http://sparc.iitkgp.ac.in
https://youtu.be/c0IWzmOp8DQ University Aerial View
SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration)
EVOLUTION OF SPARC
In order to facilitate fundamental and socially relevant research in India, lot of emphasis is being laid to strengthen collaboration between Indian Research groups with Top research groups in the world, so that India scientists and students can interact with the finest minds in the world. With this objective in mind, MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India) in 2015 launched GIAN (Global Initiative of Academic Networks), under which an International academician can visit an Indian Institute for two weeks to offer a course. The response was overwhelming, as apart from the course the Indian students and academicians got a chance to interact with the International Faculty. In the meantime, DST (Department of Science & Technology, Government of India) came up with another unique program in 2017, VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research), under which an International Scientist of Repute can spend longer duration in the country. However, it was realized that maximum benefit of an collaboration can be harvested only when the Indian Research group, particularly the students can be physically exposed to the world class research facilities and equipment available with Top international groups in their respective Institutes. As of now, such travel opportunities are limited, as there are no formal program that generously support student visit for longer periods.
SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration) proposed to fill up this void in the collaboration eco system, as it not only funds for long term visit by the International Faculty (2 to 8 months) but would also fund the travel and sustenance of Indian students at the University/ Institute of the International collaborator. The program aims at exposing large number of young students, the torch bearers of the future generation, to state of art developments in science, thereby increasing the number of highly trained scientific manpower in the country, as well as significantly enhance the visibility of Indian Science and Scientists in the world map of highly competitive cutting edge science. It is expected that some of the joint ideas would not only lead to breakthrough in science, but would also result in sustainable technological products that will be beneficial to mankind at large, in addition to fulfilling the need of India.
VISION – THE WAY AHEAD
The major outcome of the SPARC initiative will be strong research collaboration between Indian Research groups with top research group in the leading Universities of the world, in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to the mankind, specifically India. The strong joint research should lead to tangible result that should include large number of high quality research publications, solution to key national and international problems, development of niche courses, high quality text books and research monographs, imbibing of best practices from top international academicians and researchers, strong bilateral cooperation, and improved world reputation and ranking of Indian Institutions.
The Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world from 28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national and/or international relevance.
The scheme proposes to enable productive academic cooperation by supporting the following critical components that can catalyze impact making research, namely:
Visits and long-term stay of top international faculty / researchers in Indian institutions to pursue teaching and research
Visits by Indian students for training and experimentation in premier laboratories worldwide
Joint development of niche courses, world-class books and monographs, translatable patents, demonstrable technologies or action research outcomes and products
Consolidation of Bilateral cooperation through academic and research partnerships through Indo-X Workshops in India
Publication, Dissemination and Visibility through a high profile annual international Conference in India
The expected outcomes include tangible results in terms of large quantity of high quality research publications, solution to key national and international problems, development of niche courses, high quality text books and research monographs, imbibing of best practices from top international academicians and researchers, strong bilateral cooperation, and improved world reputation and ranking of Indian Institutions.
SPARC INSTITUTE COORDINATOR
Dr H J Shiva Prasad
Professor of Civil Engineering
College of Technology, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
PANTNAGAR-263145, Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand State
Email:sptce@gbpuat-tech.ac.in / h.j.s.prasad@gmail.com
Mobile No: 9719245303 / 8449859593
Logistic details:
Link to participate in the SPARC project workshop
Two days Workshop on
“Recharge Process of Springs and Its Management to Mitigate Anthropogenic and Climate Change Impact for Water Security: A case study in part of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India”
during
January 21-22, 2020
G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
(www.gbpuat.ac.in)
in association with
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY, Australia
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, Australia
Sponsored by
Proposed Schedule
21/01/2020: Tuesday
8.30-9.30: Registration & welcome
9.30-10.30 : Inauguration : Vice Chancellor and other dignitaries
10.30-11.00: High Tea
11.00-12.00: Prof. Basant Maheswari, WSU, Sydney, Australia, http://westernsydney.edu.au
Managing India’s Invisible Water Resource-The Role of Participatory Groundwater Monitoring and and Management at the Local Level12.00-13.00: Prof. Mallickarjun Joshi, BHU, Varanasi, India, www.bhu.ac.in
Hydrological Issues of the Headwater catchments in Himalayas
13.00-14.00: Lunch
14.00-15.00: Dr Kireet Kumar, GBPNIHESD, Almora, India, http://gbpihed.gov.in
Springs- Case studies of Almora Region
15.00-16.00: Dr Meenakshi Arora, UOM, Melborne, Australia, http://unimelb.edu.au
Groundwater quality: Challenges and solutions
16.00-16.30: Tea break
16.30-17.00: Dr Dharma Hagare, WSU, Sydney, Australia, http://westernsydney.edu.au
Estimation of urban recharge: A case study
17.00-17.30: Prof Jyothi Prasad, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, India, www.gbpuat.ac.in
Artesian flowing wells at Pantnagar University
22/01/2020 Wednesday
9.30-10.30: Professor Andrew W Western, UOM, Australia, http://unimelb.edu.au
Using long droughts as surrogates for climate change impacts on streamflow
10.30-11.00: Tea break
11.00-12.00: Dr Shive Prakash Rai, BHU, India; www.bhu.ac.in
Role of isotopes in investigating hydrology of Himalayan Springs: A review and possibilities
12.00-13.00: Prof H J Shiva Prasad, GBPUAT, India; www.gbpuat.ac.in
Status of springs in Uttarakhand
13.00-14.00: Closing session
14.00-14.30: Lunch
14.30-onwards Field visit to Flowing wells
Venue: G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand State
23/01/2020 Thursday (Optional & limited to project partners only)
Field visit to GBPNIHESD & Almora District springs
24/01/2020 Friday (Optional & limited to project partners only)
Field visit to Nainital District springs
Australia
India
LIST OF EXPERTS AND PARTICIPANTS:
Prof BASANT, WSU, Sydney, Australia
Dr DHARMA HAGARE, WSU, Sydney, Australia
Prof ANDREW WESTERN, UOM, Melbourne, Australia
Dr MEENAKSHI ARORA, UOM, Melbourne, Australia
Prof M K JOSHI, BHU, Varanasi
Dr S P RAI, BHU, Varanasi
NIJESH P, BHU, Varanasi
ABHINAV, BHU, Varanasi
KIREET KUMAR, GBPNIHESD, Almora
SWATANTRA KUMAR DUBEY, IISER BHOPAL
Dr BAHADUR KOTLIA, KU, NAINITAL
KALPANA GURURANI, KU, NAINITAL
SHAHDITTA BAKSHI, KU, NAINITAL
ANKITA SAWAI, Glocal University, Saharanpur
NEHA TIWARI, Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar
DEEPAK SINGH, DTU, Delhi
Dr JAYANTILAL N PATEL, SVNIT, SURAT
GANDHI FENIL R, SVNIT, SURAT
SONGARA JAYSUKH C, SVNIT, SURAT
ROMIT SEN, SUSTAIN, New Delhi
RAVIKANT KUMAR, SUSTAIN, New Delhi
POONAM, PITHORAGARH
NEEARJ PANT, NIH, Roorkee
SAPNA ARORA NARULA, TERI School of Adv. Stu Delhi.
VISHAL R KHANDAGALE, SIT, TUMKUR
Prof NANDEESHA, SIT, TUMKUR
RUCHI VERMA, ATREE, BANGALORE
UTKARSH KUMAR, VPKAS, Almora
SONU, CCU, HISAR
Dr. SANJAY KUMAR, CCU, HISAR
Er. MANJEET SINGH, MPUAT, UDAIPUR
Dr K K YADAV, MPUAT, UDAIPUR
Dr PATIL PRAVIN RAJDHAR, MPUAT, UDAIPUR
Dr YOGITA DASHORA, MPUAT, UDAIPUR
Prof R SINGH, IITKGP, Kharaghpur
Dr DAMODHAR MAILAPALLI, IITKGP, Kharaghpur
Dr SOMASUBHRA CHAKRABORTY, IITKGP, Kharaghpur
Md. Anjar Alam, IITKGP, Kharaghpur
Mr Shahank Shekhar, PhD Scholar, IITKGP, Kharaghpur
Prof JYOTHI PRASAD, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
Prof H J SHIVA PRASAD, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
MOHD AZAM, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
PRAKHAR SHARMA, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
ROHIT BISHT, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
NEENU, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
DEEPAK KUMAR, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
Dr RAVI SAXENA, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
ANURADHA KUMARI, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar
MANISH KUMAR, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar