSW) to observer the World Environment Day.
The event marked the culmination of events organized by various departments of the university from 18th of May, 2023, to sensitize the students, research scholars and the faculty members, about safeguarding and preserving the environment.
CUK Vice Chancellor, said the university is utilizing the multidisciplinary approach as envisioned in the NEP-2020, to train and educate the students vis-à-vis protection of environment.
Co-founder, CEO and Dean Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL)-Ladakh, Madam Gitanjali JA, in her presentation, called for empowerment of youth, particularly the students community, to take ownership and develop skills, for resolving the problems.
“The universities are laboratories wherein the students should innovate and ideate in order to solve the issues, including environment problems, for the benefit of the mankind,” Madam Gitanjali said, adding the needs of people in the 21st century is totally different and hence the legacy of past educational setup won’t serve the requisite purpose. She said the universities should allow their students to experiment and taste failures in order to develop and conceive novel things, adding that experiential learning and contextual education are the thrust areas in today’s educational sector.
Talking about HIAL, she said the organization believes in constructing buildings which are environment friendly and save all the natural resources
Speaking on the occasion, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, said, eco-friendly and sustainable campuses are the need of the hour. “The universities have to take the initiative to sensitise and aware the masses about the adverse effects of environmental degradation and the immediate need is to protect the fragile environment, so that the future generation is saved from man-made disasters and calamities,” he said.
Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar in his speech, said that in addition to the governments of the world, policy makers and leaders, the common people, have a pivotal role in working for the preservation of the environment. “The students can make a huge difference in protecting the environment by creating awareness in masses about the ill-effects of environmental degradation,” he said.
Nodal Officer, Deptt of Botany and Convener WED-2023, Prof. Azra N Kamili, in her welcome address, said that the continuous human activities and interferences are causing global temperature to rise to an unacceptable level due to greenhouse gases. “The increase in temperature has resulted in flooding, droughts, climate change and other adverse effects on the environment,” she added.
Earlier, Dean School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Prof. Zafar A Reshi, talked about “Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions,” and said that we are still non-serious about the environmental degradation and its after effects. “The environmental degradation will have unprecedented catastrophic consequences on human life and the need of the hour is to work for the preservation of the environment by taking certain measures,” he added.
Scientist-E and Head Deptt of Biochemistry, ICMR-NIOH, Dr. Nibedita Naha also talked about “understanding the mechanism of neurotoxicity induced by environmental pollutants: microplastics.”
Finance Officer and Dean DSW, Dr. Mehraj ud Din Shah, presented the details of the events organized by various teaching departments in association with DSW in the run up to World Environment Day.
Dean School of Life Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Yousuf, Head Deptt of Biotechnology, Dr. Abid Hamid Dar also shared their thoughts about the subject.
Ayman Altaf, M.Sc student conducted the programme while Dy DSW, Dr. Asif Khan and Asst Prof. Botany deptt, Dr. Shaiesta Shah and proposed the vote of thanks.
Later certificates were distributed by Prof. Shahid Rasool, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Prof. Azra. N Kamili, Prof. Muhammad Yousuf among various winners who participated in different competitions. The participants were also administered a pledge by Landscape Development Officer, Dr. Abdul Latief, for protection of the environment.