CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI), Hyderabad, celebrated the “One Week, One Lab” programme from 04 to 09 September 2023 by organising the weeklong programmes.

The programme was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr PS Goel, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, with Guests of Honour Dr N Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR & Secretary DSIR and Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Dept of IT, Telangana. Dr Prakash Kumar, Director, CSIR-NGRI, outlined the week's schedule and discussed NGRI's scientific vision, emphasising cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning.

Dr Kalaiselvi, who joined virtually, extended best wishes, highlighting NGRI's role in addressing societal challenges. Shri Jayesh Ranjan praised CSIR's campaign and invited NGRI to join Telangana's Research and Innovation Circle, offering support for scientific experiments. Dr PS Goel shared views on future research, emphasising demand-driven science and collaboration methods.

MoUs were also exchanged with IIT Madras, SRTM University, and Bundelkhand University for research collaboration. Dr Goel also inaugurated an R&D exhibition showcasing NGRI's research accomplishments.

On 5 September 2023, a Geoscience Conclave was organised, inviting eminent geoscientists of the country to speak on their work done in the past decades in various geoscience disciplines.  During this meeting, seven experts delivered the talks on frontier areas of geophysics. 

The next event, Stakeholder Connect, on 6 September 2023, aimed to engage with various stakeholders to ensure effective communication, gather feedback, address concerns, and foster mutually beneficial relationships. Representatives from NPCIL, ONGC, NMDC Ltd, Geological Survey of India, Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water Department participated in the stakeholder meeting and held discussions with the CSIR-NGRI scientists.

Shri Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, CMD, NPCIL, was the Chief Guest and Dr Ch. Venkateshwar Rao, Additional Director General, Geological Survey of India, was the Guest of Honour. The programme started with an introduction to the CSIR-NGRI activities and contributions by Dr Prakash Kumar, and it was followed by a talk on “Ease of doing business with CSIR” by Dr Darokar, Chief Scientist, CSIR Head Quarters.

The programme ‘Society Connect’ was a potential campaign mode programme oriented toward strengthening society and agriculture farmers by promoting scientific practices for sustainable groundwater management. The programme addressed the farmers’ issues and inculcated the innovative modalities CSIR-NGRI and eminent groundwater professionals have developed. Nearly 200 farmers from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, besides 40 students, accompanied by their teachers from local schools in Choutuppal, participated. The event was inaugurated by Shri Vedire Sriram, Adviser to the Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt of India. Shri VK Upadhyay, Director UPGWD and Dr P Rajendra Prasad, Sir Arthur Cotton Geospatial Chair Professor, Andhra University, were the Guests of Honour.

The Workshop on "Geothermal Energy Resources of India: Present Status and Way Forward" was organised from 7-8 September to bring together experts, researchers, and industry leaders to create a collaborative environment where knowledge is shared, innovative ideas are exchanged, and a roadmap for the future development of geothermal energy in India is projected. The inaugural session took place on 7 September 2023. The Chief Guest for the event was Padma Bhushan Dr VK Saraswat, Hon'ble Member of NITI Aayog. The Guests of Honour included Prof. SK Mehta, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ladakh, and Padma Shri Prof. HK Gupta, President of the Geological Society of India.

Dr VK Saraswat delivered a detailed presentation covering the significance of geothermal energy, national strategies and targets for the development of geothermal energy in the country, next-generation geothermal technologies (Enhance Geothermal System, EGS and Advance Geothermal System, AGS), current challenges of geothermal resources for sustainable energy in India and the vital role to be played by CSIR-NGRI in this context.

Dr Saraswat also released a volume of abstracts, which serves as a compendium of insights, ideas, and the latest R&D findings discussed during the workshop. It offers a glimpse into the current state of geothermal energy resources in India, the strategies required to propel this renewable energy source and developing future strategies.

The “Student/Public Connect” was a full-day event held as part of the “Jigyasa” programme, open to all students, teachers, and the general public. During this event, CSIR-NGRI showcased more than ten exhibits featuring various R&D activities. Attendees, including students and the public, had the opportunity to interact with scientists and gain knowledge about rock types, natural resource exploration, earthquake and tsunami phenomena, earthquake risks, hazard prevention, and the extent and sustainability of groundwater.

CSIR-NGRI has the country's first open-air rock museum, featuring a vast collection of rock samples from different geological regions. This museum was a major attraction for students, offering insights into various types of rocks, their formation, and the valuable information they provide. To enhance the experience, a student-scientific quiz encouraged participants to delve deeper into the field of earth sciences.

The Open Day of the “One Week, One Lab” programme was held on              8 September 2023. It was a captivating and enjoyable educational event designed to foster a deeper understanding of Earth Sciences among students. There were more than 6,000 visitors during the public connect event, including over 150 schools, colleges, and institutes, and members of the general public and NGOs.

The Valedictory ceremony was organised on 9 September 2023. Dr D Srinivasa Reddy, Director CSIR-IICT and Dr Vinay K Nandikoori, Director, CSIR-CCMB, were the Guests of Honours. Former Directors of CSIR-NGRI also graced the occasion. They extended their congratulations for the successful execution of the “One Week, One Lab” programme and emphasised the significance and fruitful outcomes of collaborative events like this. During the ceremony, all seven event coordinators presented summaries of their respective events. Dr N Purnachandra Rao, Chief Scientist CSIR-NGRI, proposed the vote of thanks.