14, Dec 2023
Advancing Towards Net Zero: International Workshop at BITS Pilani Goa sheds Light on Forestry and Agroforestry Strategies”
National, 13th Dec, 2023: The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of BITS Pilani Goa, in partnership with the IUCN CEM Forest Specialist Group, CEM South Asia, the Goa State Biodiversity Board, and CEEW, New Delhi has successfully hosted a One-day International Consultative Workshop titled ” ‘Role Of Forestry, Agroforestry, And Land Restoration in Achieving Net Zero in the Asian Region’.
The primary objective of the workshop was to formulate a comprehensive roadmap or guideline document for assessing the pivotal role of forestry and agroforestry-based strategies in supporting national Net Zero Goals. Furthermore, the workshop aimed to identify challenges, hurdles, and roadblocks hindering the realization of mitigation potential from these sectors. It also sought to foster collaboration and partnerships among various organizations in Asia dedicated to these sectors.
The event saw participation from distinguished guests like Professor Mohan Kumar B, Former Vice Chancellor of Arunachal University and one of the authors of the National Agroforestry Policy, and Prof. Amit Garg, Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The event also witnessed the participation of Mr. Namgyel Wangdi, Senior Programme Officer of Bhutan Ecological Society, as a speakers. Mr. Wangdi shared insightful perspectives on Bhutan’s remarkable success in attaining the Net Zero goal, emphasizing the significant contribution of the forest sector. The workshop welcomed the Chief Wildlife warden of the State of Goa Mr. Umakant and Dr. Pradip V Sarmokdam, Nodal Officer, Climate Change, State of Goa. Additionally, the workshop welcomed Mr. Anindya Bhattacharya, Celestial Earth, the agency entrusted with formulating the Net Zero Strategy for the state of Goa.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi, Associate Professor BITS- Pilani, Goa Campus said, “Different modelling studies suggest that despite best efforts and most optimistic scenarios, there will still be considerable residual emissions towards the second half of the century, in this context forest sector can play an important role in bridging a part of this emission gaps”. He further said, “BITS Pilani’s Goa campus has considerable expertise in this area and we are associated with India’s official national Greenhouse gas inventory programme.”
As we reflect on the success stories shared, let us collectively harness the wisdom of Bhutan’s accomplishments, ensuring that our state reaps the full benefits of sustainable practices and learnings from there. I emphasized the idea of ‘think global but act local,’ meaning we should have big goals but also take practical steps in our own communities. This guides our work as we try to manage and care for forests in the best way possible.”
Setting the broad context for Net Zero, Prof. Amit Garg, IIM Ahmedabad said The Government of India has made commitments to reduce emissions and increase non-fossil electricity generation. It’s like setting goals for a better future. Achieving Net Zero by 2070 is a big challenge, but with smart state-level policies, it’s possible. I’m encouraged by Gujarat’s commitment to becoming Net Zero by 2070, showing that change is happening at the regional level for a greener tomorrow.
The discussions centred around the critical role of agroforestry, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) sector in achieving Net Zero goals on both national and global scale.
- 0
- By Rabindra
8, Nov 2023
BITS Pilani and Airlinq Join Forces to pioneer 5G and IoT Innovation in India
National, 8th November 2023: BITS Pilani, a renowned institution known for its commitment to innovation has announced its collaboration with Airlinq, a US-based global technology company specializing in telecommunications and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, to lead the charge in 5G and IoT innovation. This dynamic partnership has been established as part of the recently launched “5G Use Case Labs” at the Indian Mobile Congress 2023 by Prime Minister Narender Modi and supported by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) India. These 5G labs will serve as the breeding ground for cutting-edge applications spanning various domains, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication.
BITS Pilani and Airlinq are collaborating to drive innovation at the forefront of this ground-breaking initiative, committed to pioneering innovation and propelling India into the future of 5G technology. Airlinq is helping global enterprises and mobile service providers harness the power of 5G networks in different verticals, notably in domains such as connected vehicles, smart cities, and more. Airlinq will work with BITS to design and deliver use cases in areas such as urban traffic safety, leveraging low-latency V2V and V2X communications to enhance the experience for drivers, pedestrians, emergency responders, and others that share our roadways.
BITS Pilani and Airlinq express their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership, and to DoT India for their invaluable support. This partnership represents a significant stride towards realizing the immense potential of 5G technology in India.
Speaking on the collaboration, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani said, “This collaboration with Airlinq is a testament to our commitment to cutting-edge innovation and academic-industry partnerships. Our mission at BITS is to empower our students and faculty to shape the future, and this collaboration allows us to do just that. Together, we aim to not only advance our understanding of these transformative technologies but also to provide invaluable real-world experiences for our students. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and fostering the next generation of tech leaders.”
Speaking on the collaboration Ankit Taparia, VP, Airlinq, also an alumni of BITS Pilani said, “We are committed to unlocking the boundless potential of disruptive and new age technology. We are excited about our partnership with BITS Pilani, an institute known for its research and innovation, and look forward to pioneering advanced 5G technology solutions that will revolutionize industries and redefine the way our increasingly interconnected world collaborates and communicates to improve lives.”
