Minutes of the 1st meeting of Research and Development Cell (RDC) held virtually
on
8th July 2022
First meeting of the newly constituted Research and Development Cell (RDC) of the HNB
Garhwal University was organized online on July 8, 2022. All the committee members
including renowned experts and mentors participated in this meeting. The meeting was
chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the HNB Garhwal University Prof. Annpurna Nautiyal.
Prof. M.C. Nautiyal, the convenor of the RDC welcomed all the experts, mentors and
committee members. He elaborated the constitution and structure and functions of RDC
in detail. After this the experts and mentors shared their ideas about the roadmap and
development of RDC in future.
Dr. J.C. Kuniyal (Scientist - G, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment &
Development, Kosi Katarmal, Almora) spoke about the vision and plan of Government of
India for Indian Himalayan states by 2030. He provided a detailed information and
suggestions on Hill agriculture, tourism, clean energy and solid waste management. He
highlighted the opportunity and challenges in agriculture at hilly regions, and suggested
more research on organic farming in hilly areas and how tourism can become a tool for
economic development by managing the challenges of transport, infrastructure, and solid
waste management. He also emphasized on the strategic assessment and research of
hydropower projects, particularly small and large hydropower projects and the carrying
capacity of a river as well as the black carbon, aerosols and solid waste and their impact
on humans and biodiversity.
Prof. Alok Saklani (an alumnus (cum former Dean- Faculty of Commerce & Management
of HNB Garhwal University and currently Professor Emeritus at Swami Rama Himalayan
University, Jolly Grant) spoke about the diversity of universities and colleges in India. He
emphasized on the need to ensure good quality research which should reflect in
recognized publications and patent award, as well as, commercialization of same. He
appreciated the formation of the various committees and suggested that, in order to
develop a research ecosystem in Indian universities, an environment for research should
be duly supported by careful planning & set up of processes and infrastructure,
subsequent to the formation of the same (committees). He also advocated the need to
create a team in each committee, who must further formulate goals and timelines- with
clearly identified responsible person(s)- and follow up, to pursue the same (goals). The
RAC should then regularly review the periodic reports of each committee; Research and
development should go hand in hand with sustainable Ecosystem Management.
Prof R. C. Kuhad, a renowned scientist and former Vice Chancellor of Central University
of Haryana congratulated Vice Chancellor and colleagues' for establishing R & D Cell in
the university. He opined that strengthening research activities in Indian universities is
necessary and emphasized the need for strengthening the infrastructure and research
environment to develop research temperament in our universities by motivating
researchers and graduate students. He highlighted the need for developing Innovation
and Research Environment, inculcating habit of ideation, developing research
temperament, SWOC analysis of research facilities and research progress, making
research compulsory for each teacher, improving applied Research Capabilities of
Faculty, identifying thrust areas of research, strengthening and creating need based
facilities, developing institutional connect and collaboration, active liasoning with funding
Institutions in India and abroad, creation and documentation of research areas , their
progress and outcome, developing Information Resource system, special training in
Research and publication ethics, Regular Academic and Research auditing, Monitoring
the Research Proposal development and its progress in terms of IPR and publication,
regular SWOC analysis by committees and annual report presentation to Chairperson of
RDC and RDC Committees. He said that faculty must also be motivated, provided training
to make learning more interactive research oriented. He said universities should organize
research and science competitions within departments, conceptualization of research
problems is important in which RDC can play a significant role. The need to enable
smooth procurement of sophisticated instruments, laboratory equipment's and incubation
center, innovation cell and new laboratories was also emphasized by him. Research
needs to be documented; modern technologies need to be adopted for strengthening our
researchers. Awareness programs for funding opportunities should be conducted in which
RDC can play a very important role.
Prof. Asha Chandola Saklani (former head of Zoology and Bio Technology department
of the HNB Garhwal University and presently associated with SHRU, Jollygrant) in the
capacity of mentor emphasized on quality research and suggested that R&D Cell
committees of the university need to work on applied research which must include
technology transfer to society. It is very important to develop ideas in youngsters, and
making teaching enjoyable. Cell can work on development of early research program,
project-based learning for developing research temperament in youngsters and
awareness in researchers for local indigenous problems is necessary.
Transparent performance-based evaluation is very much required in the universities, R&D
Cell can work on monitoring of research.
Prof. D. K. Nauriyal (an alumnus and executive council member of the HNB Garhwal
University and former Vice Chancellor of the Kumaun University and currently Professor
at IIT Roorkee) showed his concern about declining NIRF ranking of the University and
measures to be taken to improve this ranking. He spoke about how patent is important
for research output. He extended his concern about capacity building in social sciences.
He also spoke about the need for MoU's with research institutions for more collaborative
quality research.
Prof. K.S. Rao (former head of Deptt. of Botany, University of Delhi) said that researchers
from mountain regions have great potential but they lack self-confidence, R&D cell can
work on better mentorship and promotion of these researchers in the following ways: (i).
to provide counselling to students in the first two years on personality development,
speaking skills, presentation making and effective writing. (ii). the teachers and students
need to understand the need of UGC care publications and impact factor journals for
publishing their work. (iii). reduce the disparity between those performing at the top and
those not able to meet the average benchmarks, mentor assistance programmes should
be organised wherein experienced mentors can guide the students in preparing
themselves for the research as a career. (iv). students should be encouraged to
participate in international conferences more actively to learn the tricks of effective
presentation. (v). universities should organise online lectures by eminent speakers on
various subjects each month and make it mandatory for all students to attend them. (vi).
students should be encouraged to state how their work is going to add in scientific
knowledge or technology that can help the local people in reducing their effort/improve
economy.
Dr. Navin Juyal (an alumnus of the HNB Garhwal University and a geo scientist formerly
associated with Physical Research Laboratory, Department of Space Unit, Ahmedabad)
stated that we have to identify the thrust area for R&D in geological science. Considering
the frequencies and magnitude of extreme events which had source in the higher
Himalaya particularly from the paraglacial valleys (area vacated by the glaciers in the
recent geological times). Hence these valleys are not sediment limited but are transport
limited. Therefore, university like HNB Garhwal, which is located in the upper Ganga
catchment, besides carrying out the basic research in geology, must try to shift focus
towards the societal needs. This involves understanding the cryosphere response to
climate change with emphasis on the paraglacial zones. Because the major disaster in
the past were triggered from these valleys, the recent examples are the Rishiganga and
Kedarnath disasters.
Prof. Rekha Pande (Former Head of Centre for Women’s Studies and Department of
History, University of Hyderabad, and presently Professor Emeritus, Henry Martin
Institute, International Centre for Research, Interfaith Relations and Reconciliation,
Hyderabad) although was not virtually present in the meeting but have forwarded her
comments stating that the level of research among the students in Uttrakhand is not up
to the mark and a lot needs to be done. The students are very bright no doubt but we do
not have a proper training for the students to inculcate the idea of research in them. This
Committee is a right step in this direction and I am sure it will play a very important
role. She has recommended that (i). once the student is admitted into a programme there
should be a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) established for each student to monitor
the progress of the student and help in providing guidance. The Research Committee can
comprise of the supervisor and two faculty who are experts in the area the student is
working on. One could be from the department and another from a different school within
the University. This Committee should meet every semester to evaluate the progress of
the students and this should be linked to further registration, scholarship and other
administrative requirements of a research student. (ii). the University should take
advantage of the online portals and organise lectures on Research Methodology,
Plagiarism, ethical principles in research. (iii). there should be workshops organised on
publications and impact factors of Journals. (iv). in the annual Report of the University,
every department should also report on the publication of its students and their
participation in Conferences and Workshops. (v). there should be an effort in the long
term to establish a fund to provide some financial backing to students to participate in
Conferences in India/ Abroad.
Prof. Ashutosh Kumar, head department of Political Science and member of Research
Promotion Committee, Punjab University, Chandigarh, suggested that proper evaluation
of Ph.D. thesis is needed for a good research output. The research examiners should be
from different states and no examiner should be repeated till six months. One examiner
from abroad can be optional particularly for science subjects. The courses on research
methodology should be introduced in master's program itself. Constant evaluation of
teachers is required, for that R and D cell within university can be activated. Syllabus
should be updated for social sciences and need to work on research ethics. In RDC also
this component needs to be strengthened.
Prof. S.S. Rawat, former head and professor of Horticulture of HNB Garhwal University
spoke about focusing on agriculture research in the hill area under different climatic
zones, viz. foot hills, valleys, and mid & high altitudes, and the importance of initiating
agricultural research and appropriate methodologies for the benefit of the society
especially for the farmers community. Off-season cropping in the hill regions may be good
subject of research along with establishing improved cultural practices for modern organic
farming of suitable crops. Emphasis on agricultural development in the hill regions
through (i) need based research and innovations (ii) improved organic cultural practices
(iii) effective cropping and marketing systems, and (iv) extension service, may greatly
help in reducing migration from the hills and promote reverse migration in days to come,
especially in Uttarakhand.
Chairperson of RDC, Prof. Annpurna Nautiyal stressed while concluding the meeting
that suggestions from various speakers can be implemented along with review and
implementation of the desired plan of action. The research ecosystem in the university
must be reinforced and challenges in research need to be addressed. High quality and
scientific R&D projects must be proposed by faculties and given priority. Integration of
education and making it a fun-learning experience is necessary. She said that we have
to nurture human resources through our researchers, our faculty need to be actively
involved in the research, and we should go to field areas to understand the problem and
then plan accordingly. She also showed her concern about NIRF ranking and emphasized
on what we can do for achieving NIRF ranking. She also talked about consortium of
fourteen Himalayan universities (IHCUC) in which the work was done on 5 thematic areas
for the policy development in IHR. Reports on these five thematic areas have been
submitted to NITI Aayog for the implementation of recommendations in the states of IHR.
She also advised that R&D Cell should work on the problem of migration of Uttarakhand.
Collaborative research with Industry, Govt., research institutes is needed and community
should be encouraged to participate in research programs. She suggested that new
course can be introduced on Research methodology for PG final year student who want
to enter in the research field.
She also suggested that Prof. M.S. Rana, University Librarian should be added as a
member in the committee on IPR, legal & ethical matters of RDC and further she advised
that the next meetings of RDC to be organized committee/ theme wise.
At the end Prof. Anoop Dobriyal delivered vote of thanks to all the experts, mentors,
resource persons and committee members. Prof. Dobriyal also thanked Hon'ble VC
madam for her keen interest and suggestions provided for the RDC committees.
(Convenor, RDC) (Vice Chancellor)