THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 15, 2026
Coastal ecosystems are under unprecedented stress from climate change and
human activity, and coordinated scientific action is now critical to safeguard
India’s shorelines, experts emphasised at the conclusion of a two-day national
conference at Centurion University.
The Centre for Earth System and Sustainability, a Centre of Excellence of
Centurion University, wrapped up its National Conference on “Coastal Ecosystems
and Emerging Challenges (CEEC)” held on February 12 and 13 with a strong call
for interdisciplinary collaboration, policy integration and technological
innovation to address growing environmental risks along the country’s coasts.
Sponsored by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, the conference brought
together around 80 leading scientists, academicians and industry experts. The
event was organised in collaboration with the university’s Department of Civil
Engineering in Bhubaneswar and the School of Fisheries in Paralakhemundi,
creating a platform that bridged engineering, marine science and sustainability
studies.
The inaugural session was attended by Dr. Anil Kumar Vijayan, Scientist F
at the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, as Chief Guest, alongside Vice
Chancellor Prof. Supriya Pattanaik.
Speakers highlighted the fragile state of coastal biodiversity, the
intensifying impacts of sea-level rise and extreme weather events, and the need
to align technological innovation with environmental governance.
“The urgency for sustainable coastal resource management has never been
greater. We must foster collaborative efforts to tackle the dual threats of
climate change and rapid environmental degradation,” the university leadership
stated during the session.
The conference featured 16 invited lectures and five technical sessions
that examined climate-induced coastal hazards, biodiversity conservation,
sustainable aquaculture, marine pollution monitoring and emerging engineering
and biotechnological solutions for shoreline protection. Industry partners including
Sagro Tech Solution, Blue Ocean, IFFCO, Mahapatra Scientific Pvt. Ltd. and
Spandan NGO contributed to discussions on applied research and field-level
interventions.
Deliberations underscored the importance of mangrove restoration,
real-time coastal monitoring systems, pollution control strategies and
community-based fisheries management to strengthen climate resilience.
Participants also stressed the need for data-driven planning and stronger
institutional linkages between academia, government and industry.
The conference was convened by Dr. Kamal Barik with Dr. Pratap Kumar
Chhotaray as Organising Secretary, supported by Joint Organising Secretaries
Dr. Sambit Swain and Dr. Satyanarayan Sahu.
At the valedictory session, Dr. Nobi E. P., Scientist at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Prof. Biswajeet Mishra, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Centurion University, commended the scientific depth of the presentations and emphasised future collaborative research initiatives aimed at strengthening coastal resilience and sustainable resource management.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to translate scientific insights into policy frameworks and practical interventions to protect India’s vulnerable coastal ecosystems in the face of accelerating climate challenges.
