9th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment Inaugurated at KIIT
By A.K. Sahoo
Bhubaneswar, Oct 21; The 9th International Congress & Exhibition on Arsenic in the Environment was inaugurated today at KIIT-DU, bringing together over 100 international delegates and 300 participants, including scientists from 50 countries.
Chief guest Prof. John Cherry, Professor Emeritus of Hydrogeology at the University of Waterloo, Canada, emphasized the complexities of groundwater management, describing the arsenic crisis as a consequence of humanity’s failures. He praised KIIT University as an “amazing creation” and a global role model under Prof. Achyuta Samanta’s leadership.
Prof. Abhijit Mukherjee, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee, stressed the pivotal role of water in achieving the United Nations’ ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, with an aim to reach key targets by 2030.
Organizing Chair Prof. Prosun Bhattacharya of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, highlighted the global importance of the congress, noting active participation from countries like Sweden, Taiwan, and the Netherlands.
The conference is particularly timely, said ‘KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saranjit Singh, as India faces pressing water contamination and depletion issues. Former Central Ground Water Board member Prof. Dipankar Saha added that India is the world’s largest groundwater extractor, warning of serious environmental concerns.
During the inaugural ceremony, Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT and KISS, received ‘Honorary Lifetime Membership’ from the International Society of Groundwater for Sustainable Development for his contributions to education and sustainability. KIIT was also awarded the Green Campus Award 2024 for its eco-friendly initiatives.
Prof. Samanta spoke on the increasing burden of water contamination on future generations, and KIIT Registrar Prof. J.R. Mohanty announced the inauguration of the Centre for Water Research and Climate Change, reinforcing KIIT’s commitment to addressing water scarcity and climate change through academic research and collaboration.
