Inauguration of Weather Station at Bakul Library Promotes Climate Awareness

Bhubaneswar: A weather station has been installed at the Bakul Library in Satyanagar. Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary of the Science and Technology Department, and Special Secretary of the Planning and Convergence inaugurated the station.

The weather station, installed in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad, and the Bronx Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY), aims to raise awareness about climate-related issues. Prof Neal Phillip and Prof Paramita Sen from Bronx Community College played a crucial role in setting up the weather station, educating young volunteers from BAKUL about its features and applications.

Accessible to the public, the weather station will monitor various micro-climate parameters such as temperature, air pollution levels, air quality, humidity, solar radiation, ultraviolet rays, wind, and precipitation in the city. The data will be available online, providing valuable insights for anyone interested in climate-related research.

Salil Kader of the U.S. Consulate emphasized the initiative’s expansion, with weather stations already installed at XIM and Sri Sri Universities, and plans to install them at SOA and KIIT Universities. Bakul Library, despite not being an academic institution, was chosen due to its engagement with children and youth from diverse backgrounds, offering vast potential for climate education.

Chithra Arumugam praised the collaborative effort between Bakul Foundation, the U.S. Consulate, and the U.S. College. She expressed excitement about the weather station’s potential to instill a scientific temperament in children and youth. She proposed creating 100 climate science projects around the Weather Station, involving students from schools and colleges, offering support from the Science and Technology Department and the SDG Cell.

Sujit Mahapatra, founder of Bakul Foundation revealed the formation of a group of young climate enthusiasts ready to actively monitor climate using the weather station. The foundation plans to mentor and educate school and college children on climate change through this initiative.

Prior to the weather station’s inauguration, a Quiz on Climate Change was conducted by Bivash Rath and Mukti Pradhan of the Odisha Quiz Association. The event provided an opportunity for young minds to delve into climate science discussions and witness the operational aspects of a weather station.