Nukhu inaugurates atmospheric science research laboratory

Dimapur, April 30 (EMN): Under Nagaland state RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) – Research & Innovation project, an Atmospheric Science Research Laboratory was jointly inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary of Higher and Technical Education, Deo Nukhu, and the minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, West Bengal, Aashis Banerjee, on April 19 at Rampurhat College, West Bengal.

Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, is the lead institute for the project, housing a dedicated Atmospheric Science Research Centre to promote interdisciplinary research amongst the faculty members of various colleges in the State. The State project is funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, under the National Higher Education Mission popularly known as RUSA. The research laboratory at Rampurhat College is a part of the network of research stations over the North Eastern and Eastern part of India under the project.

The newly inaugurated laboratory consisted of a Disdrometer to measure the rain drop size distribution, an automatic recording fast response rain gauge to measure the rainfall accumulation and rain intensity; an EFM-350 to measure the electric field of the prevailing convective clouds; and LD-350 to monitor the lightning occurrence, both cloud to ground and intra cloud lightning.

Principal of Rampurhat College delivered the welcome address and felicitated the dignitaries and guests present in the programme.

Principal Investigator of the project outlined the rationale behind the setting up a research laboratory at Rampurhat College by citing a strong regional variability in the properties of convective cloud systems over the North eastern and Eastern part of the country. He also pointed out that a multi-institution integrated study over the region will help to understand the complex convective cloud processes in a comprehensive way.

In his address, Parliamentary Secretary emphasised on the need for a front ranking research at the regional level in the study of severe weather conditions and its changing patterns in the context of prevailing global warming scenario. He also thanked the governing body of the College for providing the infrastructural support to establish the research laboratory.

The minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, West Bengal, Aashis Banerjee assured all the support to
make the collaborative research project a successful mission.

Prof. Animesh Maitra, chairman Research Advisory Committee, Research & Innovation (RUSA) Project, Nagaland, appreciated the innovative idea of research collaboration between the two colleges from two different states. He also complimented the department of Higher Education, Government of Nagaland, for supporting the collaborative project of this magnitude under the RUSA programme.