The three-day event will feature nine technical sessions, over 70 research presentations and a special programme for children and youth
OdishaPlus Bureau
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela will host the 17th Odisha Environment Congress (OEC) from November 3 to 5, bringing together more than 300 delegates to discuss environmental challenges and the role of technology in addressing them.
The three-day conference will be held on the theme ‘Environment and Technology’ and is expected to bring together scientists, researchers, academicians, policymakers, administrators, environmentalists, social activists and students.
Gokul Chandra Pati, former Chief Secretary of Odisha, will inaugurate the Congress on, with NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao presiding over the inaugural session. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Dr. Mrinal Kanti Biswas, Regional Director of the Central Pollution Control Board, Kolkata, and Prof. Aditya Patra of IIT Kharagpur.
Other participants in the inaugural session will include Prof. Padmaja Mishra, former Vice-Chancellor of Rama Devi Women’s University; Dr. Aravinda Behera, former senior administrator and Chairman of the Odisha Environment Congress; and Dr. Babu Ambat, Director of the Centre for Environment and Development, Thiruvananthapuram. Former Odisha Chief Secretary P. K. Jena will attend the valedictory session as the chief guest.
The Congress will have nine technical sessions, with more than 70 scientists, researchers and experts presenting research papers and posters on different environmental issues. A volume containing 59 research articles will also be released on the opening day.
A special session titled ‘Science and Society’ will examine ways to connect scientific research with public concerns, traditional knowledge and community experiences. Jagadananda, former State Information Commissioner of Odisha, will address and moderate the session. The discussions will particularly consider the perspectives of communities affected by environmental changes and the degradation of natural resources.
The conference will also include poster presentations by researchers and students, with awards for the best entries. An environmental sustainability exhibition will bring together government agencies, industries and non-governmental organisations to display their work, products and initiatives related to environmental protection and sustainable development.
A Children’s and Youth Environment Congress will be held on November 4, with eminent writer Das Benhur attending as the chief guest. The programme will include debates, public speaking, essay writing, painting and other environment-related activities for school and college students.
Two initiatives, ‘Gen Z Jury’ and ‘GreenThon’, will also be organised. Under the Gen Z Jury initiative, students will examine environmental conditions and challenges in Rourkela and present their assessments. GreenThon will provide a platform for students to develop practical solutions to environmental problems.
The three best GreenThon teams will each receive a cash award of Rs 50,000 to support the implementation of their proposed solutions.
An Environment Parliament will also be organised, allowing young participants to discuss environmental concerns and suggest possible interventions. Organisers have invited schools and colleges to encourage students to take part.
The Congress will confer four awards recognising contributions to environmental protection, research, corporate responsibility and youth engagement. These are the Prof. Radhamohan Green Ambassador Award, Padma Shri Ajay Parida Young Scientist Award, S. B. Mishra Green Corporate Award and Abasara Beura Young Environmentalist Award.
The Odisha Environment Congress has been organising annual discussions on environmental issues for the past 16 years, bringing together stakeholders from research, government, industry and civil society.
The 17th edition will focus on the relationship between technological development and environmental protection, including the need to balance technological advancement with ecological conservation and greater community participation.