Sultanpur Dialogues: Second round table discussion on the Importance of Polar Science in International Geopolitics, Global Climate, and Knowledge Development.
Sanrachna Foundation in collaboration with SGT University organized a round table discussion on the importance of Polar Science in International Geo-Politics, Global Climate, and Knowledge Development under its series of Sultanpur Dialogues. Shri. Amogh Dev Rai, Executive Director of the Sanrachna Foundation, the think tank of SGT University, moderated the discussion.
Since the North and South poles play an essential role in the global climate system and the frozen Arctic Ocean, apart from its importance for research, is also significant in international geopolitics. The session was held on “The Importance of Polar Science in international geopolitics, global climate and knowledge development”. The distinguished guests for the event were Dr. M Ravichandran (chief guest for the event), Scientist and Secretary to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Dr. Ketaki Bapat Adviser/Scientist “G” at Office of the Principal Adviser to Government of India, Shri. Sopan Joshi Journalist/Author, Dr. Shibesh Kumar Jas Pacif Senior Assistant Professor in the CCSP SGT University by Dean School of Science. Dr. M. Ravichandran expressed his views on the melting of ice in the Arctic region which will impact the global shipping lanes. Climate change in the Himalayas will affect Asia adversely. He quoted, “Science is the prime driver for India to have its presence in Polar regions”.
Dr. Ketaki Bapat said Incubation and start-up systems are being created to improve research and they involve young students. Nine mission programs are being run including a deep sea mission, national biodiversity, and human well-being mission. She also highlights that both the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the GOI and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are working on climate change and human health. Different institutions of Govt. are creating visionary programs to counter problems of the future. Shri. Sopan Joshi initiated his talk by expressing his views on polar water, which is much more nutrient than tropical waters. He further added that our lives are very much connected to Antarctica.
We are dependent on monsoons; we will always be. The direction we are taking the earth by burning fossil fuels will take the planet back to 50 million years in climate. Dr. Shibesh Kumar Jas Pacif Senior Assistant Professor at the CCSP SGT University highlights the importance of scientific thinking in all of us. We all should reason. We should use various ways and methods of communication in teaching our young students to get more interested in Science. CCSP is a newly established autonomous Centre of excellence at SGT University, Gurugram, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, India. The Centre is fully dedicated to hard-core research in cosmology and popularizing science at the grassroots level in society.