SECOND NATIONAL SEMINAR AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS OF
NORTH-EAST INDIA GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
On
CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NORTH-EAST INDIA
05-06 November, 2015
Organized by
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES
MIZORAM UNIVERSITY (CENTRAL)
AIZAWL – 796004
Potential Sponsoring Agencies
ICSSR, ICAR, NEC, NAAC, INSA, SERC-DST AND
MIZORAM UNIVERSITY
Patron
Prof. R. Lalthantluanga
Vice Chancellor
Convener
Prof. G. Kumar (09436151289)
Organizing Secretary
Prof. Vishwambhar Prasad Sati (09089904889)
Joint Organizing Secretary
Dr. K. C. Lalmalsawmzauva (08575159007)
Coordinators
Prof. P. Rinawma
Dr. Rintluanga Pachuau
Dr. Ch. Udayabhaskara Rao
Benjamin L. Saitluanga
N. Bobby Singh
Contact Details:
Organizing Secretary, Department of Geography and Resource Management, School of Earth Sciences, Mizoram
University (Central), Aizawl – 796004, Mizoram, E-mail: mzugeography@gmail.com
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SEMINAR
Concern about climate change in the 21st century is believed to have necessitated an intensive study
responses in terms of resilience and adaptability of mankind to his ecological settings. In spite of the
fact that awareness about climate change and associated impacts on ecological niches of the biotic
world has been steadily growing for some times amongst the scientific and the global community,
policy attention and accordant strategies on the parts of governments are found not to have
addressed the issue with compatible seriousness. The more recent rise in scientific attention to
transformations in ‘life support systems of the various ecosystems’ vis-à-vis climate change has put
enormous challenges to management and conservation of resources as well as to multilateral global
socio-economic relations particularly in the light of attempts at maximization of human welfare at
national and sub-national levels. World conservation strategies as well Agenda 21 at the Rio
Conference in 1992 identified three objectives in the interest of the wellbeing of mankind: (1)
maintenance of basic life support systems (food production, health and other aspects of human
survival) derived from essential ecological processes ‘governed, supported or strongly moderated by
ever evolving ecosystems, (2) preservation of genetic diversity to protect agrarian production system
and secure investment for the future, and (3) to ensure ‘sustainable development of species and
ecosystems’ – all susceptible to smallest variations in climatic conditions. Addressing the issue (s)
essentially appears to be a long term policy problem. It must be realized that though riddled with
uncertainties resilience and ‘governance of adaptation to climate change relies on knowledge about
long term policy problem. This necessarily implies ‘multiple policy cycles’ taking into account the
effects of the impacts of climate change as well as the effects of the adaptation measures in vogue.
As a common responsibility, it calls for positive intervention by the governments and active
participation not only of civil society and business community but also of the common man – the
biggest stakeholder in any system of governance and policy formulation. It is also felt that the
growing body of scientific knowledge does not by itself bring about ‘consistency in societal attention,
political commitment and state intervention’. Scholars addressing the issue since early 1970s have
found it to be a ‘wicked problem par excellence’ because vested interests have been leading to
different problem formulations and strategies to tackle them. Paradox of approaches appears to
have been instigating profound and conflicting transformations both socially and environmentally.
However, our information of such transformations is limited. Still much less is our knowledge about
how positive transformations may be achieved in an equitable and sustainable manner.
The proposed national seminar, therefore, is aimed at reviewing the existing knowledge
organization, analysis of the obtained economic conditions as well as socio-political power structure
at different scalar levels. It is also expected to objectively devise methods for consensual policy and
strategy formulations in the larger interest of the people at various spatial levels with particular
emphasis on India and its North-Eastern states.
MAJOR SUBTHEMES
•
•
•
Climate Change Theories
Anthropogenic Global Warming
Climate Change and Social Transformation
o Population
o Migration
o Education
o Occupation
•
•
•
Climate Change and Ecological Transformation
o Changes in Land-use Pattern
o Changes in Cropping Pattern
o Changes in Distribution Pattern of Floral and Faunal Species
o Major Water Sources and Availability of Water
Climate Variability
o Temperature
o Rainfall
o Humidity
Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND DEPARTMENT
Mizoram University was established on 2nd July 2001 by the Mizoram University Act, 2000 which
appeared in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on 25th April, 2000 as a Central University having His
Excellency, the President of India as its Visitor. The objectives of the University, as laid down in the
Act are "to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in
such branches of learning as it may deem fit, to make provisions for integrated courses in humanities,
natural and physical sciences, social sciences, forestry and other allied disciplines in the educational
programmes of the University; to take appropriate measures for promoting innovations in teachingdisciplinary studies and research; to educate and train man-power in the development of the state of
Mizoram; and to pay special attention to the improvement of the social and economic conditions and
welfare of the people of that State, their intellectual, academic and cultural development". Keeping
these objectives in view, Mizoram University has embarked on various programmes/schemes in
terms of academic and administrative development.
This Department was established in 2003 under the name of Department of Geography, Tribal
Culture and Resource Management. Later on, the name of the department was changed to
‘Department of Geography and Resource Management’. This department awards M.Sc. degree in
Geography and total student intake is 25/semester. In addition, the department also commence
Ph.D. course. It is actively engaged in developing its laboratories, GIS, Computer and Cartography and
inputs specialized courses in regional planning and is intending to provide specialized courses in
Remote Sensing, GIS and Computer Cartography during the 12th Plan period. Currently there are eight
faculty members and four non-teaching staff in the department.
HOW TO REACH AIZAWL
Aizawl can be reached by Air through Kolkata/Guwahati. Connected flights are also available from
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. The MZU is approximately 20 Km away from Lengpui Airport
towards Aizawl city. Pre-paid taxis are easily available from the Airport to reach the Institute. The taxi
fare is Rs. 800. Silchar is the nearest railway station to Aizawl. The journey (by road) from Silchar to
Aizawl takes around 6 Hrs. Sumos (share basis) are available from Mizoram Circuit House, Sonai Road,
Silchar.
Although, climatic conditions are very feasible throughout the year yet; the month of November is bit
a cold. The sky remains clear and temperature remains between 12o and 20o C. Warm clothes are
requited during morning and evening.
ACCOMMODATION AND REGISTRATION FEES
Accommodation will be provided free of cost in the hotels and university guest house for the outstationed participants. On the spot nominal registration fee is Rs. 600 for the faculties and Rs. 400 for
the Research Scholars.
SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACT AND FULL LENGTH MANUSCRIPT
ABSTRACT
Abstract Book of the Seminar will be published separately. The format of abstract is as follows: Title
of the Manuscript (New Times Roman, font size 14, bold) followed by author (s) name, affiliation (s)
and email (s) (New Times Roman, font size 11, italics). Abstract should be between 150 to 200 words
comprising introduction, objective, methodology used and findings without giving headings and five
key words. It should be in New Times Roman with font size 11. Abstract should be submitted through
email attachment on or before 30 June, 2015, E-mail: mzugeography@gmail.com
FULL LENGTH PAPER
Publication of pre-seminar proceedings is proposed which will be released on the inauguration day of
the seminar. The format of the manuscript should be as follows: First page – Title of paper (New
Times Roman, font size 14, bold), name of author (s) affiliation (s) and email of corresponding author
(New Times Roman, font size 11, italics). No abstract is required for the full length. The text will start
with introduction, methods and materials, results and discussion, conclusions and references. Foot
notes are highly discouraged. The manuscript should be written in New Times Roman and font size
11. Reference cited in the text and in the end should strictly be according to Harvard Referencing
Style. For example:
Arrami, M. & Garner, H. (2008) A tale of two citations. Nature, 451 (7177), 397-399.
Barros, B., Read, T. & Verdejo, M. F. (2008) Virtual collaborative experimentation: an approach combining
remote and local labs. IEEE Transactions on Education, [Online] 51 (2), 242-250 Available from:
doi:10.1109/TE.2007.908071 [Accessed 29th June 2010].
Full length paper should also be submitted through email attachment only on or before July 30, 2015,
E-mail: mzugeography@gmail.com