The School of Applied and Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, organized a two-day National Seminar on “Climate Change and Balancing Infrastructure Development with Ecological Integrity in Uttarakhand” on 11–12 September 2026. The seminar was supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, New Delhi, in collaboration with HESCO, and brought together eminent scientists, academicians, environmentalists, policymakers, and students to deliberate on climate change, ecological conservation, sustainable infrastructure, and climate-resilient strategies for Uttarakhand.
The seminar was inaugurated in the presence of Hon’ble President Shri Jitendra Joshi; Vice President Ms. Ankita Joshi; Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dharam Buddhi; Dr. Praveen Kumar, Director, Mission Mausam, Ministry of Earth Sciences, as Chief Guest; Padma Bhushan Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi, Founder, HESCO; and distinguished experts including Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Director, CSIR-IHBT, Dr. C. S. Tomar, Director, IMD Dehradun, Dr. Y. R. S. Rao, Director, NIH Roorkee, Dr. R. P. Singh, Director, IIRS Dehradun, Dr. B. P. Bhatt, Vice Chancellor, VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, and Prof. Dr. Ajay Singh, Dean–Research & Director, SALS.
Dr. Praveen Kumar highlighted weather-ready initiatives, hyperlocal forecasting, and interdisciplinary approaches to climate change. Dr. Anil Joshi emphasized the ecological significance of the Himalayas and the need for sustainable development, while Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav highlighted the importance of traditional and indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation.
An expert panel enriched the discussions, followed by technical and poster presentations. Ms. Stuti Mishra, Dr. Abhishek Bhatt, and Ms. Moksha Agrawal won the oral presentation category, while Mr. Mritunjay Kumar, Mr. Rohit Roy, Ms. Roshni Gariya, and Mr. Sameer won the poster presentation category.
The seminar brought together over 1,000 participants, fostering interdisciplinary exchange on building a sustainable and climate-resilient Uttarakhand.
