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CEE Himalaya celebrates National Science Day

06.03.2017

In celebration of National Science Day on 28 February 2017, the Himalayan Initiative of the Centre for Environment Education (CEE Himalaya), with support from Give2Asia, the JSW Foundation, RCE Srinagar, the Mountain Partnership and the Indian Himalaya Climate Adaptation Programme, held several events across the Indian Himalayan Region based on the theme ‘Science for Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Educating Nomads’. With the support of these organizations as well as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, CEE Himalaya has been implementing projects and programmes towards achieving climate-smart, disaster-resilient and sustainable communities in the Indian Himalayan Region.

Celebrations in the Central Himalaya

Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand: Over 150 students and 15 teachers participated in an event at Government Inter College (GIC) Bhankholi in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand. As Uttarkashi is one of the most disaster-prone districts of Uttarakhand, CEE Himalaya focused on the role of science and technology in disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation, as well as how developing early warning systems, disaster preparedness and disaster management through the application of information technologies can minimize the impacts of disasters. Participants were informed of ways to use the internet and mobile phones for disaster mitigation communication, and how they can obtain an array of information related to hazards from different websites. As many international and national organizations and agencies use the Internet to disseminate weather observations and forecasts, students and teachers can easily access this information and share it with the communities. They were also told how mobile phones can serve as lifelines before, during and after emergencies.

Celebrations in the Western Himalaya

Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir: The CEE Himalaya team celebrated at Government High School in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. Around 45 students and 11 teachers participated in the event. The school is located in a remote area that is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, falling in seismic zones four and five. Due to its remoteness, no previous awareness-raising activities had ever been organized in Baramulla by a civil society organization; CEE Himalaya was the first to conduct such activities with the students and teachers. The team explained the basic terminologies related to disaster management (i.e. disasters, hazards, vulnerabilities and risk), citing examples from the Kashmir Earthquake of 2005 and the Jammu and Kashmir Deluge of 2014. Participants were also informed of the actions to be taken before, during and after disasters such as earthquakes, fires, landslides and floods. Later, students participated in drawing competition where they expressed their experiences of the 2005 earthquake. Some student highlighted the post-earthquake scenario while others described the beauty of their region.

Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir: Another event marking National Science Day was organized at Government Middle School in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, with the participation of 35 students. Because Rajouri falls in seismic zone four, it is necessary for schools students, their families and the community to learn about climate change and disaster mitigation. For this reason, CEE Himalaya organized lectures, debates and games to teach the students and teachers about disasters, the “Do’s and Don’t’s” during disasters, school safety, emergency services and more. Furthermore, students partook in mini-science experiments to learn more about the basic concepts of science to understand climate change, the environment and disasters more closely. The principal of Government Middle School expressed immense gratitude towards CEE Himalaya for conducting the activities for students and invited the organization to conduct more such programmes in the area.

News and photos by CEE Himalaya