Surathkal: The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal inaugurated the First National Conference on Climate Resilience and Environmentally Sustainable Technologies (NITK-CREST 2025) on February 27, 2025. The three-day event, which will run till March 1, 2025, brings together experts, researchers, and industry leaders to deliberate on sustainability challenges and discuss innovative technologies to build climate resilience.
The conference, organised by NITK’s Department of Chemical Engineering in association with five other departments, has been supported by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the Anusudhan National Research Foundation, and several other prominent organisations.
Focus on six key themes
The conference covers six critical themes, reflecting the pressing need for interdisciplinary approaches to environmental sustainability:
- Water: Sustainable water management and conservation
- Earth: Sustainable materials and waste management
- Air: Air quality management and pollution control
- Fire: Renewable energy and sustainable technologies
- Space: Climate change and global environmental impact
- Artificial Intelligence: Applying AI to develop environmental solutions
With approximately 225 abstracts submitted, the event features 12 keynote lectures, technical sessions, poster presentations, and talks by invited experts from IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT BHU Varanasi, DRDO Bangalore, and CWRDM Kozhikode.
Inaugural ceremony highlights
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. K. Balachandra Hebbar, Director, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, as the Chief Guest. Shri Padmanand Warrier, NITK alumnus, Founder of Warrier H.E.A.R.T. and Startup Advisor, served as the Guest of Honour. NITK Director Prof. B. Ravi presided over the event. Other dignitaries included Dr. H. Lakshmi Kantha from KSPCB, Prof. I. Regupathi, Conference Chairman and Head of Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Chinta Sankar Rao, Conference Convenor.
Emphasis on collaborative climate action
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. K. Balachandra Hebbar stressed the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in tackling climate resilience challenges. He highlighted the need for quality data collection from plants, soil, and ecosystems, urging collaboration between biologists and engineers.
He pointed to emerging fields such as precision agriculture and biomass conversion as key areas where innovation can significantly contribute to climate mitigation. Dr. Hebbar also underscored India’s pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2047, urging the development of indigenous sensors and small-scale technology solutions to monitor emissions and carbon credits at the local level. He expressed optimism about the role NITK and other IITs can play in fostering startups and research partnerships for climate innovation.
Inspiring message from NITK alumnus
Addressing the gathering, Guest of Honour Padmanand Warrier called NITK-CREST a potential blueprint for future national and international conferences on sustainability.
“The word CREST symbolises an aspiration to reach the pinnacle. As engineers, researchers, and scientists, optimism drives us to believe we can change the world,” Warrier said. Emphasising the need for action-oriented vision, he added, “Vision without action is a dream, action without vision wastes time, but vision coupled with action can transform the world.”
NITK’s holistic sustainability goals
In his presidential remarks, NITK Director Prof. B. Ravi underlined the interconnectedness between environmental health, human health, and agricultural health.
“No single institute or discipline can address these complex challenges alone. Collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and even nations is essential,” he said. Prof. Ravi also shared NITK’s plans under the ‘6S’ framework, which aims to develop a smart, sustainable, healthy, clean, safe, and prosperous campus.
NITK has already initiated projects on water conservation and renewable energy, and Prof. Ravi confirmed the inclusion of soil health initiatives into future sustainability plans.
Conclusion
The first edition of NITK-CREST underscores NITK Surathkal’s commitment to fostering technological innovation and collaborative research to address climate resilience and environmental sustainability. The conference is expected to lay the groundwork for future innovations, policy recommendations, and interdisciplinary projects that will contribute to India’s environmental and sustainability goals.