Launch of Air Quality Monitoring Station and App developed by Students.

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Launch of Air Quality Monitoring Station and App developed by Students.

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What gets measured gets managed. And if it gets measured in Campus, its gets managed for ever. Because students are the future policy makers and campus is crucible to mould the minds . A project under Smart Campus Cloud Network-SCCN. READ.

A project launched on World Environment Day 2019 @ MIT World Peace University ( MIT WPU)

Yet another milestone in continuation of Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN) was reached . Air Quality Monitoring Station was commissioned on the 5th June 2019-World Environment Day under guidance and close technical collaboration with Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

The initiative was part of “Transforming the MIT-WPU campus into a SMART campus”, being mentored by Rajendra Shende , Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre.

The World Environment Day is celebrated on 5th June every year for enhancing awareness and encouraging action for the protection of our environment. 5th June is also the foundation Day of MIT WPU . On the same day two years back in 2017, at the hands of Hon. Prakash Javadekar, Cabinet Minister of Government of India a cloud network for clean energy in campus was launched. A transformation towards sustainable development thus began of MIT WPU campus.

SCCN, is a network that brings the global universities in partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) of United Nations.

Theme of World Environment Day 2019 is ‘ Beat the Air Pollution’. MIT-WPU is also celebrating its Foundation Day in a unique, smart and futuristic way by Installing the Air Quality Monitoring Station in its premises to measure Air Quality (PM2.5 and PM10) along with the Mobile App displaying the Air Quality Index and enabling the students to take action. Dr. Gufran Beig, Project Director of IITM was the guide for the project.

MIT- WPU is the first University in the world which has a unique Peace Studies Program incorporated in its curriculum and making continuous progress in its efforts towards UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is in line with Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad, Founder President MIT-World Peace University’s vision to make oneself Physically Strong, Mentally Alert, Intellectually Sharp and Spiritually Elevated. MIT-WPU continues to make unique positive contributions to the world yet again by celebrating its Foundation Day by creating awareness about Air Pollution to initiate actionable awareness amongst the Students, faculty and society.

NITI Ayaog ( National Institution for Transforming India)
MOEFCC, WHO and UNEP, all consider that Climate Change and Air pollution are the two sides of the same problem which has now grown into an alarming proportion threatening the future of the youth and even the national security. Hence the 5th June event is strategic and has short and long term impact. MIT-WPU is celebrating this day via action, not only talking or teaching.

14 Indian Cities are among the World’s 20 most polluted cities. PM2.5 are tiny but deadly air particles, which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Air pollution has an adverse impact on the health and wellbeing of people.

MIT-WPU is walking the talk by not just limiting its efforts to creating awareness through conferences about the UN Sustainable Development Goals but also by investing in setting up systems like the Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) that will trigger mitigation as well as adaptation to the air pollution menace. It is another milestone and is in continuation of SCCN Initiative for “Transforming the MIT-WPU campus into a SMART campus”, being mentored by Rajendra Shende , Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre.

The Mobile App displaying the AirQuality Index is created by the students of the MIT-WPU which will provide on-line Air Quality Index on real time basis along with some critical messages for preventive and corrective actions. The students worked under the guidance of Prof Varhade of MIT WPU and Dr. Beig of IITM.

MIT-WPU has initiated a drive to mainstream UN SDGs and inspiring students to contribute to those goals individually through life style changes. MIT-WPU believes that problems that are created in the world are due to ignorance. These problems can be avoided if the requisite knowledge is provided to the students for actionable solutions as per the Peace Studies Curriculum.

MIT-WPU builds its ‘3S’ principles of Science, Spirituality and Sustainability on India’s Vedic heritage of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is One Family). MIT-WPU strongly believes in the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda that “The union of science and spirituality alone will bring peace and harmony to mankind”.

The MIT WPU’s newly created faculty of Social Innovation, Partnership and Co Creation has developed post graduate, M. Phil. and doctoral degree programmes around Sustainable Development Goals focusing on Sustainable and Inclusive Development of all social and economic groups to create world class professionals to work for a strong, vibrant and developed nation with sustainable social, economic and ecological systems. Short-term programs are also being developed to support working professionals from Government, Industry and non-Governmental sectors.

Many distinguished experts from relevant fields enlightened the students, faculties and staff about combating one of the great environmental challenges of our times – Air Pollution.

The list of these experts include…

1. Dr. Rajesh Kumar – Professor and Head, Post Graduate Institute, Chandigarh
2. Dr. Gufran Beig – Scientist-G, Project Director SAFAR, IITM, Pune
3. Dr. Sanjay Zodpey – Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi
4. Rajendra Shende – Chairman, TERRE Policy Center,
5. Dr. Sundeep Salvi – Director, Chest Research Foundation
6. Dr. M. P. Tambe – Dean, Govt. B. J. Medical College, Pune

The significant attendees included Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad – Founder President, MIT-WPU, Shri Rahul V. Karad – Executive President, MIT-WPU, Dr. Chandrakant Pandav – President, ICCIDD, India, Dr. S. Parasuraman, Vice Chancellor, MIT-WPU.

A comprehensive report on various measures/action taken in MIT-WPU campus in the year 2018-19, under SCCN , in complying with the SDG’s waS also released. MIT World Peace University is committed to comply with all the United Nations SDG’s, and organizes various events for sensitizing youth on environment and ecology.

A brief about the past Milestones at MIT WPU on Smart Campus Cloud Network project:

5th June 2017 is Foundation Day of Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University and on the same day Hon. Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the cloud dashboard of Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN), that links the activities in campus to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The launch prioritised the online and real time measurement of electricity consumption and generation through Internet of Things (IOT).

In the same event it was decided that MIT-WPU and its related campuses to become part of the SCCN and transform into smart campus with monitoring and improving , part from electricity, water conservation, air pollution, waste management, mobility, noise pollution, etc. Our event on 5th June 2019 is therefore a major milestone in the march towards smart campus and more importantly linking peace to SDGs.

SCCN has two pronged approach: First, delivery and imparting of the education (including SDG-education) through ’smart’ technologies in the class rooms. Second, piloting the implementation of the SDGs within and beyond the borders of the campus .

On 7 April 2018, 70th World Health Day, we launched at MIT WPU campus ‘Climate Change and Health Centre’ with the aim of addressing three priorities: Heatwave, Air pollution and vector diseases.

On 5th June 2018 , the first ever sustainability report by the any university was launched by MIT-WPU.

For details on SCCN see: sccnhub.comFir details on TERRE Policy Centre see: terrepolicycentre.comNews appeared in the press and Social media see: https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/civic/students-make-app-to-gauge-air-quality-in-pune/articleshow/69639841.cms


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