Inauguration of University Scholar Conference (USC 2022)

ICIMOD, Lalitpur

17 May 2022

The second edition of University Scholar Conference was inaugurated at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on May 17th 2022. University Scholar Conference is a University student level engineering and innovation conference organized by the Association of Mechanical Engineering Students (AMES) at Kathmandu University. With the theme of “Women’s Empowerment in Engineering” USC 2022 is hosted by Kathmandu University and co-hosted by Himalayan University Consortium (HUC-ICIMOD). The inauguration of the two day conference event has commenced with lighting Panas by the Director General of ICIMOD Dr. Pema Gyamtsho. A short introductory video about past and current University Scholar Conference was presented at beginning of the session followed by welcome remarks by Dr. Pema Gyamtsho and Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa (virtually).

Dr. Pema Gyamtsho discussed the global climate change issue and highlighted on the lifestyle of people living in the plain as well as the mountainous regions. Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa current Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University who also served as the Conference chair for first USC 2021 expressed his satisfaction that the conference is growing and events in future should address global Sustainable Development Goals.

In the Keynote speech, Dr. David Molden shared his experience working on the issues of climate change, economic conflicts and lifestyle in mountain region. Mr. Indu Bikram Joshi, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Science and Technology of Government of Nepal appreciated women empowerment and encouraged women in STEM. He also addressed that the Government of Nepal expects Universities to focus on curriculum that delivers current development.

Prof. Dr. Tri Ratna Bajracharya, HUC steering committee member at ICIMOD expressed his satisfaction for being able to get associated with such conference and more of such activities would take place in days to come by engaging youth under HUC.

Prof. Dr. Bim Prasad Shrestha, Conference Chair for USC 2022 elaborated about the conference and expressed satisfaction that this year conference has received high number of quality papers from national and regional level and having partnering with HUC-ICIMOD has added the researchers to interact with their peers across HKH region and beyond.

The inauguration session ended with poster presentation and group photo followed by lunch and interaction at the ICIMOD premises.