An International Conference on the Great Himalayas will take place from January 12-15 at Kathmandu University, a press release said.

The Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Science,
Kathmandu University, as part of its mission for the decade 2003 – 2013, is organizing an International Conference on the Great Himalayas with the themes Climate, Health, Ecology, Management and Conservation in collaboration with the Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society (AEHMS), Canada and Himalayan Resources Institute, Nepal.

The Department aims to consolidate its academic programs to undertake research activities related to environment, energy, medicinal plants and IT related areas as part of its mission.

The great Himalaya is considered a unique ecosystem for being young, fragile and dynamic, stretching over a distance of about 2500 km from west to east. The Himalayan range is still in the process of formation and dates back to the Miocene era about 20 million years ago, as a result of collision between Indian subcontinent in the south and Eurasian plate in the north.

Scientists working in the region believe that despite its global
importance, not much scientific work has been carried out in the Great Himalayan region since research in its harsh climatic condition demands vast resources. Not much literature is available from this region and there is a lack of co-ordination and networking among scientists.

The preparations for this conference were initiated in 1999 in Nainital,
India during the AEHMS sponsored Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems symposium. To follow up the initial proposal, meetings were held in New Delhi and Patna in 2001 and 2002 respectively between the co-chairs Dr. Subodh Sharma from Kathmandu University and Dr. M. Munawar from Canada, during which period the plans of this conference were finalized and an action plan was developed.

There will be 46 presentations in oral and 51 posters at this conference. The program presents an interesting integration of timely topics and issues which will provide most current status of the Himalayan ecosystem health.

Prof. P. R. Adhikary, the chairman of the local arrangement committee from Kathmandu University is hopeful that this conference will help to bridge the gap to overcome the lack of coordination among the researchers in the region and will offer young scientists an excellent opportunity to exchange their ideas with the experienced scientists representing twenty different countries.
nepalnews.com dr Jan 9