International Biodiversity Day 2020

Pushpa Gujral Science City, in collaboration with Punjab Biodiversity Board, celebrated International Biodiversity Day on May 22, 2020. The objective of the event was to raise awareness among participants about conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity resources. The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity-2020 was “Our solutions are in nature” which emphasized hope, solidarity and the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature. Due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Pushpa Gujral Science City celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity through online activities. About 237 students and general public participated in the event through online activities. The following online activities were organized to commemorate this day:

Webinar focused on the theme “Our solutions are in nature”.

• Creating awareness through social media with Messages from experts
• Biodiversity Story Writing Competition
• Biodiversity Photography Competition

More than 200 participants pan India participated in the webinar with 100 participants joining on the Zoom Platform and 103 participants through You Tube. The webinar was accessible through PGSC’s You tube link. Director General, Science City, Dr. Neelima Jerath in her welcome address said that biodiversity was a global asset of tremendous value, which had not only ensured the stability of ecosystems and food security, but had also directed trade and commerce. However, man`s actions were leading to the destruction of habitats and loss of many species, the potential of which was yet to be realized. Principal Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment, Punjab, Sh. Alok Shekhar, in his message said that if biodiversity was kept intact, it would offer excellent tools to fight against pandemics. Sh. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in his special message at the occasion, said the preservation of biodiversity was the only answer to many challenges, which were being faced by the humanity globally, despite all technological advancements achieved so far. Dr. VB Mathur, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, in his special message said that people were the part of the nature and it was their bounden duty to preserve biological diversity. Dr. Ruchi Pant, Head of Biodiversity, United Nations Development Programme in her message advised to abstain from injudicious use and over exploitation of natural resources and reaffirm commitment towards conservation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemics, which had shaken the entire world. Dr. Ram Boojh, Former UNESCO Biodiversity specialist  in his talk mentioned that Covid-19 was a reminder that the human health was linked to the planet`s health. Other speakers at the event were Dr. PS Roy, Adviser, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics and Former Director, IIRS (ISRO), Dehradun, Sh. Jatinder Sharma, IFS, PCCF and HOFF and Former CEO Nat. Med. Plant Board and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Dr. AK Gupta, IFS, Registrar and Dean, FRLHT, Bengaluru and Former Member Sec. Tripura Biodiversity Board, PCCF and HOFF. Sh. J. Justin Mohan, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, GoI, Dr. P. K. Singh, Principal Scientist, NBAGR, Dr. RBS Rawat, Former PCCF, Uttrakhand, Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Environmental Scientist and Biodiversity Expert, Ex-Chairman Kerela Biodiversity Board and Dr. D. Narsimhan, Prof. Madras Christian College also sent their special messages at the occasion.

  Biodiversity Story Writing Competition   

The competition got an overwhelming response from student and public. 38 participants in Junior category and 28 in Senior category participated from Punjab, Delhi, Odisha, West Bengal, USA. Overall, there were 71 entries.

Biodiversity Photography Competition:

E - P H O T O B O O K : A  C O M P I L A T I O N  O F  B E S T  E N T R I E S  O F  P H O T O G R A P H Y  C O M P E T I T I O N 

The competition got an overwhelming response from student and public. 106 participants in Junior category and 65 in Senior category participated from Punjab, Delhi, Kerela, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh with many participants submitting multiple entries.  Overall, there were 590 entries.