MoU inked to set up Odisha’s first Atmospheric Science Centre on FM University campus

Balasore: Fakir Mohan University (FMU) in Balasore town of this district will soon have Odisha’s first Atmospheric Science Centre on its campus. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was inked between the varsity authorities and India Meteorological Department (IMD) in this regard, yesterday.

In addition, the University is to introduce courses on Climate Change and Disaster Management.

An official source said that the varsity Vice-Chancellor Professor Santosh Kumar Tripathy and the IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra signed the Memorandum. A programme was organised by FMU for the purpose, which was chaired by its Vice-Chancellor Professor Tripathy.

Mohapatra said in his address to delegates present on the occasion that the Centre will help develop various technologies relating to atmospheric science. It will provide ample opportunities for research and development on weather and climate change. Exchange of acquired knowledge, new findings and research data will take place between researchers, scholars and students by organising seminars and workshops.

One Research Centre each will also be set up in Balasore and Sambalpur districts to provide timely information about lightning strikes occurring every year in the State. Information provided by the Centre will help minimise the losses caused due to lightning strikes, the IMD Director General stated.

FMU PG Council chairperson Professor Munesh Chandra Adhikari and its Registrar Kukumina Das, IMD-Bhubaneswar Regional Centre chief HR Biswas including a number of senior scientists from Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur of the district were present on the occasion.