BVIEER, SCERT Hold Geospatial workshop to promote sustainability in schools
SRINAGAR: A three-day workshop on “Sustainability in Schools—A geospatial Approach” organized jointly by the Pune-based Bharati Vidyapeeth deemed University, Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER) and the State Leadership Academy (SLA) of J&K State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) concluded at the auditorium of the S.P Higher Secondary School Srinagar on Saturday.
Engagement Global, a German non-profit limited organization that provides organizational support to BVIEER, is a part of the event.
The workshop is a precursor to the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC), which will take place in Hyderabad on 10-14 October, 2022, under the theme “Towards Geo-enabling the Global Village,” according to the organizers.
BVIEER also acts as a nodal agency in capacity building for geospatial technologies for the Department of Science and Technology (DST), government of India.
Vice-principal BVIEER, Prof Shamita Kumar said although more than 190 countries participate in the UNWGIC, which is essentially a government initiative, the Indian government wishes to highlight projects carried out by youth, civic society, and academic institutions that are in line with the SDGs.
According to Samruddhi Patwardhan, Program Officer, BVIEER, “this is a first in India initiative where spatial technology, which was being used by scientists at ISRO and other government authorities for various research activities, would be made available to students across the country to map initiatives around their school premises and communalities.”
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Ata-ul-Munim Tak, Personnel Officer, Directorate of School Education (DSEK), asserted that “sustainability, sustainable development, and spatial planning were intrinsically linked”.
According to Dr. Tak, “Spatial Integration” refers to the integration of multiple planning-relevant entities such as land uses, planning institutions, and stakeholders. It “expresses the potential for and degree of contact within and between sectors and may show the readiness to cooperate.”
