
ICRISAT launches AI-powered climate advisory initiative to boost farming
The project, titled AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services for Climate-Resilient Agriculture at Scale, aims to equip smallholder farmers with hyper-local, actionable weather and climate insights. The initiative is supported under the Union government's Monsoon Mission III. It was launched during a two-day workshop held on July 29 and 30 at ICRISAT.
At the core of the initiative is the Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT), a digital platform developed and piloted during Monsoon Mission II. Originally designed to simplify complex climate and agronomic data into personalised, science-based advice, iSAT is now being upgraded into a full-fledged AI-powered system.
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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Profs Sen, George get GD Birla award for Scientific Research
Two Indian researchers pushing the boundaries of quantum technologies and supramolecular chemistry were honoured with the prestigious GD Birla Award for Scientific Research for 2023 and 2024 at a ceremony in New Delhi on Friday. Union minister of communications and development of north eastern region, Jyotiraditya Scindia (right), and president of the KK Birla Foundation, Shobhana Bhartia (left), with professors Subi Jacob George (2nd from right) and Aditi Sen De — winners of the GD Birla Award for Scientific Research for 2023 and 2024 — in New Delhi on Friday. (HT PHOTO) Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia presented the 2023 award to professor Aditi Sen De of Harish Chandra Research Institute, Prayagraj, for her contributions to quantum technologies, and the 2024 prize to professor Subi Jacob George of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, for his work in supramolecular chemistry. The ceremony, held at Birla House keeping with a 35-year tradition, recognised breakthrough research that could transform fields ranging from computing to medical treatment. Instituted in 1991 by the KK Birla Foundation, the annual award recognises exceptional scientific research by Indian scientists working in the country, preferably under 50 years of age. Each recipient receives ₹5 lakh. GD Birla believed in the ethos that building of corporations and building of institutions must not be driven by the motive of profit alone, but must be driven by the motive of improving the lives of the people around you,' said Scindia. 'All the awardees over the last 35 years have been fired with that very purpose.' 'In keeping with the tradition, this function has always been held as a private ceremony at the Birla House, as per the desire of my father and founder of the KK Birla Foundation,' said Shobhana Bhartia, president of the KK Birla Foundation, congratulating the winners. 'The decision to keep the age limit at 50 was a conscious decision taken with the view to try and encourage people at a relatively younger age,' said Bhartia, the chairperson and editorial director of HT Media Ltd. Professor George's pioneering work in supramolecular chemistry—described as 'chemistry beyond the molecule'—focuses on creating materials that mimic nature's remarkable functions. His team is developing supramolecular polymers, essentially plastics that can self-repair, self-heal, and be recycled completely. 'In a world dependent on plastics, this could be transformative,' George explained, envisioning applications extending to regenerative medicine, including repairing organs and skin. Professor Sen, who has authored 232 research articles, is driving advances in quantum technologies. 'We are heading towards the second revolution of quantum technology,' she said, building on the quantum mechanical principles that already underpin computers and mobile phones. Scindia praised Sen's work for its scientific brilliance and inspirational impact. 'Professor Sen has empowered and inspired women, the stronger gender, to follow in her footsteps,' he said, emphasising the need to boost women's participation in research and development. 'Professor George, your capability in supramolecular chemistry and the capability of your papers and your science, specifically in the area of polymers, in earlier unknown elements, could pave a new way for new products and new technology to come over,' Scindia said. The minister highlighted the Bharat 6G Alliance as an example of successful collaboration between startups, leading technology companies, IITs, and government agencies. 'Encouragingly, women are playing a significant role in this effort,' he noted. Scindia linked the achievements to India's broader scientific renaissance, citing the country's rise from the world's 11th to 4th largest economy, with projections to reach third position by 2028. 'From Shubhanshu Shukla docking at the International Space Station to Vikram Lander's touchdown at the moon's south pole, to developing our very own 4G stack, India has repeatedly proven its mettle,' he said. The minister highlighted landmark government initiatives including the India AI Mission, National Quantum Mission, and the recently launched Research, Development and Innovation Scheme backed by ₹1 lakh crore. Previous recipients include AK Sood, now principal scientific adviser to the government, who won in 2000 for his contributions to experimental physics.


News18
19 hours ago
- News18
Himalayan Glaciers Melting Rapidly, Lost 26 Metres Ice in Five Decades, Government Tells Parliament
The loss of ice is accelerating, and is uneven – with some glaciers melting much faster than the others – making it harder to predict impact on water availability, said government India's Himalayan Glaciers lost an estimated 26 meters of ice thickness in the past five decades, the Centre told Rajya Sabha amid rising concerns over climate change. The melting is accelerating and uneven, with some glaciers retreating faster than others, making it challenging to predict water availability for millions of people downstream. While the Hindu Kush Himalayan glaciers are retreating at an average rate of 14.9 meters per year, the rate varies by river basin – 12.7 m/year in the Indus, 15.5 m/year in the Ganga, and 20.2 m/year in the Brahmaputra. In contrast, glaciers in the Karakoram range have remained relatively stable, showing minimal change in length. 'This will cause shifts in the seasonality and high inter-annual variability of runoff which may affect water supply at local to regional/continental scales," Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitender Singh told the Parliament, highlighting that this will also cause formation and enlargement of new/existing lakes which can increase frequency of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)/flash floods. 'Changes in water availability can also disrupt ecosystems and biodiversity, impacting the livelihoods of communities that depend on these resources," he said, responding to the concerns over climate change raised by MPs. Several scientific institutes monitoring the Himalayan glaciers in India have reported accelerated and uneven melting of glaciers in the region. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCOPR) which monitors six glaciers in the Chandra Basin, spread over 2437 sq km area in western Himalaya, showed that it has lost about 6% of its glacial area during the last 20 years. A field research station 'Himansh' was also set up in Chandra basin, where scientists conduct field experiments and expeditions to glaciers. Over the past decade, glaciers in the Chandra Basin retreated at a rate of 13-33 metres per year. From 2015 to 2022, it is estimated that the glaciers in the upper Chandra Basin had an average annual mass loss of 0.51 metres (water equivalent), with a total loss of 3.5 metres, informed Singh. 'The government has adopted an action plan to conserve the glaciers and make efforts to reduce the impact of climate change. A Steering Committee on 'Monitoring of Glaciers' in March 2023 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, with members from different ministries and organizations to monitor and coordinate the work being carried out on the Himalayan glaciers. A Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies (C4S) was also set up at National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee in May 2023 to study the impact of climate change on water resources of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), he added. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Guidelines has also published a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
ICRISAT launches AI-powered climate advisory initiative to boost farming
HYDERABAD: To transform farming and adapt to climate variability, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with national and international institutions, has launched a new initiative harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to provide real-time, personalised climate advisory services to farmers. The project, titled AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services for Climate-Resilient Agriculture at Scale, aims to equip smallholder farmers with hyper-local, actionable weather and climate insights. The initiative is supported under the Union government's Monsoon Mission III. It was launched during a two-day workshop held on July 29 and 30 at ICRISAT. At the core of the initiative is the Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT), a digital platform developed and piloted during Monsoon Mission II. Originally designed to simplify complex climate and agronomic data into personalised, science-based advice, iSAT is now being upgraded into a full-fledged AI-powered system.