Talks address Climate Change & Vector-Borne Diseases, and Research & Innovation under NEP-2020
Punjab Newsline, Bathinda –
The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CU Punjab) organized a special lecture series as part of its Academic Lecture Series. The lectures were delivered by eminent scientist Prof. A.P. Das, former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Tamil Nadu, former Vice-Chancellor of AIPH University, Bhubaneswar, and a renowned expert in vector-borne disease research.
In the first session, organised by the Department of Microbiology, Prof. Das delivered a lecture on “Climate Change Impact on Vector-Borne Diseases.” He explained how rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and frequent extreme weather events are expanding the habitats of vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies, thereby spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya etc. to new regions. He stressed the need for a One Health approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems, along with robust monitoring, predictive modelling, public awareness, and cross-sector collaboration to address climate-sensitive diseases.
The second session, organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), was on “Research and Innovation in Context to NEP-2020.” Prof. Das outlined the National Education Policy’s roadmap for building a world-class research ecosystem, highlighting the proposed Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and its ₹50,000 crore budget over five years. He stressed the foundation’s role in fostering academia–industry–global partnerships and advancing mission-oriented projects under Viksit Bharat @2047.
Prof. Das also discussed NEP’s emphasis on multidisciplinary education, flexible curricula, integration of vocational and academic streams, and early exposure to research. He explained the classification of Higher Education Institutions into Research-Intensive Universities, Teaching-Intensive Universities, and Autonomous Degree-Granting Colleges, and underscored the importance of strong policy frameworks, infrastructure, capacity building, sustained funding, and measurable research outcomes. He encouraged faculty to mentor students in cross-disciplinary projects and explore emerging fields such as public health, climate change, and advanced technologies.
Dean Academic Affairs Prof. R.K. Wusurika emphasised aligning university priorities with NEP’s transformative framework, while IQAC Director Prof. Monisha Dhiman thanked Prof. Das for his insightful and solution-oriented lectures. Faculty, research scholars, and students from multiple disciplines participated in the sessions, reflecting CU Punjab’s commitment to academic excellence and discourse on pressing global challenges.