A one-day multidisciplinary international conference on ‘Science, Sustainability and Society in the Current Scenario: Challenges and Opportunities’ was organised recently by Vidya Vikas Education Society’s Vikas College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai.
After lighting of the lamp and other traditional inaugural functions, principal and chairman of the conference Dr RK Patra introduced the theme of the conference.
Accentuating on the need of science and technology that is oriented towards sustainable development at the local and global level was chief guest Dr Gopal Krishna.
Advocate Sharad Chitnis enumerated the positive as well as negative aspects of the scientific and technological advancements in the present world. He eloquently drove home the point that science-and-technology-enabled solutions to our day-to-day problems should be sustainable and affordable.
Warning delegates about the apocalyptic consequences of the mindless use of technology was Guo Tao Jie, Consul and Chief of Political Section, Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Mumbai. He talked about the positive and corrective steps initiated by the Chinese government in the last five years to tackle environmental problems head on.
Dr Ketaki Bapat traversed a wide range of aspects of sustainability, and urged the delegates to think globally but act locally for sustainable development. She highlighted the various initiatives and projects undertaken by the Central government. The session concluded a vote of thanks proposed by Dr Sonal Upadhyay, the co-convener of the conference.
Technical session
The technical sessions then began with an expert talk, followed by a panel discussion where around 350 eminent scientists and academics from China, Sweden, North Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka and premier institutions of India such as IIT Mumbai, BARC, TISS and CIFE, participated.
During the paper presentation session, around 125 research papers were presented, in addition to 40 poster presentations. The research papers covered subjects such as green biology, green biotechnology, green physics, green chemistry, green IT, and green management.
Who did what
The valedictory session was presided over by Vidya P Raut, CEO of Vidya Vikas Education Society. Dr EV Muley, president, Indian Association of Aquatic Biologists, Hyderabad and Ex-Director, Ministry of Environment and Forest, was the chief guest. Prof Shaji Mathew, the organising secretary of the conference, proposed vote of thanks.
Advocate Sharad Chitnis, Trustee of Vidya Vikas Education Society was the president of the inaugural session while Dr Gopal Krishna, Vice-Chancellor, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai was the chief guest. Prin Dr TA Shiware, Ex-president of Indian Commerce Association, Prin. Dr TP Madhu Nair, Ex-Dean of Faculty of Commerce, University of Mumbai, were the guests of honour.
Dr Ketaki Bapat, Senior Scientist, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Central government, was the keynote speaker. PM Raut, the Chairman and Prof Vinay P Raut, secretary of the education society were also present.