Prof. Orus Ilyas of the Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and research scholar Umrah Viqar presented their research at the 36th European Mustelid Colloquium, held alongside the Białowieża Ecology Conference in Białowieża, Poland.
Prof. Ilyas presented a paper titled “The Underappreciated Apex: Reviewing the Ecological Role and Conservation Status of the Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) Across the Himalayan and East Asian Bioregions”, examining the species’ ecological significance and conservation status across the Himalayan and East Asian regions.
Umrah Viqar presented her research on “Ecological Insight into the Yellow-throated Martens, Martes flavigula: Habitat Use and Dietary Pattern in the Reserved Forest of Ranikhet Kumaon, Himalayas”, focusing on the species’ habitat use and dietary patterns in the Himalayan region.
The presentations highlighted the ecological importance of the yellow-throated marten and the need for a better understanding of its ecology, distribution and conservation challenges.
Prof. Ilyas received financial assistance from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) to participate in the conference, while Umrah Viqar received support from the organisers.
source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk /October 16th, 2026
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-ho…
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-horned grasshoppers. The discovery was led by Muzamil Syed Shah and a team of entomologists from Aligarh Muslim University. The new species have been named Conocephalus usmanii, Conocephalus nagariensis, and Conocephalus ganderbali.
Prior to this study, the mountainous region of Kashmir was thought to host only a single species of this genus. The team’s findings suggest that the area’s complex topography, which includes the Western Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range, has fostered a much richer variety of insect life than previously recorded. To find these elusive insects, the researchers trekked through various habitats, including tall meadow grasses, bushes, and deciduous forests, collecting adult specimens during the day.
The researchers used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to distinguish the new species from their known relatives. This allowed them to capture high-resolution images of the stridulatory files, a microscopic row of teeth on the male insect’s wings that acts like a musical comb to produce their characteristic chirping sound. By counting these teeth and measuring the shape of the insects’ body parts, the team was able to prove they had found entirely new branches of the tree of life.
Each of the three new species possesses unique physical blueprints that set them apart. Conocephalus nagariensis, found in the Budgam district, is distinguished by its spindle-shaped appendages (cerci) and a stridulatory file containing exactly 34 teeth. It is dedicated to Dr. Rajendra Nagar, a researcher credited with discovering several other species of katydids across the country, and bears his name.
In contrast, Conocephalus ganderbali, discovered in the Ganderbal region, is notably small and slender, with a musical file of only 28 teeth and a unique V-shaped incision on its underbelly. Its name is derived from the Ganderbal district in Kashmir, the specific locality where the researchers first collected the specimens.
The third species, Conocephalus usmanii, features a flat, elongated plate on its abdomen and a musical file with 36 teeth. It was named in honour of Professor Mohd Kamil Usmani, a scholar who has made significant contributions to the study of Orthoptera (the group of insects including grasshoppers and katydids) in India.
Beyond the three new species, the study also provided new records for other katydids in the region, such as Conocephalus longipennis and C. kwasiphaiensis, which were previously known only in other parts of India. This suggests that Kashmir serves as a vital corridor for insect migration and evolution.
The discovery highlights how much of the natural world remains unexplored, even in well-known geographical areas. The researchers noted that because Kashmir is so biologically diverse yet understudied, many more species likely remain hidden in plain sight within its mountain valleys. The physical type specimens used to describe these new insects have been deposited in the Museum of Zoology at Aligarh Muslim University, where they will serve as a permanent reference for future generations of scientists.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by an editor at Research Matters.
Sheikh Yameen, and Zubair Bhat, Co Founders of Zubair Curve Electrics at Shark Tank India- 4 Show
Two young Kashmiri men’s startup of providing eco-friendly urban transportation solutions may not have won them funding from the judges of Shark Tank India-4, a business reality show on Sony Television, but it won their immense admiration and exposed their successful business model to a larger world.
Sheikh Yameen, and Zubair Bhat, co-founders of Curve Electrics, got many heads nodding in appreciation when they said at the show in two years, their startup has helped environment by saving 145 metric tonnes of carbon emissions.
The mission Curve Electrics, launched in the summer of 2023, began with 50 e-bikes in Srinagar from 11 docking stations, in collaboration with the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL). The number of e bikes has since grown up to 150 in Srinagar.
They also provides these services In the neighbouring Ganderbal district’s Central University of Kashmir (CUK), and the Hindu shrine of Mata Kheer Bhawani, Tulamulla.
“We have already completed 55,000 rides, 720,000 km and have saved 145 metric tonnes of carbon emissions….it is equivalent to the planting of 7200 trees”, during the last one and a half years, said Sheikh Yameen, Managing Director of Curve Electrics.
At the show, Sheikh Yameen, and Zubair Bhat said though at present their operations are limited to Kashmir Valley, they wanted to expand operations to other mountain towns such as Shimla and Mussoorie.
They also spoke about do business in college campuses across the country. They have shortlisted 1,400 campuses where they can expand their business. The entrepreneurs said that they have devised their bikes, and these are available through a mobile application and the users are not asked for seudirty deposits.
Yameen said, “Shark Tank India gave us an incredible platform to share our dream of revolutionizing urban mobility. Coming from Srinagar, this journey represents not just Curve Electric, but the untapped potential of Kashmiri youth. We’re excited for what lies ahead”
Sheikh Yameen and his friend, Mohsin Bashir are the co-founders of this startup. Yameen had completed his MBA in Finance and Marketing from The University of Kashmir, while his friend Mohsin Bashir was studying Management in the US.
The two pitched their sustainable e-bike service Curve Electric to the panel of ‘sharks’, which included Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh, Aman Gupta, Peyush Bansal, and newcomer Kunal Bahl.
Peyush was “very impressed” by the entrepreneurs’ ability to erase all the onboarding issues that customers might have. Vineeta explained, “There is a little complexity here. There is a lot of dependence on governments, and from what I’ve seen in all the other companies, the setting that you have to do with governments and local bodies, becomes a make-or-break situation. Your expansion will not depend on your ambition; it will depend on where you get the local support”.
Yameen nodded in agreement, and said that they haven’t had any losses yet, and have raised a round of investment already, valuing their company at Rs 8.5 crore.
Each of them backed out of the deal, but Peyush bid the founders farewell at a positive note. Addressing Yameen, he said, “It’s like looking at a mirror, you are me. You are saying everything I would have said 10 years back. The detailed customer-focused obsession you have, I have not seen in Shark Tank in four years.” In the end, the two entrepreneurs walked away with no deal, but loads of positive wishes.
Curve Electric’s pitch stood out not just for its business potential but also for the pride it brought to Kashmir. The team’s efforts reflect the entrepreneurial energy brewing in the Valley, proving that innovation knows no boundaries, Sheikh Yameen observed.
He said that the overwhelming response from the sharks and viewers alike has bolstered Curve Electric’s vision and opened doors for new opportunities. By fusing modern solutions with the rich cultural backdrop of Kashmir, the startup is paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future, leaving an indelible mark on India’s entrepreneurial landscap
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Ehsan Fazili, Srinagar / January 11th, 2025
National Children Award winner Mohammad Hussain was felicitated by the Patna district magistrate of Patna Shirsat Kapil Ashok on Saturday. Seventeen-year-old Hussain is a resident of the Patthar ki Masjid area of east Patna. He makes toys from waste material and natural products.
He received the award for his exceptional skills in handcrafted arts under the Art and Culture category from the President of India Droupadi Murmu on January 22.
The Patna district administration, in a statement, said the award conferred to Hussain is a matter of honour for Patna and Bihar.
He is one of the 19 children who were bestowed with this prestigious award called Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
This award is given to children aged between five and eighteen years in six categories- Art and Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Education, Social Service and Sports. Hussain has won several accolades in state and national-level competitions. His father is a file binder while her mother is involved in sewing work.
Hussain imparts training in handicrafts and painting to the children of his neighborhood and slum areas.
Hussain has been getting training in handicrafts from the Bihar government-run Kilkari Bal Bhavan for the last six years. He has learnt many handicrafts from the summer camps of Kilkari. He has shown his skills in making useful products from waste material with natural things during state and national level competitions.
He has been awarded for handicrafts by the Government of India. He has shown his art in an online national Rangoli competition during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2021. He got a gold medal award for his indigenous toys during a national art competition in 2022. Last year he presented his indigenous toys to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ programme.
Hussain is pursuing his Intermediate in Sciences course in the final year. He has a dream to study at the National Institute of Design (NID) and learn more about designing toys and making such indigenous toys which are fast becoming extinct.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Markers of Excellence / by Md Sami Ahmad / February 18th, 2024
* On the list are 14 Muslim zoologists and scientists
* To date, India has identified 102,718 animal species
* Work is underway to discover new species in ecosystems
* 15 million living species still to be discovered
THE Kolkata-headquartered Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), whose scientists and field staff are engaged in exploring, naming, describing, classifying, and documenting animals from all over the world’s most populous country, has a miserably low number of Muslims – 23 – on its rolls that has a total of 591 officers, administration and field staffers, according to Mohammed Abdul Mannan’s new book, At the Bottom of the Ladder: State Of The Indian Muslims – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25. The book quantifies Muslim presence in 150 key organisations, including Union ministries, departments, and organisations.
The Muslim scientists and zoologists at the ZSI are – Sarfraz Ul Islam Kazmi, Shaikh Rehnuma Sultana, Mohammed Hafiz, Imran Alam, Shabnam Nizamuddin Ansari, Jalil Ahmed, Mohammed Rasmanjani Ali, Anjum Nasreen Rizvi, Rifat Hussain Raina, Jafer Palat, Mohammed Ethtesham Ul Hassan, Ruqiya Bano, and K Bakh Mollah. There are seven Field Assistants from the largest minority community.
Among 82 ZSI scientists are two Muslims – Dr M E Hassan, a Scientist ‘E’ at the Gangetic Plains Regional Centre in Patna, and S R Sultana, Assistant Zoologist at the Freshwater Biology Regional Centre in Hyderabad. Among 98 officials at 15 Regional Centres, eight are Muslims, including two NRCs in Dehradun – Dr. Anjum Nasreen Rizvi, a scientist in Nematology, Helminthology and Molecular Systematics, and Dr S I Kazmi, a scientist in Hymenoptera. The Western Regional Centre in Pune’s four staff members include Dr Muhamed Jafer Palot, a scientist in animal taxonomy with a special interest in birds, reptiles, and butterflies. Dr Anjum Rizvi is the Managing Editor of the Journal of Indian Zoology.
The 108-year-old organisation has been working to understand and investigate the faunal diversity for scientific use and equitable sharing of the benefits of animal resources of the country. Formed in July 1916, it conducts surveys, exploration, and research that lead to the advancement of zoological knowledge. ZSI originated from the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.
It gradually expanded in terms of its manpower and research programme. Today, India is among the 17 mega-diversity countries of the world, with four biodiversity hotspots, including the Western Ghats/Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and the Himalayas. Currently, there are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world, and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. To date, India has been able to describe 102,718 species of animals, and work continues to discover and explain new species, especially from the lower invertebrate groups occurring in various ecosystems. Also, the status of the higher group of animals is studied before their habitats disappeared on the planet Earth.
The country’s custodian of the animal resources has broadened its work in line with the Articles of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), a multilateral treaty focused on conserving biodiversity, promoting its sustainable use, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. As many as 157 countries signed it, like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The CBD now has 196 countries as signatories, including India.
To take the agenda further up, India also enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 to implement the provisions of CBD, which covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. To support the implementation of its objectives, two internationally binding agreements were adopted within the framework of the CBD. The Cartagena Protocol, adopted in 2000 and entered into force three years later, regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs).
The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010 in Japan and entered into force four years later, establishes a legally-binding framework for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use. Experts say considerably less is done to assess the degree and value of biodiversity without knowing the species involved. The ecosystem’s health also cannot be monitored without recognizing the presence of the individual organisms crucial for the indication of ecological processes.
The ZSI has made extensive surveys across the country, and a large number of specimens have been collected. Of these collections, only about 65 percent have been taxonomically studied. These include the major groups of vertebrates. The organization provides information and vital data for the in-situ conservation of various species in different ecosystems, both within and outside the protected areas. The ZSI provides regular services with regard to permissible limits of legal trading of faunal resources or derivatives thereof, monitoring services on population status of commercially important species, and providing inputs for underutilised, culturable species, both from terrestrial and aquatic systems.
A part of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it also undertakes Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with special reference to ecology and wildlife. Zoological surveys worldwide are crucial for understanding and managing biodiversity. These surveys involve various methods to collect data on animal populations, behaviour, and habitats, including field observations, monitoring programs, and advanced techniques like DNA analysis and satellite tracking.
There are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. Based on the largest dataset to date, the global Living Planet Index (LPI) shows an average 73 percent decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. It reports that there has been a large average decline across more than 34,000 animal populations. In 2024, ZSI set up a pilot project to use eDNA (environmental DNA) to study and monitor wildlife.
Data analysis of the 2010-2020 decade reveals that a total of 4,112 species — 2,800 new species and 1,312 new records in 2020, India added 557 new species to its fauna, which included 407 new species and 150 new records, according to a document by the ZSI. The number of faunal species in India has climbed to 1,02,718 species with the discovery of the new species. There is no definitive, universally agreed-upon number for the total number of animal species in the world.
Estimates range from three million to 100 million. However, the most common estimates fall between seven and 10 million. About 1.5 million animal species have been formally described and named by scientists. The ZSI publishes the Red Data Book on Indian Animals, which was first published in 1983 and is similar to the Red Data Book published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network known for producing authoritative reports, standards, and tools for conservation.
Kirugavalu Village (Malvadi Taluk, Mandya District), KARNATAKA :
Passionate efforts
Farmer Syed Ghani Khan has brought back the use of traditional varieties even as farmers are lured into buying unsustainable varieties.
Some farmers have been the victims of forceful marketing and have opted for commercial varieties of rice and other crops promoted by seed firms.
In effect, they have switched from native varieties — which suit the soil and climatic conditions — to the ones that consume more water and fertilisers, and are easy prey for insects and pests. But it does not take farmers long to realise that the yield comes down after a few years, leaving the soil toxic.
Remedy lies in returning to traditional grains. But wooing farmers away from commercially promoted seeds, fertilisers and insecticides is a task.
Syed Ghani Khan, a farmer from Kirugavalu, a village in Mandya district, has been pursuing that task as a lifetime passion.
He has set up a museum in his village home by setting apart two rooms for the purpose.
He has conserved over 700 varieties across 15 and more acres of land. These crops are harvested carefully, and the panicles laden with grain are bunched, marked with names and numbers, and arranged systematically on the walls of the two-room museum.
Some of them are even stored in bottles to be given away to farmers around the village to experiment with the heritage crops they lost in the race to boost harvest with new varieties.
Khan is a graduate from Mysore University with a degree in Archaeology and Museology. After completing his studies in Mysuru, Khan joined his father in tending to his farm.
He was pained at the sight of farmers getting addicted to industrial products and giving up the traditional varieties and practices.
He took up the task of preserving traditional seeds in packets and supplying them to those who were converts to his cause. Yet, he was not satisfied with what he did. He thought he needed more systematic efforts to create awareness about the usefulness of the old varieties and the supply of seeds.
According to Khan, continuous onslaught of publicity for industrial farm products has misled farmers into switching over to newer seeds — be it cereals, lentils, vegetables or fruits. This has led to enmasse shift to high-yielding varieties like MTU-1001, IR-64, Jaya etc.
Khan says traditional varieties hold the key to sustainable farming that is less expensive, does not erode the fertility of the soil. “In our pursuit of bumper harvest, we have damaged the soil and have made paddy an aquatic crop, which it is not,” he laments.
He began collecting varieties like Rajmudi, Ghamgadale, Doddibatta, Parimala Sanna, Basmati, Ratnachudi, Gandhasale, Mysore Mallige, Jeerige Sanna, Burma Black, Rasakdam, Thai Jasmine etc in earnest. Several of these varieties harbour medicinal properties while others emit aroma while being cooked.
According to Khan, varieties such as Doddibatta, Ghamgadale and Biddi Doddi can be grown in farms that receive just one or two spells of shower.
Ratnachudi, HMT, NMS-II are high-yielding traditional varieties while Jeerige Sanna, Rasakdam, Gandha Sale, Parimala Sanna and Mugadh Sugandh turn aromatic while being cooked.
He says most of the seeds of paddy varieties collected by him have a shelf life of 18 months. In contrast to the practice of preserving seeds in freezers, he applied on-field conservation methods where no synthetic chemicals were used.
Propagator
Farmers from all over South India have been approaching him for seeds of the native varieties.
Shiv Prasad, who has a farm in the outskirts of Hyderabad, took seeds of nearly 200 varieties from him. He has since been a promoter of the cause in his region.
Khan maintains a meticulous record of all those who have procured seeds from him. During the last two decades, nearly 10,000 farmers have accessed supplies from him.
Krishna, a farmer from a village in Maddur taluk, is a regular visitor to his farms. Rachanna, from Hosamalangi village in T Narsipura taluk, successfully grows around 25 varieties in his farm. He had visited him a decade ago.
A corner of his museum displays several medals, certificates and awards. He was conferred with Krishi Pandit Prashasti by the Govt of Karnataka (2008). National Genome Seed-saver Recognition Award was conferred on him a year later by Plant Protection Variety Forum. Govt of Karnataka chose him for ‘Biodiversity Award’ in 2010, while Directorate of Rice Research in Hyderabad presented him ‘Rice Innovative Farmer Award’ for the year 2011-12.
Ghani Khan says one should not be surprised to find one variety being replaced by another after every 40 km as India is home to thousands of varieties of rice.
He says several of them carry medicinal properties.
He says while Karigajivili and Ambe Mohur from Karnataka are said to be good for lactating mothers, Navara of Kerala is good for those who have joint pain. While Mappillai Samba from Tamil Nadu improves virility, Mehdi is held to be good for healing of bone fracture. Khaima provides relief for those suffering from piles.
Mangoes, too
Ghani Khan has taken up the conservation of native varieties of mango, too. He has registered himself with the National Bureau for Plant Genetics, New Delhi.
He has trees that have been there in the family farm for the last six to seven generations. These trees yield native varieties like mosambi ka aam (tastes like sweet lime); seb ka aam (tastes like apple); pheeka aam (bland mango) for those with diabetes; kaale malghoba, bada gola; mangamari; manji bi pasand and mittmia pasand.
His family has been supportive of his efforts and to this day help him in maintaining their farms and marketing the produce.
Womenfolk of his family use paddy in making decorative art.
Syed Ghani Khan can be reached on 9901713351 or muhinuha786@gmail.com
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herala / Home> India> Karnataka / by M A Siraj / October 12th, 2019
In 2023, India issued more than 13 million passports, using about 468 metric tons of paper. Globally, about 100 million passports are issued each year, requiring about 3,600 metric tons of paper—the equivalent of cutting down about 86,400 trees.
At this scale, using recycled paper passports could save thousands of trees each year and greatly reduce environmental damage. These statistics were compiled by six-year-old environmentalist Roohi Mohazzab of Kerala.
In a handwritten letter to world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the heads of 195 countries, Roohi has asked the leaders to replace traditional passport paper with recycled paper to save trees and protect Mother Earth.
Roohi Mohazzab also set a remarkable global milestone by delivering the keynote address during the Global Conference on Education for a Sustainable Future (GCE 2026) at the United Nations Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Bangkok.
A Historic Moment for India Roohi Mohazzab’s invitation to a UNESCO-led global platform is not merely a personal milestone—it is a historic moment for India. It reaffirms that age is no barrier to leadership, courage, or impact.#RoohiMohazzab#Roohi#ClimateCompassionpic.twitter.com/GN4AcWhFIQ
Roohi Mohazzab has taken on a challenge that many adults might never even consider – to revolutionise the way passports are made.
Their idea is not only profound but also practical—a step that could make India the first country in the world to issue passports made from recycled paper, setting an inspiring example for global sustainability.
Roohi Mohazzab, a first-standard student of Common Ground International Academy, Kozhikode, was formally invited as a keynote speaker and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Impact Award winner.
The event was organised by the UNESCO Youth Education Research Centre and the Sustainable Development Council, which has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council ECOSOC.The conference was held at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, on 11-12 February 2026.
At the conference, the young environmental activist spoke about the devastating impacts of paper use on forests and climate change.
He stressed that a common item like a passport, which is issued in millions every year, can become a symbol of sustainability rather than being harmful to the environment.
In a symbolic moment on the UN platform, Roohi officially launched her global initiative, “The Children’s Movement for Climate Action.” The foundation aims to foster environmental responsibility and civic awareness among children so that young minds can become active participants in climate policy and sustainability solutions.
Roohi was recognised as one of the world’s youngest environmental voices and is known for her impactful local initiatives.
Other initiatives launched on the occasion:
The Country Tree Project – Launched on World Environment Day 2025, aims to plant 10 million trees through one million school micro-nurseries.
Tree Bank Nursery Project – Inaugurated by Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, which aims to create a green educational environment in 10,000 schools.
Recycled Paper Passports Campaign – At the age of five, Roohi wrote a letter to Narendra Modi and 195 world leaders, recommending eco-friendly passports to save trees.
The conference sent out a message that Children are not just the future – they are the present custodians of Mother Earth.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by ATV / posted by Aasha Khosa / February 18th, 2026
Assistant Professor Ejaz Ahmed further informed that the carbon nanotubes produced during the separation of hydrogen from methane are a high-strength material.
Jharkhand IIT-ISM students develop eco-friendly fuel by enriching coal bed methane with hydrogen.(Photo | Special Arrangement)
Ranchi :
Second-year students of the Chemical Engineering department at IIT-ISM Dhanbad have developed a technology to convert greenhouse gases like coal bed methane into environmentally friendly fuel, which can be used directly in CNG cars.
The eco-friendly fuel has been named as H-CBM (Hydrogen Enriched Coal Bed Methane). Chemical engineering students Kailash Krishna, Nitin Gaur, and Devashish Das, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Ejaz Ahmed, have also developed a hydrogen-enriched coal bed methane-powered car. Professor Alok Das of Mechanical Engineering Department also helped them in research work.
Coal-bed methane gas is released during coal mining. It is a dangerous greenhouse gas, considered to be approximately 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Ahmed said they are using a waste product that previously polluted the environment and creating an environmentally friendly fuel that can be used in any CNG car without any modifications.
Coal bed methane contains sulphur and methane, he said. “It is purified to produce pure methane. Then, a portion of the methane is cracked, through which hydrogen and carbon nanotubes are obtained. The hydrogen-enriched coal bed methane, produced through this process, can be used directly in cars as a substitute for CNG,” said Ahmed.
He further informed that the carbon nanotubes produced during the separation of hydrogen from methane are a high-strength material. They are used in bulletproof jackets and the steel industry. Its market price is up Rs 500,000 per kilogram, he said. The associate professor said that since carbon nanotubes are produced alongside hydrogen, the cost of the hydrogen becomes virtually zero.
Ahmed informed that the release of coal bed methane significantly increases environmental pollution. However, capturing coalbed methane offers considerable benefits. “Capturing 1 kilogram of coalbed methane is equivalent to reducing pollution by the same amount as 25 kilograms of carbon dioxide, which is crucial for environmental protection,” said the professor. It will prove to be a game-changer in the field of green mining, he added.
Second-year student Devashish Das, who is also a part of the research team, explained that CNG cars emit less carbon dioxide than petrol and diesel vehicles, but the emissions are not completely eliminated.
“Coal bed methane gas, extracted from the coal mines of Dhanbad, is far more dangerous. Considering this, hydrogen fuel has been developed from CBM,” said Das. Because hydrogen has a higher calorific value than CNG, it also provides better fuel efficiency for vehicles, he added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by Mukesh Ranjan / February 09th, 2026
In a special ceremony held at the iconic campus of the Shaheen Group of Institutions, environmentalist and conservationist Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo, Chairman of the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO), was conferred with the prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award.
The award was presented during the Convocation and Personality Development Program, a flagship event hosted by the Shaheen Group, which houses over 6,000 boarding students and has earned nationwide acclaim for producing doctors, engineers, scientists, and civil servants.
Wangnoo was invited as the Chief Guest at the event by Munawar Zama Sahib, renowned for his exemplary work in motivation, value-based education, and moral leadership. The award was presented by Abdul Qadeer Sahib, CEO of the Shaheen Group of Institutions, alongside Dr.Zama.
The Environmental Stewardship Award was conferred upon only two individuals, selected from among a vast network of students and alumni spread across the globe, marking this recognition as a specail one.
In his address, Wangnoo expressed his sincere gratitude and dedicated the award to his beloved parents, well-wishers and supporters, and dedicated NLCO team,.
“This is not just an award—it is a call to continue. For Nature. For the Future,” said Wangnoo.
The event highlighted the synergy between education, moral vision, and environmental action, serving as a reminder of the vital role youth and institutions can play in healing our planet.(KNS)
source: http://www.knskashmir.com / Kashmir News Service / by KNS Desk Srinagar / June 02ns, 2025
Camellia Biswas and Ajmal S. Rasaq, who won the EARTH scholarships, on how they moved to studying the environment and sustainability through various perspectives.
Recognising the impact of climate change. | Photo Credit: Freepik
Two Indian doctoral researchers, Camellia Biswas and Ajmal S. Rasaq, have been awarded the prestigious EARTH scholarships funded by British Council Scotland and delivered by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities. It supports early-career researchers from around the world studying environment and sustainability through the Arts, Science, and the Humanities.
Biswas, who is in the Humanities department of IIT-Gandhinagar, specialises in ecological anthropology, human-animal studies, disaster studies and participatory research methodologies. Her Ph.D thesis focuses on mapping the dynamics of human and non-human interactions in the Indian Sundarbans, under the larger discourse of the climate disaster. In 2022, she was named British Council’s Women Leadership Fellow.
Rasaq, who secured the first rank in B.A. Political Science from St. Thomas College in Palai, Kerala, and pursued M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in Political Science at the University of Hyderabad and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, switched over to climate change studies in his Ph.D course in IIT-Guwahati.
Since April, they have been undertaking in-person and hybrid exchanges in Scotland, which would go on until June in environmental arts and humanities. During her scholarship period, Biswas will collaborate with University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in Inverness, while Rasaw is affiliated with the University of Glasgow’s Human Geography department. They shared their experiences over an e-mail interaction. Edited excerpts:
From left: Ajmal S. Rasaq and Camellia Biswas, winners of the Earth scholarship winners. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment
What inspired you to take up your field/subject of study?
Camellia Biswas (CB): I am deeply intrigued by the ever-changing realm of interactions between multiple species in the context of climate change. In this project, my focus lies on the study of zooarchaeology entwined with cultural and political ecology. I will be utilising a deep-time perspective to explore the implications of climate change. Specifically, I am examining the ecological-cultural evolution of human-seal relationships in the Northern Scottish Islands, from past to present, to comprehend climate emergency and conservation action.
Ajmal S. Rasaq (ASR): My Ph.D. project looks into how the changing weather conditions, particularly unseasonal precipitation and cyclones, impact the socio-economic relations in Chellanam, a coastal suburb of Kochi in Kerala. Though my academic background is in Political Science, I shifted to human geography in my Ph.D. programme after seeing significant weather events in recent times, such as the devastating floods of 2018 and the Ockhi and Tauktae cyclones (in Kerala). Over time, I came to recognise the profound impact of climate, which I had until then seen only as a background for agricultural and fisheries production.
How can the EARTH scholarship help you to enhance your understanding of your subject?
CB: The programme will enrich my understanding of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education in Scotland, and I hope to bring some of these learnings to apply in India. I’ve realised that topics across Humanities have implications for my own work. Scotland is very rich in visual narratives such as storytelling, folktales and myths embedded in historical records. Therefore, this will be very useful for my research. During my time here, I’m learning that topics across Science and Humanities are all connected. Scholars can help each other through different expertise and subjects.
ASR: I had already spent over a year collecting data through ethnographic fieldwork before joining this programme in April. This is an opportunity to connect with leading professors and other fellow scholars for three months. The training programme offered during the initial two weeks of the scholarship helped me to look deeper into the data. My mentor, Dr. David Featherstone at Glasgow University, has also been helping me in enriching my understanding in my area of research.
Any advice for students who may wish to apply for such programmes?
CB: Students who are interested in these scholarships must stay alert and proactive by subscribing to notification pages and newsletters. Also, customise your applications to align with the specific requirements and goals of the scholarship(s).
ASR: Start early and allow sufficient time for the application process. Begin by identifying a potential supervisor who aligns with your area of research. In the proposed application, it is vital to emphasise the anticipated impact of the research. Applicants must highlight how their work can help in fostering cross-national collaborations in future.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Education / by Nahla Nainar / June 24th, 2023
