Event Introduction

CLIMATE : What was, What is, What will be !

Melting icecaps, retreating glaciers, rising sea levels are not anything we are unused to. From dinner table conversations to scientific congregations, these phenomena plague the minds of mankind. These phenomena result from what we term as ‘climate change’. Climate change is any long-term change in the statistics of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can express itself as a change in the mean weather conditions, the probability of extreme conditions, or in any other part of the statistical distribution of weather. Climate change is the defining human development challenge of the 21st Century. No country—however wealthy or powerful—will be immune to the impact of global warming.

While even today there may remain a few skeptics, the vast majority has now come to terms with the fact that the earth today stands on the brink of a possible apocalypse. While the degree of worry differs in different circles there is a unanimous opinion that something needs to be done.

With a growing need for a global involvement in fighting climate change, ENGINEER takes up the golden initiative that could make a difference. Welcome to the climate talks during Engineer. Witness an expert panel discussion on the topic: “Climate: What was, what is and what will be?”

The distinguished panel includes:

Prof. J. Srinivasan, Chairman, Centre of Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Prof. J. Srinivasan is the Chairman of the Mechanical Sciences Division at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. With a B.Tech from IIT Madras and a Ph.D from Stanford University, Prof. J. Srinivasan has been honoured as the Lead Author, IPCC fourth assessment report as well as the Review Editor and Lead Author of the IPCC report on Climate Change. He is a distinguished Fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society, Indian Academy of Engineering, Indian National Science Academy and the Indian Academy of Sciences. He is also the prestigious recipient of the Hari Om Ashram Prerit S.S.Bhatnagar research award – Solar Energy. Prof. Srinivasan’s primary interests include double diffusive convection, monsoon models, monsoon variability, simple climate models and satellite meteorology.

Ms. Caroline Howe, Indian Youth Climate Network

A French-American, Ms. Caroline Howe grew up in Connecticut and has worked in six continents on climate related issues, and now lives, works with, and loves the Indian Youth Climate Network. Ms. Caroline Howe is passionate about ensuring a safe climate future for everyone on the planet, and believes that many solutions already exist to address poverty, increase equity, and improve environmental quality while also reducing climate change. This year, she’s working with the global youth climate movement to ensure that youth voices at COP15 are coming from all over the world and that the youth voice is not only heard but seen through positive action. She directs the Climate Solutions Project, an initiative to create, communicate and celebrate youth-led and grassroots solutions to climate change.

Dr. Thamban Meloth, Programme Director, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa

Responsible for the establishment of India’s first Ice Core Laboratory at Goa, Dr. Meloth’s career record is unparalleled. He holds a PhD in Marine science from the University of Goa and initiates various collaborative national scientific programs on palaeoclimate research. He is the prestigious recipient of the ‘Prof. C. Naganna Gold Medal’ by the Mineralogical Society of India as well as the ‘ START Young Scientist Award’, by the START (IGBP), U.S.A and the ‘Young Scientist Award’, by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). He is a member of various international societies and has a large number of important publications to his name. His major interests include Antarctic ice core studies , Southern Ocean palaeoclimate studies and p alaeomonsoon studies .

Event Format

• Date : 31^st October, Saturday
• Time : 2:30 pm
• Venue : Main Seminar Hall

Contact details:

• Vikas Shabadi : +91-9845439417
• You can email your queries to techspeak@engineer.org.in