Two-Day International Conference at MIET Kumaon Focuses on Sustainable Development and Innovation

 

• Emphasis on Sustainable Agriculture and Policy Frameworks for Hill Farming: Dr. Satpal Singh Bisht
• Entrepreneurship is Driven by the Power of Ideas: Dr. Sanjay Kumar
• Bhagavad Gita Offers Knowledge Beyond Science and Technology: Dr. R.C. Mishra

Haldwani: A two-day international conference on "Emerging Trends in Agricultural Science, STEM, and Health for Sustainable Development" commenced at MIET Kumaon College, Lamachaur. The conference was organized in collaboration with the Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC).

The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Satpal Singh Bisht, Vice-Chancellor of Soban Singh Jeena University, Almora; Guest of Honour Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director of Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council; keynote speaker Dr. R.C. Mishra, former Director and Registrar of Uttarakhand Open University; Sohail Shaikh, Innovation Lead at Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog; Dr. P.D. Pant, Registrar of Uttarakhand Open University; Dr. Kamal K. Pandey, Principal of Government PG College, Bajpur; Dr. Bahadur Singh Bisht, Managing Director of MIET College; Dr. Tarun Saxena, Executive Director; and Dr. Kamal Rawat, CEO of ACIC Devbhumi Foundation. The dignitaries jointly inaugurated the conference by lighting the ceremonial lamp.

Dr. B.S. Bisht, Managing Director of MIET College, highlighted that a total of 307 research papers were submitted for the conference, out of which 183 were discussed on the first day. Researchers from various fields, including agriculture, life sciences, chemistry, engineering, and technology, presented their research findings. A total of 28 national and international speakers shared their insights during the event.

Chief Guest Dr. Satpal Singh Bisht expressed concerns over the declining soil productivity due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers. He emphasized the significance of sustainable agriculture and called for concrete policy frameworks to support hill farming. He also discussed the role of artificial intelligence in creating new employment opportunities.

Guest of Honour Dr. Sanjay Kumar noted that 17% of India's population resides in hilly regions, yet only 2% of the land is cultivable. He stressed the importance of promoting science, technology, and entrepreneurship to create livelihood opportunities. Encouraging students, he remarked that "Entrepreneurship is driven by the power of ideas; capital follows later."

Keynote speaker Dr. R.C. Mishra connected the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita with sustainable development, stating that it offers knowledge beyond science, mega-science, and technology. He linked environmental conservation with self-preservation, emphasizing that since both the human body and nature comprise the five elements, protecting the environment is essential for personal well-being.

Sohail Shaikh, Innovation Lead at Atal Innovation Mission, provided insights into Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Community Innovation Centers, and the broader mission to promote innovation and technology. He underscored the importance of integrating stakeholders from various fields such as education, healthcare, industry, and agriculture to drive meaningful innovation. He also extended his best wishes to ACIC MIET Devbhumi Foundation for its efforts in fostering innovation.

During the conference, a research paper compendium was released. The event also saw participation from renowned academicians, including Dr. Anesh Kumar Maharaj from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Dr. Chhaya Shukla, Associate Professor at G.B. Pant Agriculture University, Pantnagar; Dr. Pushpa Negi from Graphic Era University; Dr. Naval Kishore Lohani and Dr. Narendra Kumar Singh from M.B. Government PG College, Haldwani; Dr. A.K. Pratihar from G.B. Pant Agriculture University; Dr. Sushil Kumar Singh from Marwadi University, Gujarat; and Dr. Er. S. Jadoun.

The event was coordinated by Vatsalya Sharma, Sonam Bhandari, Charanjit Singh, Neha Rautela, Principal Nursing Usha Paul, Principal Shefali, Ajay Chaudhary, Akhil Gautam, Manoj, Head Hema Negi, Taradutt Tiwari, Vimla, Akanksha, Lalita, and several others.