Central University of Punjab organized series of events to mark Earth Day 2022
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
The Dept. of Geology of the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the Govt. of India, INYAS, and IIC-CUPB organized a series of events on Friday to celebrate World Earth Day 2022. CUPB’s Earth Day 2022 Celebrations programme, conducted on the focal theme of “Invest in Our Planet ”, featured a lecture series by eminent scientists, a geological exhibition, a model/poster presentation, and a logo competition.
The Chief Guest and Guest of Honour of the inaugural session were Padma Shri Prof. Harsh K. Gupta (FTWAS, FNA, FNASc.) and Prof. Ashok Sahni (FTWAS, FASc., FNA, FNASc.) respectively. In addition to this, Prof. Jyotiranjan S. Ray, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardee and Director, NCESS, Trivandrum, and Prof. S.J. Sangode, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, participated as the Guest Speakers for this programme.
While interacting with participants, Chief Guest Prof. Harsh K. Gupta shared his experience of leading the Third Indian Expedition to Antarctica and establishing India’s first Indian scientific research base station named Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica in 1983-84.
After this, Prof. Ashok Sahni delivered a talk on the topic “Our Wonderful, But Fragile Earth”. He shared the history of the evolution of life on earth and discussed the impact of human activities in their pursuit of development on increasing the danger of global warming on the world.
Prof. J.S. Ray talked about the two contrasting behaviours of molten lava volcanoes and mud volcanoes located in the Andaman Islands. He emphasized on the use of these volcanic activities in understanding the dynamics of plate movement.
Prof. S.J. Sangode, while delivering his lecture on the theme “Sustainability Advances the Earth Education”, stated that oxygen, water, and food are the three basic elements of metabolic survival, and fetching them without harming the earth is the art of sustainable living. He highlighted the importance of providing fundamental knowledge about the earth at school and higher education levels as proposed in NEP2020 and stressed on the need to adopt a three step awareness, knowledge, and action plan to develop sustainable earth practices.
In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari urged the budding scientists to find innovative solutions for sustainable development. He appealed to youth to commemorate this day by taking a pledge to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and use our natural resources judiciously only for fulfilling essential tasks.
The special attractions of this programme were Model and poster presentations themed on Save the Mother Earth by class VIII –XII students from DPS, Bathinda, GGSIS Maur Mandi, and Wheat Field Public School, Ghudda. On this occasion, the CUPB students also displayed a Geological Exhibition and a poster presentation to promote the message of the adoption of sustainable lifestyle practices to preserve our planet for future generations. Participants appreciated the marvellous work displayed by young students.
At the outset, Dr. J.K. Patnaik, HoD, Dept. of Geology, delivered the welcome address. Dr. Sunil Mittal, Dean, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, introduced the keynote speakers. Research scholars and students from the various departments of the university attended this programme with full enthusiasm.
April 23,2022
