Launch of Evening Conference Series on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The event featured presentations by researchers from the University of Jammu (Professor G.M. Bhat, Dr M. Hafeez, Dr N. Hakhoo), UCL (Professor P. Sammonds), Jindal Global University (Dr J. Field) and ENI Upstream & Technical Services (Dr J. Craig). Approximately 90 people attended the event, including a delegation from Jammu University, UCL academic and research staff, UCL students, and representatives from humanitarian and commercial organisations with interests in sustainable development in the Himalaya.

The conference began with a presentation from Professor Ghulam M. Bhat (University of Jammu ) about the history of collaboration between University of Jammu (UoJ) and University College London (UCL), which began in 2006. 

The presentations were focused on the area of Ladakh and included the topics of Geotourism , Energy Challenges for Sustainable Development in the Himalaya, Natural Hazards and their Drivers in the Shyok-Nubra Valley, Ladakh Himalaya and Humanitarian History in the Himalaya: Reflections on Ladakh. An overview of the Children's Education Programme, which offers to educate and inspire new generation of future scientists who will be the leaders in meeting the challenges of "Climate Change, Global Warming and Natural Hazards", was also presented. 

The talks sparked lively discussion, which continued with a networking reception alongside poster presentations of further research in the field of sustainable development in the Himalaya.

Naveen Hakoo of Jammu University speaking at the Sustainable Development in the Himalaya conference. Photograph courtesy of Ilan Kelman.