Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo takes charge as Vice Chancellor of Fakir Mohan University

Balasore: Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director of the Cluster Innovation Centre and Professor of Botany, University of Delhi assumed charge as the Vice Chancellor of Fakir Mohan University today.

In his address to both teaching and non teaching staff and research scholars of Fakir Mohan University, Sahoo urged them to join hands and work together for betterment of University. He said see the glass as half full, so that the positive contribution from each section of the University can be regulated and appreciated.

He urged everybody to work together to make Fakir Mohan University a leading University not only in Odisha but also in the entire country. He highlighted about the immediate priority as well as the short-term and long-term vision of University. He said he is confident the University can reach a new height.

Sahoo was the First Indian student to visit Antarctica in 1987 during the 7tn Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica where he hoisted the Indian Flag and with other members laid the foundation for the India’s permanent station “Maitri” in Antarctica which was a landmark in the history of Indian Antarctic Science. By the time he was 27, he travelled all the seven continents and five oceans in a record time of just 18 months. Subsequently, he made two trips to Arctic.

He stepped out of his laboratory into the real world and trained villagers in various coastal states of India for seaweeds cultivation and utilization thus sowing the seeds of a “Blue Revolution”. His inspiring story “Teach a Man to Fish” has been published in the best-selling book “I have a Dream”, which has been translated into several Indian languages.

Sahoo was instrumental in conceptualizing and organizing India’s First Cherry Blossom Festival since 2016, which has been drawing lakhs of people from different parts of the world. He established a state-of-the-art Orchidarium at Shillong which is singular of its kind in the country attracting a large number of visitors. He was part of the scientific delegation and gave a presentation before the Prime Minister of India.

He delivered talks on Sustainable Development of North East in New Delhi a few years back. Also, he delivered a TEDx Talk at IIM Shillong and a talk on Global Warming in Korean Parliament. He has published several research papers, 13 books, received several Awards and elected as Fellow of Science Academics in India.

He was conferred D.Sc (Honoris Causa) by Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of Application of Science and Technology by KIIT University, Bhubaneswar.

A new ginger species and an orchid variety have been named after Professor Sahoo.