This FDP event at SDM College of Engineering and Technology in Dharwad may sound academic from outside,but honestly,the points raised there are not limited to classrooms only . They connect directly with climate change,energy worries and how industries are going to survive without damaging everything around them.
K. Chitharanjan,a Senior Technical Engineer with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL),spoke during inauguration of five-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) focused on “Chemical Engineering and Sciences: Sustainable Approaches” . And his message was pretty clear: chemical sciences are sitting right at centre of many global problems .
He spoke about sustainability not just as one big challenge,but also as chance for innovation . That part feels very real,because every industry rn is under pressure to reduce carbon footprint,use resources better and still keep growing .
And this is where discussion becomes practical,not just theory.
- Focus on innovation — Chitharanjan urged participants to embrace new technologies for sustainability.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration — Emphasized as essential for achieving development goals.
- Continuous learning — Critical for faculty to tackle emerging challenges in technology.
Chitharanjan also stressed that technology growth cannot run separately from responsible practices . Means new machines,new processes,new research are fine,but if they ignore long-term impact,then what is point ah?
During event,Jeevandhar Kumar,secretary of the SDME Society,also spoke about ongoing training and capacity building among faculty members . His point was simple but strong: as technology keeps changing,educators also have to upgrade themselves,otherwise how will they guide future engineers and scientists properly?
Principal Ramesh L. Chakrasali also addressed audience and spoke about interdisciplinary research and collaboration for achieving sustainable development . And honestly,this is one area where colleges can really do more,because real-world problems don't come neatly divided into one subject.
The FDP is aiming to build culture of innovation and knowledge sharing among participants . Good idea on paper,and maybe useful also if it actually changes how faculty teach,research and connect with industry needs.
But bigger question is still hanging there… are our institutions moving fast enough with sustainability,or are we still treating it like one extra topic in syllabus?
