CUNY - India Climate Collaborative

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CUNY-India Climate Collaborative Media Articles

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/us-college-gifts-jawaharlal-nehru-technological-university-hyderabad-a-weather-station/articleshow/94521190.cms

https://indiaeducationdiary.in/sri-sri-university-and-bronx-community-college-cuny-combats-climate-change-in-odisha-with-xim-university-and-u-s-consulate/

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/sep/23/temperature-rise-poses-threat-to-coastal-stateswarnenvironment-experts-2501116.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrUSWm0cpr0

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/solar-powered-weather-station-at-hyderabad-school/article65945803.ece

https://orissadiary.com/bronx-community-college-cuny-combats-climate-change-in-odisha-with-sri-sri-university-xim-university-and-u-s-consulate/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5chEMXUD9U

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/sri-sri-varsity-holds-9th-convocation.html

https://interviewtimes.net/event-on-climate-change-xim-university/

https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/sri-sri-university-cunys-bronx-college-partner-with-2-varsities-to-tackle-climate-change-articleshow.html

https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/cuny-viit-ink-pact-for-climate-change-study-763219  

https://youtu.be/OGUHd1kGUAI

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CUNY-India Climate Collaborative Funded through the US State Dept/US Consulate in Hyderabad, India

This blog summarizes all the activities of the CUNY - India Climate Collaborative US State Department/US Consulate Hyderabad, India funded public diplomacy grant award to Principal Investigators (PIs) Prof. Neal Phillip and Paramita Sen of Bronx Community College (BCC) of the City University of New York (CUNY). The PIs installed 6 weather stations in Orissa (Sri Sri University & XIM University), Andhra Pradesh (Vignan IIT), and Telangana (Anurag University, JNT University, Meridian Schools), to conduct climate change literacy workshops for over 5,000 participants using Collective Social Learning/Thematic Communication techniques. The project dates in India were September 15 - September 30, 2022. A team comprising of PIs Phillip and Sen, BCC President Thomas Isekenegbe, CUNY CREST Institute Executive Director, Dr Reza Khanbilvardi, CUNY CREST Institute Deputy Director, Dr Shakila Merchant, and CUNY CREST Institute Senior Scientist Dr Tarendra Lakhankar accompanied PIs Phillip traveled to India September 15 - 30, 2022 to execute the program. In the three months prior to the travel to India, PIs Phillip and Sen logged over 100 hrs of Zoom meetings, phone calls and Whatsapp messages with the US Consulate Hyderabad POC, Mr Salil Kader, with Mr Prakash Rao (Telangana Prakash), Chair of the Telangana State Water Resources Development Corporation, with Dr Snehal Donde (chair of SKECT Women Water Warriors), with Dean Satpathy of Sri Sri University, with Prof. Sabina Mary Peters of XIM University, with Dr. V. Madhusudhan Rao (Rector of Vignan IIT), with Dr Usha Reddy of Meridian Schools, with Prof. S. Ramachandram (Vice-Chancellor Anurag University), with Prof. Katta Narasimha Reddy (VC - JNT University). Though the grant was for just one year, the US Consulate - Hyderabad was impressed with the outcomes and have doubled the funding for a Phase II of the project in 2023.  

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Acknowledgements

The PIs on the grant, Professors Neal Phillip and Paramita Sen will like to acknowledge all those who made the grant possible and helped bring the activities successfully to fruition:

US Consulate Hyderabad, India

Mr David Moyer, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate Hyderabad, India

Mr Salil Kader, Special Adviser on Public Diplomacy, US Consulate Hyderabad, India

President Rajita Kulkarni of Sri Sri University

Mr Prakash Rao, Policy Advisor to the Chief Minister of Telangana and the Chairman of Telangana Water Resources Development Corporation

Dean R. N. Satpathy of Sri Sri University

Professor Bhatt, Prof. Satyajeet, Mr Naveen and all the other wonderful faculty, staff and students at Sri Sri University

Dr Snehal Donde, Chairman, SKECT Women Water Warriors

Professor Sabina Mary Peter’s of XIM University

Dean Suta Pathy of XIM University

Dr Madhusuan Rao, Rector, Vignan IIT

Prof. Achyuta Samanta, founder KISS and KIIT Universities

Prof. Yogesh, Vignan IIT

Dr Usha Reddy, Meridian Schools, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Ms Rajatha Gora, Meridian Schools, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Prof. Katta Narasimha Reddy, Vice Chancellor, JNT University

Dr Prof. S. Ramachandram, Vice-Chancellor, Anurag University

Mr Anurag Palla, Trustee, Anurag University

Ms Partibha Dharmavarapu, Anurag University

Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Dr Prasada Reddy 

BCC President Thomas Isekenegbe

Ms Judith Eisenberg, BCC Grants Office

Mr Rolly Wiltishire, BCC Grants Office

Ms Freda Patterson, BCC Grants Office

CUNY CREST Institute Executive Director, Dr Reza Khanbilvardi

Mr Yugabrata Kar, Director, Odisha Ecotourism Foundation

All the other faculty, staff and students at Sri Sri University, XIM University, Vignan IIT, JNT University, Anurag University and Meridian Schools who made everything possible.

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September 30, 2022 - Addressing TITA

Through the work of Mr Prakash Rao, Dr Snehal Donde and I were guest of honor at the 10th Anniversary ceremony of the Telangana Information Technology Association (TITA) and addressed the body. Founder and President of TITA, Mr Sundeep Kumar Makthala was a gracious host. We were particularly impressed by the start-ups that focused on Smart City Initiatives.

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September 29, 2022 - Anurag University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

Local press sharing about weather station installation at Anurag University. Much thanks to Mr Prakash Rao and Dr Snehal Donde for their super work to help us organize the event and to all the superhuman faculty, staff and students at Anurag to help make this day possible and memorable!

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September 29, 2022 - Anurag University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Environmental Science Day Activities

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September 29, 2022 - Anurag University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Inauguration

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September 29, 2022 - Anurag University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

Saw a huge honeybee hive at Anurag University when we were installing the weather station. Totally cool. Sustainability and Honey! The staff indicated they harvest it every 6 months. Great people!

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September 29, 2022 - Anurag University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

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September 29, 2022 - Anurag University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

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September 28, 2022 - Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

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September 28,2022 - Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

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September 28, 2022 Meridian School, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana - More Memorable Takeaways

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September 28, 2022 - Meridian Schools, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana - Environmental Science Day Activities

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September 28, 2022 - Meridian Schools, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana - Weather Station Installation

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September 24, 2022 - Signing of an SSI with KISS University in Odisha

The CUNY-India Climate Collaborative PIs had worked with Mr Salil Kader and the US Consulate in Hyderabad by Zoom, prior to our travel to India, to establish further collaborations with Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) University in Odisha. KISS provides free education, accommodation, food and healthcare to over 30,000 indigenous tribal students. The head of KISS, Dr Achyuta Samanta and his staff went above and beyond to give the CUNY delegation a warm welcome replete with a cultural program, to welcome the team to their campus. KISS made a presentation on their programs and the PIs presented on their Climate change initiatives in India. Dr Samanya and BCC President Isekenegbe inked a State of Shared Interests (SSI) to further the collaborations between the two schools. The SSI was prepared through PI Sen and the BCC Office of Academic Affairs working in conjunction with the VC of KISS University's Office.

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September 28, 2022 - Meridian Schools, Telangana - Weather Station Installation