The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has planned to set up center for excellence where young researchers will be trained to develop software and algorithms which are needed to monitor whether events.
M Rajeevan, secretary, MoES announced that the first CEC would be established on the grounds of IIT-Kharagpur and a another one is in pipeline and would be set up on the grounds of IISC Banglore.
“We have received a proposal from IIT Kharagpur and our team will be visiting the institute later this month to finalize the setting up of CEC,” said Rajeevan.
Citing the thunder and dust storm from last year as a trigger point of the CECs, Rajeevan said that the event opened our eyes to the fact that there is a need for software and algorithms to track specific whether events.
“The CECs will undertake training for researchers and students, to develop hardware, software and algorithms. These will help track thunder, lightning, wind speed or similar weather phenomenon specifically, helping improve operational forecasts,” said Rajeevan.
From the onset of the next academic year, city-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) will start to roll out fellowships and short-term courses. It will also conduct workshops with the help of dedicated Development of Skilled manpower in Earth System Sciences (DESK).