Concerted efforts way forward to mitigate global challenges: Ayyappan

Dharwad: Synergy among different branches of education and students with varied backgrounds, both family and university, is the way forward to mitigate future challenges like climate change, environmental pollution, natural resource degradation, hunger and malnutrition, emerging diseases, microplastics, demographic changes and migration among others said Subbanna Ayyappan, noted aquaculturist and chairperson of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
Delivering his address at the 74th annual convocation of Karnatak University here on Tuesday he said floods and droughts, unseasonal rains, landslides, and high temperatures, are becoming normal features, leaving no one unaffected. Both abiotic and biotic stresses of various kinds are coming out to play in an unprecedented manner, seeking multidisciplinary and innovative approaches and solutions, he added."There are challenges, both natural and manmade, global and local, that are to be taken as opportunities to demonstrate our skills as well as sense, for our good and the good of the society" Ayyappan said.
He said India, with 143 crore people, 18% of the global population on only 2.4% of land and 4.2% of water, has the advantages of over 10% of biodiversity as also the rich demographic dividend, one third being youth. "Correspondingly, the higher education landscape has transformed and enrolment in higher education is of the order of 4.33 crore, with the female enrolment to the tune of 2 crore and the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education for the age group of 18-23 years being 28.4".
"With the technical knowledge you have acquired during your stay in this University in whichever field, you could become successful entrepreneurs, to become ‘job providers' instead of ‘job seekers'. The critical need at this juncture is good education and knowledge, skill sets, innovation and attitude of service" Ayyappan told the fresh graduates and post-graduates.
Pro-chancellor of the University and higher education minister C Sudhakar presided over the convocation and conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Nirupadeesh Swamiji, a modern vachanakara and researcher from Mareguddi village in Jamkhandi; social worker and educationist SN Venkatalakshmi Narasimharaju from Bengaluru and noted civil contractor and Swarnaa Group of Companies MD Dr VSV Prasad from Hubballi.
At the convocation, as many as 278 gold medals were presented to 120 students.
KU V-C KB Gudasi welcomed and explained the achievements of the university. Registrar A Channappa, registrar (evaluation) NY Mattihal and others were present.