Srinagar, May 13: The third International Conference on innovative research in Sciences, Technology, Agriculture, Environment, Business Management and Humanities (STAEBM-2023) began at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Saturday.

The conference is being jointly organized by the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering NIT Srinagar in association with Krishi Sanskriti New Delhi.

The inaugural section of conference was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Sudhakar Yedla, who was Chief Guest, while as Institute's Registrar Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari was Guest of Honor on the occasion.

 HOD Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Dr. Atikur Rahman, President Krishi Sanskriti Dr. G.C. Mishra, Dr. Y. Mehta (Chairman) and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

In his key address, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Yedla said NIT Srinagar is playing a vital role in bridging the technological gap in society. He congratulated the MME department and Krishi Sanskriti New Delhi for organizing this international conference on a relevant theme.

"Such conferences are the need of the hour aimed to provide a vibrant platform for young people. Conferences are the most important things in an academic campus and as a young fellow never missed a chance to attend any conference.  They have multiple dimensions and also help in building networking," he said.

Prof. Yedla also highlighted the importance of innovations and out of box thinking. There is great potential among students of NIT Srinagara and we will take it forward to the next level, he said.

Institute's Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said innovations in agriculture, science, and technology are vital for addressing global food security, promoting sustainable practices, adapting to climate change, and improving efficiency.

He said in the past people in Kashmir used to dry vegetables, or store them underground to overcome shortage of vegetables during harsh winters as the region was mostly cut off from the rest of the country.

Prof. Bukhari said these innovations empower farmers, researchers, and policymakers to overcome challenges and build a more resilient and productive agricultural sector.

"Under the able-guidance of Prof. Yedla NIT Srinagar will strive for success and reach new heights. It is important to focus on continuous improvement and adaptability to evolving educational landscapes," he said.

President Krishi Sanskriti, Dr. G.C. Mishra said there is a need to create a self sustainable society. Most people think NGO's take funds from the government and use it for self use.

"Krishi Sanskriti is an NGO and from 2012 onward it has been participating and working in the field of academics. So far, we have conducted 411 international, 5 national conferences and over 1 lakh research papers have been published by them." he said.

In his welcome address, MME Department, Dr. Atikur Rahman said the Department is taking a leading role in organizing scientific summits. We promise to continue it for the benefit of young faculty, research scholars and students.

Dr. Rahman said the objective of this conference was to bring together academia, researchers and students in order to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of specialized and interdisciplinary fields.

"During the conference, the delegates will be provided the opportunity to network, share ideas and also present their research work. Discussions on the latest innovations, trends and practical concerns and challenges faced in these fields are also encouraged," he said.

Dr. Rahman said 114 participants have registered for the conference from various parts of the country. The conference has 7 sessions and will be held in both online and offline modes, he said.

A formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Shafaqat Ashraf Lone. She expressed her gratitude to the Director, Registrar, resource persons, experts, and all participants, for making the inaugural session successful.

Meanwhile, Dr. Srinibash Mishra, Dr. Irfan S Wani and Dr. Nitika Kundan are the organizing secretaries of the two day conference. While Dr. Aravi Muzaffer, Dr. Pravan Katiyar, Dr. Anshul Gupta, Dr. Prakash Ranaware are the co-conveners of the mega event.(KNS)