Delhi research institute gets modern tools to study Earth’s history

In an effort to upgrade the research capabilities to study Earth’s history, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on Tuesday inaugurated a School on Geochronology Techniques – 2025.

The school was launched by M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), a Delhi-based research institute.

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In his inaugural address, Ravichandran, underscored the importance of the discipline for understanding Earth’s history, mapping natural resources, and responding to environmental challenges, including climate change and natural hazards.

He urged the researchers to “look beyond data generation” and sharpen their analytical skills to make for meaningful scientific interpretation.

Ravichandran further emphasised the multiplier effect of training schools, stating that young researchers should act as teachers and disseminate their learnings across their institutions, thereby strengthening the national knowledge base.
To illustrate the vital role of geochronology in revealing past environmental and climatic processes, the Earth Sciences Secretary cited the studies conducted on Antarctica. He observed that such studies enable scientists to link long-term geological changes with contemporary challenges such as natural hazards, resource management and climate resilience.
Speaking at the event, N Khare, Advisor & Programme Head, SAGE, MoES, appreciated the unique role of IUAC in not only providing advanced analytical facilities but also imparting hands-on training to young researchers.
The inaugural session was also addressed by Prof. A C Pandey, Director, IUAC; Dr. Pankaj Kumar, IUAC; and Ms. Chaitiya Aswal, IUAC. Faculty, scientists, and young researchers from across India are participating in the week-long training programme.