Berhampur: In a vibrant celebration of youth-led innovation and ecological stewardship, a national-level 110 hours Hackathon program continued all over India on diverse themes by the regional centres of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The regional centre Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Gopalpur-on -Sea on Thursday successfully organised event with the theme “Estuarine Faunal Diversity” with enthusiastic participation of teams across the country.
The intellectually charged event was meticulously coordinated by Officer-in-Charge Dr. Anil Mohapatra, and Nodal Officer Dr. D. S. Suman. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Geetanjali Dash,Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University as the Chief Guest.
She emphasized the imperative of collaborative engagement between scientists, academicians, forest officials, and students to protect and sustain India’s fragile estuarine ecosystems. “Biodiversity conservation is not the responsibility of a single institution or individual—it is a shared mission. Events like Hackathon foster this much-needed spirit of collaboration and innovation,” she remarked.
The event was further honoured by the presence of Sunny Khokkhar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Berhampur, as Guest of Honour. In his speech, he stressed the practical implementation of youth-driven ideas to rejuvenate estuarine habitats and enrich biodiversity. “The solutions proposed by young researchers today have the potential to reshape our conservation framework,” he observed, adding that active support from enforcement and scientific agencies is key to their execution.
Also serving as Guest of Honour, renowned naturalist Prof. Sushil Kumar Dutta of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University University, Baripada, praised the initiative and underlined the critical role of such forums in nurturing scientific curiosity. “Hackathon serves as a dynamic platform where innovation meets conservation. It encourages students to think beyond the conventional and propose actionable strategies that can shape our environmental future,” he stated.
A total of eight teams from reputed universities across India participated in the Hackathon, presenting thought-provoking conservation models aimed at preserving estuarine biodiversity. Their ideas spanned a wide spectrum, from habitat restoration and pollution mitigation to community-based conservation and tech-driven biodiversity monitoring.
Adding scholarly weight to the event, a distinguished panel of judges comprising Jaya Kishore Seth, Assistant Professor, PG dept. of Zoology at Berhampur University; Dr. Siba Prasad Parida, Professor; and Shri Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra, former Scientist, Zoological Survey of India, were felicitated during the inaugural session for their invaluable contributions to science and conservation. Their critical insights and mentorship elevated the quality of discourse during the Hackathon.
Students from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar Shine at Hackathon – Selected for Nationals. In a moment of great pride and academic excellence, the team representing the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, has been selected to compete at the prestigious National Level Hackathon Competition. The brilliant trio —Swati Pradhan, Subham Mohapatra, and Sahil Samser Alam — showcased exceptional innovation, technical acumen, and team synergy, earning them a well-deserved spot at the national stage.
The competitive programme witnessed outstanding participation from institutions across the country. Securing the Second Position was the dedicated team from CASIN, Department of Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu. The team, comprising Sandhiya P., Celcia Ganan Rathinam, and W. V., impressed the judges with their creative solutions and domain expertise.
The Third Position was awarded to the promising team from the Department of Environmental Science, Berhampur University, Odisha. Team members Sakti Prasad Patnayak, Sandeep Rout, and Biswajit Samantaray demonstrated commendable habitat modelling abilities.
The ceremony was addressed with a note for active call for integrating scientific innovation, policy advocacy, and community engagement to safeguard the rich and diverse estuarine ecosystems of India. The organizers expressed deep appreciation for the spirited involvement of participants, mentors, and guests, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue such initiatives to build a resilient ecological future.
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