National Institute of Advanced Studies To Set Up First Ever Indira Gandhi Chair For Environmental Sciences

Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust (IGMT) launched the first-ever Indira Gandhi Chair for Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), in Bengaluru. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the virtual ceremony.

The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding at the ceremony. The Chair aims to focus primarily upon the study of science and technology for environmental benefits.

Sonia Gandhi, also the Chairperson of the IGMT, appreciated the NIAS for its links to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). She also hailed Bengaluru for its “vast institutional network in both ecology and science, making it the natural habitat for such a Chair."

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NIAS Director Shailesh Nayak, former Tata Consultancy Services Vice-Chairman S Ramadorai, faculty of NIAS and trustees of the IGMT, were some of the other attendees at the virtual conference.

What You Should Know:

• IGMT launches Indira Gandhi Chair in Environmental Sciences.
• Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh were present the virtual ceremony.
• The Chair aims to focus primarily upon the study of science and technology for environmental benefits.
• It aims to honour the late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi’s passion for science and the environment.

Honouring Her Passions

The Chair intends to honour late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi’s passion for science and the environment. Notably, in 1980, she had established the Ministry of Environment and continued as its cabinet minister till her death in 1984. "Throughout her life Indira Gandhi was fascinated by and drawn to Nature in all its aspects," said Sonia Gandhi in her address, as per Hindustan Times, adding that a lot of conservation programmes for endangered species "in which we now take pride, were conceived of and launched because of her personal concern and involvement."

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Singh, a trustee of IGMT,  said that Indian Gandhi's "years as Prime Minister are peppered with path-breaking initiatives in the realm of science and technology.” He also said that environmental sciences were “gaining in urgency” in the face of global warming and other environmental challenges.

Image Credit:  Hi Class Society

Tarini Gandhiok is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.