The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, inaugurated a three-day National Conference on "Urban Extreme Weather Events: Role of Urbanization and Land Use Land Cover Change". Sponsored by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Atmosphere & Climate Research–Modelling and Weather (ACRMW), and the Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR), the conference has brought together scientists, academicians, researchers, policymakers, urban planners, and students from across the country to deliberate on the growing challenges posed by rapid urbanization, changing land use patterns, and increasing climate extremes.
Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, graced the occasion as the Patron of the conference. Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, was the Chief Guest, while Prof. Ashok Karumuri from the University of Hyderabad attended as the Guest of Honour. The inaugural session was also attended by Prof. Rohan Dhiman, Registrar, NIT Rourkela, Prof. Naresh Krishna Vissa, Head of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Prof. Nagaraju Chilukoti, Chairman and Convener, and Prof. Krishna Kishore Suri, Secretary and Co-convener of the conference.
Welcoming the delegates, Prof. Nagaraju Chilukoti highlighted that rapid urbanization and changing land use patterns are significantly influencing urban heat waves, flash floods, and regional climate systems. He emphasized that the conference aims to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and practical solutions by bringing together researchers, urban planners, and policymakers to develop strategies for resilient and sustainable cities.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Naresh Krishna Vissa spoke about the department's contributions to national missions and interdisciplinary research in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. He noted that the department has established itself as an active contributor to several national programmes while producing over 600 quality international research publications since its inception.
Delivering the Guest of Honour address, Prof. Ashok Karumuri underlined the close relationship between climate change, land use and land cover change, and extreme weather events. He called for stronger interdisciplinary research integrating atmospheric science, engineering, planning, economics, and public policy to develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies for sustainable urban development.
In his presidential address, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao highlighted the growing frequency of extreme weather events and urged researchers to focus on outcome-oriented research that addresses real-world societal challenges. He emphasized the need for scientific solutions to support sustainable urbanization, efficient land use, water security, and climate resilience while maintaining ecological balance.
Chief Guest Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao spoke about India's rapidly increasing urban population and the associated risks of urban flooding, heat waves, and deteriorating air quality. He highlighted the Government of India's Mission Mausam initiative and emphasized the role of advanced weather prediction, artificial intelligence, hyperlocal climate modelling, and scientific urban planning in building climate-resilient cities. He called upon researchers, urban planners, and policymakers to work together in designing future cities based on scientific evidence and sustainable land use practices.
The three-day conference will feature keynote lectures, invited talks, technical sessions, and discussions on urban climate, land use and land cover change, numerical weather prediction, urban resilience, and sustainable planning, providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas and foster collaborations for addressing emerging urban climate challenges.