Policy to increase seed money for researchers on the cards: HPU VC

Prof SP Bansal, the officiating Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), said the university was working on a policy of increasing seed money for researchers to support their work. In his inaugural address at a two-day International Conference being organised by the Department of Chemistry, HPU, on ‘Recent Advances in Fundamental and Chemical Sciences’, Prof Bansal emphasised on interdisciplinary and collaborative research. He added that funding agencies are also looking for interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects for funding.

The VC congratulated the faculty, students and staff of the Chemistry Department for organising the international conference and appreciated the department for its progress in research.

He said the HP University recently collaborated with IIT Ropar for the ANRF PAIR scheme and got Rs 10 crore research grants. The HPU has also submitted a Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI) proposal to the DST in collaboration with the IIT Ropar. The VC said the scientific community of India was doing great and competing well globally in terms of publications and impact of research work. Prof Bansal highlighted the recent innovations carried out in the fields of science, health, agriculture and energy.

Earlier, Sandeep Chauhan, chairman, Department of Chemistry, HPU, extended a warm welcome to chief guest Prof SP Bansal and guest of honour Prof Rajinder Verma, Pro-VC of HPU; Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof Manu Sood, and all national and international speakers and scholars.

On Day 1, Prof Kamaljit from Chemistry Department, GNDU; Prof Venkata Krishnan from IIT Mandi, Prof Paramjit Kaur from GNDU, and Pankaj Bharmoria from the Institute of Material Sciences, Barcelona, Spain, delivered the keynote address and invited talks. The inaugural session ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof Baljit Singh.

Himachal Tribune