Kathmandu, Nov. 6: The Second South Asian Symposium on Microbial Ecology, held in Dhulikhel, Nepal, saw the participation of nearly 200 senior, mid-level, and early-career microbial ecologists from various South Asian countries and beyond. 

This international symposium, organized by the Microbial Ecology Network – Nepal and Tribhuvan University from November 1 to 3, 2023, brought together scientists and students representing 11 countries, who shared their research findings and experiences.

A press statement issued by Dr. Tista Prasai Joshi, Senior Scientific Officer at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), revealed that a total of 130 scientific research papers were presented during the symposium. These presentations included seven plenary talks and 13 invited talks, reflecting the diverse and cutting-edge research in the field of microbial ecology.

The symposium was inaugurated by the Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Ashok Kumar Rai, underlining the importance of the gathering for fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among scientists and students from different countries.

During the three-day symposium, participants benefited from three capacity-building workshops, a session dedicated to women scientists, and an industry–academy panel discussion. These activities aimed to enhance the capabilities of early career researchers and students, promote inclusivity, and facilitate discussions between academia and industry, Dr. Prasai said.

One of the key themes addressed during the symposium was the pressing issue of climate change. The programme declared climate change as a real-time and high-burden problem, with South Asian countries and their populations expected to bear a significant impact. 

The symposium focused on studying the role of microorganisms in the production of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, as well as methods to inhibit such production. The goal is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and mitigate the effects of climate change in the South Asian region.

The symposium’s central objective included the promotion of early career researchers and young students in building their research capacity while celebrating the achievements of under-represented researchers, with a particular emphasis on women scientists in the field.

The Symposium demonstrated the commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and addressing global challenges, such as climate change, through collaboration and inclusivity within the scientific community.