my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Mar: A ‘National Conference on Advancing Sustainable Innovation & Community Impact’ was successfully held here, today, by SPECS, Speaking Cube, and Avlokan at a hotel venue. The conference brought together distinguished academicians, researchers, industry experts, principals, and thought leaders to deliberate on the role of innovation in fostering sustainable development and community transformation.
The Chief Guest, Scientist ‘G’ from Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dr CK Varshney, delivered a keynote lecture on the Use of Chemistry in Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). He elaborated on the role of chemistry in enhancing the value, preservation, and sustainable utilisation of forest resources. He highlighted how scientific approaches to NTFPs can strengthen rural livelihoods, promote eco-friendly industries, and ensure biodiversity conservation.
The conference commenced with a welcome address by Dr Dipika Chamoli Shahi, who greeted all participants and dignitaries. In her address, she spoke elaborately on sustainable development, innovation, and community impact, highlighting the crucial role of the human mind in shaping a sustainable future. She emphasised that innovation begins with the mindset—stating that a conscious, creative, and socially responsible mind is the driving force behind meaningful and lasting change. She further elaborated that sustainable development is not only about technological advancement, but also about cultivating awareness, ethical thinking, and a sense of responsibility towards society and the environment. She encouraged participants to adopt a solution-oriented and multidisciplinary approach, where ideas are aligned with community needs and environmental balance.
The conference featured a lead lecture by Dr Anil Jaggi, who spoke on Innovation and Community Impact, emphasising the integration of sustainable practices with technological advancements to create meaningful societal change.
A significant highlight of the event was the unveiling of the conference proceedings. Some of eminent researchers given the ‘Excellence in Research Award’ were: Prof Vijay Kumar, Principal, Dhanuari PG College, Haridwar; Dr Vinod Bhatt, Chairman & Founder, Ingenious Research and Development Foundation; Er Sudhir Jugran, Assistant Manager, IQAC, Uttaranchal University, Premnagar, Dehradun; Prof (Dr) Priyanka Kaushik, Deputy Director, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur; Dr Surmadhur Pant, Dean, Academic Affairs, Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun; Dr Parul Singhal, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Maya Devi University; Dr Anjali Khare Sonwani, Head, Academic Services / COO, BFIT Group of Institutions, Dehradun; Ajay Kumar Verma, Associate Dean, Centre of Business Incubation and Innovation, Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun; Rahul Mahala, Law College, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun; Vinod Kumar, Registrar, HRIT University, Ghaziabad, UP; Dr Rachna Rathore, Independent Researcher, Department of Mathematics, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh; Dr Narotam Sharma, Managing Director & Head, CRIS – Centre for Research & Innovative Scientific Studies, DNA Labs, Dehradun; Prof (Dr) Saurabh Pratap Singh Rathore, School of Management & Commerce, Vikrant University, Gwalior; Dr Pratap Chandra Padhi, Director & Head, CIPET, CSTS, Dehradun; Dr Lokesh Gambhir, Registrar & Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun; Dr PS Chauhan, Assistant Professor, VSKC Govt. PG College, Dakpathar, Dehradun; and Pankaj Phulara, Assistant Technical Officer, CIPET, CSTS, Dehradun.
The conference also featured an impactful session by Dr GK Dhingra, Dean, Research, Sridev Suman University, who emphasised that a multidisciplinary approach to research is essential for sustainability. He defined sustainable innovation as a balance of economic growth, environmental responsibility, and social inclusiveness, and highlighted the importance of research that delivers measurable community impact.
In his remarks, Dr Brij Mohan Sharma highlighted the ethical dimension of innovation, stating that innovation aligned with nature and environmental harmony naturally becomes more community-oriented and beneficial for society and environment.
The conference witnessed participation from academicians and experts including Hari Raj Singh, Balendu Joshi, RK Mukarji, along with several principals, lecturers, and professors from various institutions.
About The Author
