The two-day National Symposium on “Advancing Sustainable Innovations and Community Impact”, organized under the aegis of SPECS, Speaking Cube, and Avalokan Sanstha, was successfully inaugurated on 30th March 2026 in Dehradun (Uttarakhand).
The symposium witnessed enthusiastic participation from eminent academicians, researchers, industry experts, principals, and thought leaders from across the country. The platform facilitated insightful deliberations on the critical role of innovation in driving sustainable development and fostering meaningful community transformation.
The Chief Guest, Dr. V. K. Varshney, Scientist-G, Forest Research Institute (FRI), delivered a compelling keynote address on “Use of Chemistry in Non-Timber Forest Products” & elaborated on how chemistry plays a pivotal role in enhancing the value, conservation, and sustainable utilization of forest resources. He further emphasized that scientific applications can significantly strengthen rural livelihoods, promote environmentally responsible industries, and ensure biodiversity conservation.
The program commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Deepika Chamoli Shahi, who felicitated the distinguished guests and participants. In her address, she highlighted the importance of the human mind in driving innovation, stating that meaningful change begins with conscious thought. She emphasized that sustainable development extends beyond technological advancement and must be rooted in ethics, awareness, and social responsibility. She encouraged participants to adopt solution-oriented and multidisciplinary approaches to address contemporary challenges.
The Lead Speaker, Dr. Anil Jaggi, CEO, Conscious Ventures, delivered a keynote lecture on “Innovations, Technology and Community Impact ” & emphasized the need for collaborative and inclusive technological innovations to achieve sustainable development, with a special focus on accessibility with Tech solutions (AI, Robotics, AR/VR) for persons with special needs.
A major highlight of the event was the release of the conference proceedings, followed by the Excellence in Research Awards, conferred upon distinguished researchers and academicians for their significant contributions:
- Prof. Vijay Kumar, Principal, Dhanouri PG College, Haridwar.
- Dr. Vinod Bhatt, Chairman & Founder, and Eng. Sudhir Jugran, Uttaranchal University, Premnagar, Dehradun.
- Prof. (Dr.) Priyanka Kaushik, Deputy Director, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Jaipur.
- Dr. Surmadhur Pant, Dean Academics, Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun.
- Dr. Parul Singhal, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Maya Devi University.
- Dr. Anjali Khare Sonvani, Head Academic Services, BFIT Group of Institutions, Dehradun.
- Ajay Kumar Verma, Associate Dean, Centre of Business Incubation & Innovation, Shivalik College of Engineering.
- Rahul Mahla, Law College, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun.
- Vinod Kumar, Registrar, HRIT University, Ghaziabad.
- Dr. Rachna Rathore, Independent Researcher, Department of Mathematics, Gwalior.
- Dr. Narottam Sharma, Managing Director & Head, CRIS–DNA Labs, Dehradun.
- Prof. (Dr.) Saurabh Pratap Singh Rathore, School of Management & Commerce, Vikrant University, Gwalior.
- Dr. Pratap Chandra Padhi, Director & Head, SIPET, Dehradun.
- Dr. Lokesh Gambhir, Registrar & Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Shri Guru Ram Rai University.
- Dr. P. S. Chauhan, Assistant Professor, VSKC Government PG College, Dakpathar.
- Mr. Pankaj Fulara, Assistant Technical Officer, SIPET, Dehradun.
The program was successfully coordinated by Mr. Hari Raj Singh, Advisor, SPECS, and the vote of thanks was delivered by the Founder of SPECS, Dr. Brij Mohan Sharma.
