April 11, 2025, 5:04 pm By Sharon Tracy Gomes Public Archive General
The three-day workshop on ‘Biogeochemical Cycling in the Indian Ocean,’ organized by the CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Goa, has successfully concluded on 28 March 2025. The workshop, conducted under the aegis of the International Science Council (ISC) and the National Committee of INSA-SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research), brought together 35 final-year MSc and early-stage PhD students from across the country to enhance their understanding of oceanographic processes, with a special focus on biogeochemical cycling in the Indian Ocean.
The event, held from March 26 to 28, 2025, featured a series of in-depth lectures, interactive discussions, and laboratory visit, which were led by a distinguished group of 18 experts in oceanography. These experts shared their wealth of knowledge and research experiences with the participants, providing valuable insights into the complex interactions between biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape the marine ecosystem of the Indian Ocean.
The resource persons for the workshop included renowned oceanographers such as Prof. Manmohan Sarin, Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, Dr. Dileep Kumar, Dr. Prasanna Kumar, Dr. Satheesh Shenoy, Dr. VVS Sarma, Dr. Ramana Murthy, Dr. Waliur Rehman, Dr. Pratima Kessarkar, Dr. Tarun Dalai, Dr. A.D. Singh, Dr. Aninda Mazumdar, Dr. Ravi Bhushan, Dr. Arvind Singh, Dr. Mangesh Gauns, Dr. Neetu Suresh, Dr. Damodar Shenoy, and Prof. Suneet Dwivedi.
The workshop provided an exceptional platform for students to engage with experts in the field, foster collaborative learning, and deepen their understanding of biogeochemical cycling processes in the Indian Ocean, which plays a crucial role in global climate dynamics, nutrient cycling, and marine productivity.
The final day of the workshop included an interactive session where students were invited to provide feedback on the sessions, which allowed the organizing committee to assess the effectiveness of the workshop and gather insights for future improvements. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants highlighting the high-quality content, expert guidance, and the opportunity to network with professionals in the field.
Prof. Sunil Kumar Sing, Director-CSIR-NIO, in his concluding remark highlighted that this workshop aimed not only to impart knowledge but also to inspire the next generation of oceanographers and environmental scientists. And, how essential it is to understand the complexities of the ocean’s biogeochemical cycles to develop strategies for its preservation and sustainability.
Prof. Manmohan Sarin , Chairman of the INSA-SCOR National Committee, in his remarks, elucidated INSA-SCOR commitment to fostering such educational opportunities that will help develop a new generation of scientists well-equipped to address the challenges facing our oceans and the environment at large.
To conclude the program, certificates of participation were distributed to all the participants in recognition of their engagement and commitment to advancing their knowledge in oceanography.
The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Mangesh Uttam Gauns, Chief Scientist at CSIR-NIO, Goa, who thanked all resource persons and participants for their active involvement, ensuring the event’s success.