IIT Madras to host great GWCA Centre

This centre at IIT Madras was setup by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and will develop innovative adaptation strategies to cope with a changing climate and to protect the environment to provide a strong basis for sustainable development.

IIT Madras to host great GWCA Centre

It is interesting to note that this centre at IIT Madras which is being setup by DAAD is being setup in collaboration with the German institutes of Technical University of Dresden and RWTH Aachen University.

Ms. Karin Stoll, Consul General, Federal Republic of Germany, Chennai, said digitization has advantages as this project was not delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘COVID-19 is not over yet but we have to be optimistic and make use of the opportunities. There are lots of opportunities in academics.’

From Chennai perspective, I am very happy to note that IIT Madras is the main project hub and one of the pillars of the project, said Karin Stoll.

IIT Madras will host the main hub with a satellite hub coming up at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok.

The inauguration of the centre at IIT Madras was held on 30 June in a virtual event in the presence of eminent dignitaries from IIT Madras and DAAD.

With its geographical reach of four major cities, the Centre represents a strategic expansion of existing networks between leading German and Asian universities under a common thematic umbrella.

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Karin Stoll further said Indo-German academic exchange has been very intense.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of attending the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of IIT Madras, she said.

Passing the new climate initiative bill in the Germany Parliament just four days back and initiating such a Centre proves that we are in right track and this new consortium will bring fruitful and benefits to many students across country and institutes, said Karin Stoll.

The Centre is being led by Professor S.A. Sannasiraj, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras.

IIT Madras director Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi appreciated the new venture of collaboration between India, Germany, and Thailand across esteemed institutes of excellence, remembering his early career ties with TUD Germany and the strong collaboration now with RWTH, Germany.

Adding to the already existing programs between the institutes such as IGCS, DAAD exchange programs for masters and doctoral students, this new venture will bring in new opportunity for students in the field of Water security and climate change, he added.

DAAD regional office director Dr. Katja Lasch said Germany has passed a law now, mandating the country to be climate neutral by 2045. Climate change is not a national issue but a global issue.

This is a 360 degree project that DAAD looks to promote, said Dr. Katja Lasch.

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Remembering the Indo-German collaboration starting from the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru till date and appreciated the beginning of a new collaboration between the institutes on starting a new Masters on Water Security and Climate Change and having exchange Doctoral students and experts for transfer of knowledge and sharing ideas to tackle the water crisis ahead, said Dr. Katja.

An innovative, joint global MSc. Course on ‘Water Security and Global Change’ is being conceptualized. In addition, a Joint Doctoral Research Programme to promote inter-disciplinary works in order to bring novel knowledge to address water security under global partnering institutes has also been launched.

The Centre has three fundamental pillars – common teaching activities for students and experts, joint research work for PhD Projects and simulation of enhanced transfer activities, said Professor Dr. Jugren.

‘The activities will be supported by mobility grants to establish and intensify exchange and cooperation. Our initiative builts upon existing bilteral relations.’

We are going to develop a new Master’s Program on Water Security and Global Change, which will push the boundaries of digital teaching to facilitate the participation of students across the world, said Professor Dr. Jurgen.

Globally, there have been dramatic changes being witnessed being a function of the conditions of quality and quantity of natural resources.

Hence, the sustainability of water in the changing climate scenarios has been of very much concern in the recent decades.

The Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre at IIT Madras is among the many proactive measures being taken across the world without any virtual boundaries to deal with these changes.

In its own operations, this Centre at IIT Madras aims to reduce carbon emissions through measures such as enabling internationalization while at the same time replacing international flights through the use of digital communication tools and innovative technology.
This idea has been embedded in the design of the Centre from the outset and is expressed in a joint commitment to global sustainability.

Professor Dr. S.A. Sannasiraj said IIT Madras has a powerful global and regional network of partner institutions with the capacity to engage in substantial international activities, dialogue and exchange.

In particular, this centre will contribute significantly to the hydrodynamic, wave and morpho-dynamics modelling capabilities of IIT Madras, he said.

This would complement IIT Madras’ expertise on the adaptation and rehabilitation measures of coastal infrastructures.

Further, the vulnerability and risk assessment with the regional social framework provides a platform for planners to take a call on decision-making along with policy makers.

To achieve the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre at IIT Madras will pursue comprehensive goals to protect the planet from degradation while sustainably managing its resources.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #6 is intended to ensure ‘availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.’

Thus, the Centre would strive to consider these interlinkages to better understand the social, economic and environmental dimensions.

The project partners share the understanding that science-based solutions and global innovation networks must go hand-in-hand with a local and global stakeholders through dialogue.

Hence, the Centre strives to act as an inter- and transdisciplinary platform for a science-based global dialogue and exchange on water security and climate adaptation.

The transdisciplinary approach is expressed in the notion of a living lab that facilitates interactions with stakeholders in society.