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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at AWANTIPORA: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), in collaboration with the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), inaugurated a two-day International Conference on “Mapping the Future of Sustainable Landscapes: Geospatial Innovation for People, Places and Practices.”
The conference brings together eminent academicians, researchers, industry experts, and policymakers from around the world to deliberate on the role of geospatial technologies in advancing sustainable development. Messages were shared by leading global geospatial scientists, including Dr. Christian Heipke (Professor, Former President, ISPRS), Dr. Lena Halounova (President, ISPRS), Dr. Kohei Cho (General Secretary, Asian Association of Remote Sensing, Tokyo), and Dr. Shailesh Nayak (Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, India).
Mr. Javid Ahmed Dar, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, and Cooperative, Government of J&K, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his address, he commended IUST for organizing this conference of global significance and emphasized the need for science and society to work hand in hand to address environmental challenges.
“This conference demonstrates how academia, industry, and society can collaborate to protect the environment and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said, lauding IUST’s initiatives in promoting innovation and emerging technologies.
Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor, IUST, highlighted the university’s growing contributions to research and innovation in geospatial sciences. He shared that IUST is establishing a new incubator in its Innovation campus to develop student-led ‘Kashmir satellite” under national 75 student satellite mission. He reaffirmed IUST’s commitment to supporting national missions such as ‘Gati Shakti’ and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in J&K to develop smart solutions for good governance, disaster resilience, environment protection, and heritage conservation in line with the vision of viksitbharat@2047.
Prof. Ravindra Nath, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, lauded IUST’s growing academic and digital presence and called for collaborative programs to address regional disaster management challenges. Prof. Anjana Vyas, Chairperson ICWG V4V, ISPRS, congratulated IUST for hosting this prestigious conference and said, “The theme is both timely and urgent. The discussions here will strengthen the global dialogue on sustainable landscapes and geospatial innovation.” She also appreciated Prof. Romshoo’s leadership in advancing geospatial initiatives in the country.
Representing the university, Prof. A. M. Moon, Dean Academic Affairs emphasized that the conference aligns with national geospatial missions and reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence, research advancement, and innovation. He provided a brief overview of the recent initiatives in these areas. Dr. Tariq Abdullah, Head, Dept. of Geomatics, delivered the vote of thanks and Dr. Jasia Bashir, Assistant Professor, Geomatics conducted the proceedings.
The conference is supported by various government, public sector banks, industry and private institutions. Over two days, the conference features multiple plenary sessions, technical presentations, and discussions focused at leveraging geospatial technologies for sustainability.
