Under the aegis of Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, an international conference on “Conserving Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” was organised from August 16 to 18.
In the inaugural session, Emeritus Professor and Former Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya, Sri lanka C Madduma Bandara gave the key note address. NIT Director Prof SK Sarangi presided over the meeting. Chief Conservator of Forest JK Tiwary from the Ministry of Environment and Forests was the chief guest. Other dignitaries present on the dais included Prof SK Dutta from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Prof DV Reddy from CAFET-Innova Technical Society, Hyderabad and Prof S Yataganaani from University of Peradeniya, Sri lanka. Prof Krishna Pramanik was the chairperson and convenor of the conference.
Various themes of the 3-day conference were Man, Society and Biodiversity, Biodiversity Conservation Strategies, Biodiversity for Sustainable Energy Development, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Molecular Diversity and System Biology, Disease, Epidemiology and Biodiversity, Bio-threats and Bio Security, Biodiversity, Human Intelligence and Innovation and Biodiversity Research. The conference provided a common platform to the scientists, academicians, industrialists of India and abroad to discuss about the strategies in conserving biodiversity for sustainable development. More than hundred research papers were presented. About 150 participants comprising research scholars, academicians, professionals, industry and Government functionaries attended the programme. Recommendations made in the conference will be communicated to the Government and policy makers for taking effective steps for conserving biodiversity for sustainable development.
According to RK Sinha, Secretary Public Relations Committee, the conference was supported by World Bank assisted Technical Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP-II) in association with Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri lanka, CAPET- Innova Technical Society, Hyderabad, Jindal Steel and Power limited, Tensa, Odisha and Tubed Coal Mines Private limited, latehar, Jharkhand. He informed that the institute plans to conduct at least five more international conferences and several national seminars/workshops in various diversified field of engineering and technology of national importance in current academic year.