PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) director general Durgesh Pant informed that the World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM 2025) and the 20th Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Conference (USSTC 2025) will begin at the Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) here from November 28–30. He said that that these landmark events, being organised in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region, will bring together global experts, policymakers, scientific institutions, innovators, youth leaders, response agencies and community representatives to strengthen India’s scientific ecosystem and disaster resilience framework.
For the World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM 2025), the chairman of the inaugural session will be chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, whose leadership has emphasised the importance of disaster preparedness, climate resilience and community-driven scientific awareness. The chief guest of the inaugural Ceremony will be Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh. The governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh will be the chief guest at the valedictory session.
Pant said that a key highlight of USSTC 2025 is the introduction of several prestigious awards aimed at promoting scientific excellence and community leadership. These include the Uttarakhand Vigyan Shiksha Prasar Samman Puruskar, recognising outstanding contributions to science communication and scientific outreach; the Bhagirath Puruskar, honouring exemplary work in disaster management, climate action, and community resilience; and the Uttarakhand Young Women Scientist Award, celebrating the achievements of emerging women researchers who are contributing significantly to scientific innovation and sustainable development. These awards represent UCOST’s commitment to nurturing scientific talent, promoting gender equity, and strengthening grassroots scientific engagement across the state.
Another major new initiative is Uttarakhand’s First State-Level Science and Technology Premier League 2025, designed to take scientific awareness, climate literacy, innovation, and disaster preparedness to every village of Uttarakhand. Teams from all 13 districts will compete in scientific quizzes, innovation displays, disaster-response challenges, and climate-problem–solving tasks. Inspired by the vision of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, this Premier League seeks to prepare the next generation of “Science Ambassadors” and “Climate Resilience Leaders.”
