Geosciences need integration into secondary, tertiary education

New Delhi, Feb 4 (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Friday underlined the need to integrate geosciences into secondary and tertiary education.

Vice President Ansari said that the existing and developing geoscientific information and knowledge should be harmonised to enable better decision making regarding the exploitation of resources, ensuring environmental sustainability and better risk management, and bringing about the resultant wellbeing of all citizens."

"We need to develop more sophisticated geoscientific data generation and management systems, create and constantly deepen our pool of S and T manpower, and harness information technology to develop Geoinformatic applications capable of integrating multiple disciplines," he said after presenting the 'National Geoscience Awards-2009' at a function here.

The Vice President further said Geoscientists are critical for data collection, interpretation and policy formulation on mitigation and adaptation and for the larger goal of diversifying our energy portfolio.

"Geoscience should be central to our energy and climate change policies. We live in a world, which is moving towards reduction of our carbon footprint and leading to increased efficiency of energy production, utilisation and transmission," said Vice President Ansari.

"We need to enhance public recognition that earth processes need to be better understood for their links to a variety of natural hazards including earthquakes, cyclones, floods, landslides etc. Geoscientists can help us to monitor earth processes, undertake risk assessments and be better prepared for tackling natural, and even man-made, disasters," he added.

Vice President Ansari on the occasion presented lifetime achievement award to Professor Ashok Sahni for popularising science among school children. (ANI)