Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), GoI, has launched a new programme “Global Initiative for Academic Networks” (GIAN) with aim at taping the talent pool of scientist and entrepreneur internationally and to encourage their engagement with the institutes of higher education in India.

In this initiative, the Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysuru, offered a training course on ‘Solid Waste Management – Feasibility of Technology Transfer’ from Feb. 10 to 20.

The international speaker for this course was Dr. Sunil Herat, Faculty in Environmental Engineering (Waste Management), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Queensland, Australia.

The topics covered in Module-A exposed participants to the basics of solid waste management, policy and strategy approaches, initiatives in waste recovery & recycle, scientifically engineered disposal sites followed by few applied case studies and designs.

Topics in Module-B included hazardous waste management, emerging hazardous waste streams and E-waste management followed by a few applied case studies.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, Executive Secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, who gave a presentation on solid waste management in Mysuru city, with explanation on how the concept of ‘4R’ to the existing ‘3R’ concept, helped the City Corporation in solid waste management, as a result of which Mysuru City secured ‘Cleanest City in India’ tag for two consecutive years.

Dr. B.G. Sangameshwara, VC and Dr. K.S. Lokesh, Registrar, Dr. T.N. Naghabhushan, Principal, Dr. B. Manoj Kumar, Professor and Course Coordinator and Dr. M. Mahadevaswamy, Professor, from JSS Science and Technology University, addressed the gathering.

In this programme, GIAN Local Coordinator Dr. Srinath, faculties from different institutes, research scholars, industrial personnel who were involved in solid waste management, environmental officers of Municipalities and the students from different parts of the country benefited.

‘Energy, Sustainability and Life Cycle Risk Analysis’

Another GIAN course on ‘Energy, Sustainability and Life Cycle Risk Analysis’ was inaugurated at SJCE recently under the aegis of Department of Electronics & Communication. Main coordinator of the course Dr. M.N. Shanmukha Swamy introduced the audience to the GIAN course and about the resource person.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. B.G. Sangameshwara spoke about the policy initiatives taken by JSS Mahavidyapeetha in the area of renewable energy and sustainability and requested the resource person Dr. Arun Kumar from University of San Diego, California, US, to also discuss about the economic aspects of renewable energy production and distribution.

Responding to the VC’s concerns, Arun Kumar elaborated on the need for sustainable and renewable energy and various efforts being done in India and across world on this issue. As an example, he highlighted that Karnataka is a leader in biofuels and KSRTC has adopted to bio fuel in a big way compared to other States in India. As an alumni of SJCE, he also recalled his warm relation with the institution and its faculty members.

Dr. M.G. Veena of E&C Department proposed a vote of thanks.