Every year, India plans its economy and livelihoods around weather patterns it still cannot fully predict. From unpredictable monsoons and heatwaves to sudden cloudbursts, extreme weather directly impacts public health, food prices, energy grids, and national security.
Writing in The Daily Pioneer, Dr. M. Rajeevan, Vice-Chancellor of Atria University and former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, highlights why Indian universities must transform how climate science is taught and researched:
Beyond Meteorology: Climate research requires a cross-disciplinary approach blending AI, data science, economics, engineering, and policy.
Real - world Learning: Students must build real solutions- from heat-resilient infrastructure and AI-based flood alerts to economic risk modeling.
Institutional Synergies: Strong partnerships between universities and national bodies like IMD, IITM, and ISRO are essential to convert scientific research into public action.
"Universities should build sustained research capacity and collaborate with national institutions to translate scientific knowledge into societal resilience. Doing so goes beyond academic responsibility, it is an investment in India's development, security, and future."
Read the full article here:https://dailypioneer.com/avenues/why-india-needs-to-make-climate-research-a-higher-education-priority
