3-day International conference begins at MU
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 21 2015 :
A three-day International conference on Biotechnological Advances in Environmental Health and Biodiversity Conservation (EHBC) and the 39th annual meeting of Environmental Mutagen Society of India was kick started at the Conference Hall of Manipur Institute of Management Studies (MIMS), Manipur University, Canchipur today.
Organised by the DBT sponsored State Biotechnology Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Manipur University in association with Environmental Mutagen Society of India (EMSI) the conference is being organised to address major themes of EHBC including water, air and soil pollution in environmental health and plant, animal and microbial biodiversity conservation.
The conference also aimed at safeguarding two of the most important elements of human survival � environmental health and biodiversity conservation through advancement in biotechnology.
Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviours.
It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health.
It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments.
Biodiversity conservation on the other hand is the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and natural resources such as forests and water.
Through the conservation of biodiversity the survival of many species and habitats which are threatened due to human activities can be ensured.
Other reasons for conserving biodiversity include securing valuable natural resources for future generations and protecting the well being of ecosystem functions.
Habitat loss or degradation, over exploitation (such as over fishing), spread of non-native species or diseases and some human activities which have indirect but wide-reaching effects on biodiversity, including climate change and pollution are some of the threats to biodiversity, stated Organising Secretary of EHBC Conference Dr Debananda.
He added that sharp decline in the number of wet-lands in the State is an example of biodiversity degradation.
"Without an alternative source of the increasing population, it would be naive to stop deforestation," he added.
Further he said that the International conference would thrash out topics where further research on environmental health and biodiversity conservation would be carried out.
The outcome of the conference would surely provide some form of awareness about the urgent need to protect environmental health, monitor ecosystem, biodiversity and agricultural and human health.
Urging the people of the State to act and bring up an action plan to save the environment, chief guest of the function, Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya said that more research work is needed on ways and means to save the environment.
He said that all the people of the State need to work collectively with the fast changing world and should fight to save the biodiversity before it is too late.
Director, Division of Genetics and Mutagenetics National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Prof Masamitsu Honma presented a paper on 'Trends and Progress of OECD Genotoxicity Testing Guidelines' .
Vice Chancellor of Manipur University Prof HNK Sarma and Dean, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, MU Prof M Dhaneshwar also addressed the inaugural session of the conference.
Leading academicians from various parts of the globe and India along with students and research scholars of the University took part in the conference.
A book titled, 'Footprints of Pioneer Scientists (Vol-II)' written by Debananda S Ningthoujam was released on the occasion.
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