Union Minister for Science and Technology inaugurates training centre at INCOIS

“Science and research facilities should help solve social problems and improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens,” said Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan after inaugurating the Atal Complex for International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean) on the INCOIS campus here on Saturday.

For more efficiency

The ITCOocean is a ‘category-2 centre’ under UNESCO for developing capacity building and training activities in operational oceanography. The facility is to help nations around the Indian Ocean in improving scientific knowledge, technology and information systems.

With hosting facilities for students and faculty, the centre is expected to train a pool of ocean scientists, technocrats and managers to cater to the growing needs of oceanographic services and help manage oceans in a better way.

Speaking to the assembled scientists after the inaugural, Dr. Vardhan said India is playing a key role in addressing global concerns about environment.

“India is playing a vital role in the International Solar Alliance. India will achieve all the global targets it has agreed to relating to lowering of emissions and generating clean energy,” the Minister said.

Improved ranking

He said India’s rankings in scientific research have considerably improved over the past couple of years. “We have developed high computing facilities that can process data at 10 petaflops. Only three other countries America, England and Japan have somewhat faster computing power,” said Dr Vardhan. “We have developed the best early tsunami warning centre in the world. It is helping not only us but the Indian Ocean rim countries too,” he added.

In his presidential address, Madhavan Rajeevan, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, lauded efforts of young scientists at INCOIS for generating valuable information, and commended the ocean modelling team. “As global warming and pollution in oceans become key issues, such services are an important requirement,” said Mr. Rajeevan.