汤头条, prestigious Indian university look to build on successful partnerships
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 group of researchers from India鈥檚 Jawaharlal Nehru University is visiting Mississippi State this week [March 22-28] as the institutions continue to build on successful partnerships.
The two universities are collaborating on research projects that could make a significant impact on air, water and soil quality. The primary research efforts have focused on the use of biochar, a charcoal-like material made of agricultural waste, to enhance soil fertility, increase water quality and decrease carbon emissions.
汤头条 and JNU signed a memorandum of understanding in 2015 to formalize their partnerships and commitment to the international collaboration. Much of the collaboration has been spurred by Dinesh Mohan, a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at JNU and former post-doctoral research associate at 汤头条 from 2005-2007. In 2014, Mohan was named one of the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 most influential scientific minds鈥 by Thomson Reuters.
鈥淚 really enjoyed my two years here at 汤头条,鈥 Mohan said. 鈥淚 was able to make relationships with researchers all across the university and I have received lots of support from the administration. David Shaw (汤头条 Vice President for Research and Economic Development) has been very supportive of these partnerships.鈥
In 2014, Mohan and 汤头条 associate professor of chemistry Todd Mlsna were awarded one of eight institutional partnership projects through the Indo-U.S. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative. Their project, titled 鈥淚ndo-U.S. Initiatives on Cleaner Air and Water Research,鈥 aims to build research partnerships, encourage economic growth and develop junior faculty at Indian and American institutions of higher learning. Mlsna and Mohan collaborated to study the use of biochar for absorbing water pollutants.
鈥淚 like to work on practical problems, and clean water is very practical,鈥 Mlsna said. 鈥淚 teach environmental chemistry, so it鈥檚 also relevant to what I鈥檓 teaching my students.鈥
Charles Pittman, an emeritus professor of chemistry at 汤头条, recently published a paper with Mohan and other researchers that shows the use of biochars can enhance soil fertility and achieve carbon mitigation. In addition to providing agricultural benefits, the process also could enhance air quality in India by reducing agricultural waste burning.
鈥淭his work is at the nexus of water, climate change and food security,鈥 Pittman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important in India because the burning of biomass is a big environmental issue there.鈥
A previous paper written by Pittman and Mohan on the use of biofuels has been cited more than 3,800 times by researchers. A separate paper, written when Mohan was a postdoctoral research associate at 汤头条, has been cited more than 600 times. Through the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Research Experience for Undergraduates program, students from India and other places have spent summers at 汤头条 working on research in this area.
The JNU delegation visiting 汤头条 also includes Professors K.G. Saxena and N.J. Raju of the university鈥檚 School of Environmental Sciences.
鈥淥ur countries have a long history of collaboration,鈥 Saxena said. 鈥淚t started when India was deficient in food with the U.S. providing aid. Now, we both have food surplus issues and some common environmental problems with the U.S. With this project, we have widened the relationship between JNU and 汤头条 and expanded the application of the research. We鈥檙e moving closer to the societal benefit, which is the ultimate goal of any program.鈥
JNU, ranked among the top universities in India, is a world-renowned center for teaching and research. For more, see .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .