Kohima, April 28 (MExN): Under the Nagaland state RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) - Research & Innovation project, an Atmospheric Science Research Laboratory was jointly inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary for Higher & Technical Education, Deo Nukhu and Minister of Statistics and Program 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 Center 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) Govt. 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 laboratory consists 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.
The Principal, Rampurhat College also the 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 northeastern and eastern part of the country.
In his address, Deo Nukhu emphasized 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.
The Minister of Statistics and Program Implementation, West Bengal, Aashis Banerjee meanwhile assured all the support to make the collaborative research project a successful mission. Prof. Animesh Maitra, Chairman Research Advisory Committee, RUSA (Research & Innovation) Project, Nagaland complimented the Department of Higher Education, Government of Nagaland for supporting the collaborative project of this magnitude under the RUSA programme.
Dr. Arindam Sinha, Associate Prof. Rampurhat College proposed the vote of thanks. Prof. Animesh Maitra, Calcutta University, Kolkata, Prof. Srimanta Pal, Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata, Dr. I. Anungla Aier, Principal Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, Menuokholie Kire, State Project Director RUSA, Nagaland and Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Principal Investigator of State RUSA (Research & Innovation) Project also attended the programme.
