Safiqur Rahman, Nagaon: A two-day international conference on “Sustainable Environment, Energy and Life Sciences” began on Friday at the historic Anandaram Dhekial Phukan (ADP) College in Nagaon, bringing together scientists, researchers and environmental experts from India and abroad to discuss pressing global environmental challenges (Sustainable Environment Conference).
Inaugurating the conference, the Chairman of the Assam Pollution Control Board, Dr. Arup Kumar Mishra, highlighted the environmental cost of rapid development and warned about the growing ecological crisis.
“Every step of development forces us to lose something from nature,” he said, identifying three major global challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Dr. Mishra observed that many species of fish, plants and birds that were once common in everyday life are no longer visible to today’s children. At the same time, humanity is facing new and unknown diseases. He noted that large dams, highways and other development projects have caused severe damage to the natural world, posing challenges not only to nature but also to human culture and values.
The inaugural session was attended by distinguished international scholars, including Ruben Tatevchian and Vera Bykova from the Institute of Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Renowned botanist J. R. Kayal, former Deputy Director of the Botanical Survey of India, was also present. During the programme, the dignitaries formally released the conference proceedings book.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Tatevchian said that making development sustainable is one of the greatest challenges of the modern world and stressed that the concept of sustainability must reach every citizen. Experts also noted that the term “sustainable development” gained global prominence after 2003, drawing increasing attention from scientists, researchers and policymakers worldwide.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp followed by a Borgeet performance by Shikharani Bora, part-time faculty member of the Assamese Department of ADP College. The welcome address was delivered by the Principal of the college, Dr. Sadananda Payeng.
Following the inaugural session, parallel academic sessions were held at five different venues across the campus, where more than 100 participants from India and abroad presented research papers. Additionally, 51 participants took part in the poster presentation session.
The conference has been organized by Anandaram Dhekial Phukan College in collaboration with Gauhati University, the Assam Pollution Control Board and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority. Financial support has been provided by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Numaligarh Refinery Limited.
Several eminent scholars addressed the academic sessions, including Dr. Arup Kumar Mishra, Indian Forest Service officer Dr. Satyendra Singh, Prof. Jogen Chandra Kalita of Gauhati University, Prof. Utpal Bora and Prof. Arun Goel of IIT Guwahati, Prof. Brajmohan Singh Bhau of the Central University of Jammu, Prof. Laxmikant S. Badwe of Tezpur University, Prof. Archana Bhatnagar of Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Prof. Anupama Hatal of Ashoka University, among others.
A colourful cultural evening showcasing the rich diversity of Assamese culture will be organized on March 7 for the national and international participants. Conference secretaries Dr. Mousumi Saikia and Dr. Laxmi Kumari Singh informed that research paper presentations will continue in five parallel sessions from 9:30 AM on March 8. Participants also appreciated the lush green campus and well-organized arrangements of ADP College, describing the international conference as both academically enriching and environmentally inspiring.
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