Prof. Martyn Clark’s visit to IIT Delhi and a joint field trip to the mighty Brahmaputra River by the Indo-Canadian team
- Post by: Lab Admin
- April 6, 2024
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Canadian team led by Prof Martyn Clark from the University of Calgary visited India (26th March – 5th April 2024). During the visit, the Canadian team and a team from Hydrosense Lab, IIT Delhi, undertook a site visit to the Brahmaputra River at Majuli, Assam, which is the largest river Island in the world and an age-old cultural and religious hub. Prof. Clark also delivered lectures at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi on the development and application of terrestrial models for water security and management. Both teams also participated in extensive discussions on current research, scientific gaps, and potential collaborative research to be undertaken.
Here is a brief about the few important activities undertaken during the visit.
- The field visit focused on getting an on-field idea of the current flood risk imposed by the river and, the potential implications of climate change while keeping in context the cultural and societal construct of the people residing on the bank of the Brahmaputra river. The field trip consisted of visits to various sites damaged and impacted by the river and various structural mitigation measures (both in-place and ongoing) undertaken by authorities. Further, to get a close idea of the societal and religious construct of the people of the region, the team traveled through the villages and visited Sattras (Monasteries set up by Srimanta Sankardev, who was an Assamese polymath from the 15th century). These Sattras have been a knowledge hub of arts, culture and religion and still continue to shape the culture and life in the region.
- The field visit was followed by a technical meeting and discussion focusing on the on going work of understanding the climate impact on the Brahmaputra basin with the Chairperson and engineers of the Brahmaputra Board, who has been working for the mitigation and adaptation of the flood hazard in the Brahmaputra River.
- Prof. Clark also delivered two lectures at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi on the topic “The development and application of terrestrial system models to predict climate threats in the water sector”
The visit by Prof. Martyn Clark and the team has resulted in an extensive discussion and exchange of knowledge. Apart from the technical and scientific activities, the team also engaged in a few cultural activities and visits to heritage sites in various places. Both teams shared many happy memories together.
