Partner universities to research in cryosphere and climate change

Jammu, March 15 (Scoop News) The Institute of Himalayan Glaciology, University of Jammu signed MoU with Jawaharlal Nehru University, Sikkim University and University of Kashmir on February 13, 2012 to set up an Inter-University Consortium on Cryosphere and Climate Change (IUCCCC). Prof. S.K.Sopory, Vice-Chancellor Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof. Mahendra P Lama, Vice-Chancellor Sikkim University, Prof. Talat Ahmed, Vice- Chancellor University of Kashmir, and Prof. R.K. Ganjoo, Director, Institute of Himalayan Glaciology, University of Jammu representing the Vice-Chancellor,University of Jammu placed their signatures on the instrument of agreement.

Prof. R.K.Ganjoo,Director, IHG in a statement said that  the mandate of the consortium is to pursue and foster inter-disciplinary research programmes in applied environmental sciences with a focus on societal needs. The four partner universities of the consortium shall develop joint research programmes pertaining to research and training in cryosphere and climate change. The IUCCCC shall serve as a platform to approach various national and international funding agencies and make efforts to acquire funds for the research programmes and strengthening of the already existing infrastructure at these partner universities. It shall be the focus of the IUCCCC to attain the ‘centre of excellence’ in the field of cryosphere and climate change studies for the partner universities who are already engaged in research in this field for past over two decades.

He said that the IUCCCC shall facilitate the exchange of expertise and research scholars engaged in the field of cryosphere and climate change among the partner universities. The consortium shall initially be for a period of five years and the period shall be extended on mutual agreement among the partners. It is the pride privilege of the Institute of Himalayan Glaciology, University of Jammu to be a part of the consortium and share state-of-art laboratories and research facilities with partner universities. The Institute of Himalayan Glaciology (IHG), University of Jammu has been engaged in the research on cryosphere and climate change for past over two decades.

The IHG had studied half a dozen glaciers situated in Kinnuar District, Himachal Pradesh

and Zanskar and Nubra valleys of Ladakh (J & K state) in past two decades with

emphasis on the impact of climate change on the health of glaciers. The research work of

the IHG has been published in the scientific journals of national and international

repute,he said.

Prof. R.K.Ganjoo said that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India had acknowledged the research work on the glaciers of Ladakh in their document titled“MoEF Discussion paper on Himalayan Glaciers: A state-of-art review of glacial studies, glacial retreat and climate change”.

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