BANGALORE: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on water security, impact of air pollution, soil health and sustainability.
The MoU was signed by IISc Registrar Dr Mohan Das and CEH director Prof Mark Bailey at the IISc campus, in the presence of IISc Director Prof Anurag Kumar and British Deputy High Commissioner Ian Felton.
The two institutes will identify opportunities for development of collaborative research, exchange of research scientists and students. An initial project is for CEH scientists to work with an IISc team to monitor soil moisture at the Kabini catchment area near Mysore.
CEH will supply a state-of-the-art Cosmic Ray Soil Moisture Measuring Device, COSMOS, and train IISc staff and students on its use. The MoU offers opportunities for making significant advances in understanding soil and water systems and how they can be best managed to provide essential ecosystem services, stated Prof Pradeep Majumdar, Department of Civil Engineering, IISc.
Prof Alan Jenkins, deputy director, CEH, said: “This partnership is crucial in carrying out research on the environment’s grand challenges such as water security and soil sustainability issues.”