Banur, April 15: Three faculty members from Chitkara University, Punjab, have been selected for the prestigious Australian Awards Fellowship and are currently in Australia working on a global research project addressing Punjab’s water and agricultural challenges.
The month-long fellowship, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is being hosted by Western Sydney University. The research project, titled “Paani, Paddy and Punjab: A State at the Crossroads of Environmental Sustainability,” brings together scholars from India, Fiji, and Indonesia.
The Indian contingent includes Dr. Ashutosh Mishra, Dean, Chitkara School of Mass Communication, along with Dr. Gitanjali Kalia, Associate Professor, and Dr. Ripudaman Singh, Assistant Professor.
“Our goal is to explore sustainable alternatives to Punjab’s traditional paddy cultivation, which has long strained the state’s groundwater reserves,” said Dr. Mishra. “Through this collaboration, we aim to gather best practices in sustainable agriculture and environmental communication.”
The fellowship allows participants to engage with Australian researchers, environmental experts, and policymakers to study global approaches to water conservation and sustainable farming.
Dr. Kalia noted, “This is not just a research trip. It’s an opportunity to return with solutions that can work on the ground in Punjab and beyond.”
The project also underscores the importance of media in shaping public opinion and influencing environmental policy. “We are examining how communication can be a tool for sustainability,” said Dr. Singh.
Chitkara University said the collaboration reflects its commitment to global academic partnerships and meaningful research that addresses real-world issues.
“This recognition and the project itself reinforce our role as contributors to sustainable development and environmental responsibility,” the university said in a statement.
