Dr. J.C. Kuniyal Honored with ‘Honorary Fellow’ Title by Bath Spa University London.
New Delhi:
Dr. J.C. Kuniyal, Senior Scientist and Centre Head of Environmental Assessment and Climate Change (CEA&CC) at the Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Honorary Fellow’ by Bath Spa University (BSU) in Bath, London. The accolade, bestowed on July 24, 2024, recognizes Dr. Kuniyal’s significant contributions to the fields of environment, science, forest and climate change, biology, and geography, as well as his dedicated collaboration with the university.
Dr. Kuniyal attributed this honor to the current Director of NIHE, Professor Sunil Nautiyal, and the late former Director, Dr. R.S. Rawal. Under their leadership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was executed and signed between NIHE and Bath Spa University, marking a milestone in their collaborative efforts.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Kuniyal also acknowledged the contributions of the scientists and researchers at NIHE and his family members.
In addition to this recognition, Dr. Kuniyal has been invited by two other UK institutions, the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Cumbria, to explore further research and development opportunities in the field of environment and climate change on a global scale. NIHE and BSU have shared a fruitful partnership for over a decade, working on significant projects such as the management of flash floods in Himachal Pradesh’s Fozal Nala and the Alaknanda Basin in Uttarakhand. Their collaboration has led to notable successes, including policy briefs on managing flash floods, capacity-building for villagers, and various research publications.
Dr. Kuniyal has led these initiatives from the Indian side, while Dr. Richard Johnson, formerly of BSU and now at the University of Cumbria, has been a key partner from the UK side. The continued success of this collaboration has prompted the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Cumbria to invite Dr. Kuniyal to discuss potential MoUs with NIHE.
Should these discussions lead to formal agreements, both India and the UK stand to benefit from enhanced student exchange schemes, placement opportunities, and collaborative research projects focused on critical issues in the Indian Himalayan Region and beyond.
