Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s recently launched school in Pune will start training graduates to make climate change predictions similar to the weather forecasts available now. The first batch of students will start their course next June.
The purpose of the centre will be to make futuristic models based on the impact of climate change and predict rainfall, temperature changes and water availability. This will be of use for sectors like agriculture, power and related industries in optimising their resources and planning their line of action.
“We lack a competent system and people who can create models on climate change. Our models usually are based on the past data. We have to study futuristic scenario on climate change considering the levels of emission, rising temperatures and change in the population patterns to make predictions. The centre will offer graduate, post graduate and doctorate studies and create a pool of talent who will research and come up with such models,” said Shailesh Nayak, secretary, ministry of earth sciences.
The centre will admit the first batch of 15 to 20 engineering and science graduates from next June. In five years it will train around 60 students. The faculty will consist of those from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meterology and will also have visiting members from different foreign as well as Indian universities.
The services of the first batch of graduates will be made available in around eight months, while the duration for post graduate and doctorate courses will be of two and four years respectively.
