The 5th Graduate Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (GCESD) was held in Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel on April 5-6, 2019. Known as Himalayan Knowledge Conclave (HKC), this conference aimed to establish an interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing platform for young researchers, with particular focus on environment, resource conservation, natural science, management and economic development incorporating innovations and technologies. Starting from 2015, it is held on first week of April with a unique theme every year. The theme for this edition was ‘Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’.
The consortium partners for the conference were Tribhuvan University Institute of Science and Technology – Central Department of Environmental Science (TU-CDES), Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-Nepal (ISET-Nepal) and Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF). The Government of Nepal-Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (GoN-MoEST) patronized and supported it. Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF), as conference secretariat, took care of logistics and conference management with overall guidance and supervision from the advisory board of the conference.
There were about 300 participants and 53 presenters during the two days. Graduates presented their research in the form of power point slides or posters. The secretariat had held an orientation program for the presenters on March 27 in RHF’s premises. Mr. Ramji Bogati from RHF had provided the guidelines to follow while presenting and Mr. Kanchan Mani Dixit from ISET-Nepal had lectured on how to be a better presenter and deliver one’s work to a diverse audience. Presentations were held in parallel sessions in CV Raman Hall and Senate Hall of the University.
There were guest speakers and guest lecturers who presented insights and findings of their respective research/implementation. There was a panel discussion on the conference theme: Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) before the closing session. Professors, senior journalists, members from universities and government contributed as chairs, speakers, panelists. The fifth Himalayan Knowledge Conclave ended successfully, there are more to come.