Latest news with #MIT-WPU
India Today
22-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Drop in Pune's ability to absorb carbon is a wakeup call for most Indian cities
Pune, one of India's fastest-growing urban centers, has witnessed a dramatic 34% decline in its carbon sequestration capacity over the past decade, according to a new study by MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) and Sustaina Greens research, led by Dr. Pankaj Koparde and Pratiksha Chalke, highlights the environmental cost of the city's rapid expansion, with built-up areas increasing by 12% between 2013 and surge in urban development has come at the expense of Pune's green cover, significantly reducing the city's ability to absorb carbon dioxide—a major greenhouse gas driving climate change. The study, published in the journal Sustainable Futures, also found a 13% drop in Pune's flood mitigation potential, attributed to the disruption of natural drainage systems and unchecked construction along riversides and changes have heightened the city's vulnerability to flooding, especially as erratic monsoon patterns become more frequent. The study points to the importance of preserving Pune's native landscapes its hills, rivers, and wetlands. (Photo: Getty) Dr. Koparde emphasized the crucial role of Pune's native landscapes—its hills, rivers, and wetlands—which historically have acted as natural buffers against carbon emissions, heat, and results underline the irreplaceable role of native geological and ecological features such as urban hills and wetlands in maintaining urban environmental health. As tropical metro cities like Pune expand, sustainable development can only be achieved by leveraging these native assets rather than undermining them,' he study calls for urgent policy interventions, including the protection and restoration of urban hills, wetlands, and riverside green buffers. It advocates for the adoption of ecosystem service valuation models and integrated urban planning frameworks to ensure that future growth is both ecologically balanced and R. M. Chitnis, Vice-Chancellor of MIT-WPU, described the findings as a wake-up call for all rapidly urbanising Indian cities.'Science must guide policy, and sustainability must be central to all development. It is imperative that urban planning prioritizes ecological preservation alongside progress,' he cities across India and the Global South grapple with climate change and urbanization, Pune's experience serves as a critical case study in balancing growth with environmental Watch
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
MIT-WPU School of Economics and Commerce launches B.Com Financial Analysis Program
The MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) has launched its new Financial Analysis program, with the CFA Institute delegation in attendance. The ceremony highlighted collaborative plans to integrate financial curriculum into the university's academic programs. This aims to equip students with the skills required for successful careers in the global finance sector. Under the newly launched Financial Analysis program, MIT-WPU will offer on-campus training for the CFA Level I and II examinations, integrating them directly into the curriculum. In the first year, students will also have the opportunity to pursue the Investment Foundations Certificate from CFA Institute. This certificate will provide them with an understanding of the investment industry, including its structure, core concepts, and ethical considerations. Dr. R. M. Chitnis, Vice Chancellor, MIT-WPU, said, 'CA, CS, and CMA are professional courses in India, focused on auditing, taxation, and legal compliance, authorised under Acts of Parliament. In contrast, the CFA is a global qualification that supports companies in finance and investment banking, representing a distinct domain. Students who pursue these professional degrees alongside the CFA qualification will gain a significant competitive advantage in the fast-evolving world of finance.' Dr. Anjali Sane, Dean of the School of Economics and Commerce at MIT-WPU, said, ' With the launch of the Financial Analysis program, we had the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions on emerging trends in the investment industry. Our focus has been on building a curriculum that meets global industry standards and empowers students with the skills needed to thrive in the world of finance.'
Time of India
23-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kothrud residents take on MIT-WPU over construction
1 2 Pune: Kothrud residents staged a protest on Monday to voice their protest against MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU)'s construction activities at Vetal tekdi, claiming it would damage the natural habitat of peacocks and burden the area's infrastructure. As many as 250 people came together and marched towards the university where they chanted slogans and demanded an immediate halt to all new construction work. Children, senior citizens and students were part of the demonstration near the university's gate. People expressed their concern about the ongoing development works which would lead to an increase in student population, further straining the burdened local infrastructure. They urged the university to stop all construction activities and consider relocating some students to reduce pressure on the area. MIT-WPU registrar Ganesh Pokale told TOI, "We refute all allegations. Claims about noise, dust, environmental damage and legal violations are untrue and misleading. The land under construction is designated as a residential plot, where new facilities for a studio are being developed. It will not pressure the infrastructure." The university also issued a statement saying, "We reserve the right to take legal action if such false claims continue to spread. We reject all false and baseless allegations." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The residents said construction work would increase the student population — worsening traffic congestion, pollution, water scarcity and general disturbance — conditions with which residents are already struggling. Construction behind Sigma One, a society near the university, is encroaching upon the Vetal tekdi slope, a natural habitat for at least 50 peacocks, they claimed. Moreover, excavation activities would disrupt natural water aquifers, increasing the risk of floods during monsoons, they added. Residents said alarm bells went off when the university began to clear out vegetation and trees on the hill slope over the last few months. "The approach road to the construction site violates biodiversity park reservations and hilltop-hillslope zone rules. The spot is where citizens come to feed peacocks. Ever since the project started on the hillslope, peacocks have been displaced. Legal or not, this is destruction of the natural green cover and disruption of the only few animal habitats. We oppose the activities. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) must take accountability for the problems too — they cannot say there is a staff crunch preventing them from carrying out anti-encroachment drives," said Sandeep Bhadkamkar, a member of Citizens' Forum for ward 11. Protesters said the student population had risen from 5,000 to over 22,000 in five years because of the university. With the increase had come problems of encroachments, lack of pedestrian spaces, illegal parking and accidents. "We want PMC to ensure no encroachments take up space reserved for pedestrians and local residents. We want them to look at permissions issued for construction activities. Meanwhile, the university must evaluate the parking situation. Vehicles should be accommodated within the campus and not on the streets, something that causes large-scale traffic congestions," said Ramachandra Nirmal, a resident of the area.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
MIT researchers develop hydrogen from sugarcane juice
The MIT-WPU researchers have developed a hydrogen production process using sugarcane juice and microorganisms, a sustainable alternative that also converts CO₂ into acetic acid. This eco-friendly method aligns with India's Green Hydrogen Mission and can be a game-changer for the sugar industry. The project is led by researchers Sagar Kanekar, Bharat Kale, Anand Kulkarni, prof Niraj Topare, Santosh Patil, Dev Thapa, Biswas and Ratnadip Joshi. As per the information given by the research team, the university has developed a unique process to generate hydrogen from sugarcane juice using microorganisms, which also convert carbon dioxide into acetic acid, making it more sustainable. A patent has already been submitted for this technology. This project proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy (MNRE) for funding. Dr Bharat Kale, emeritus professor and director of Material Science [COE]s said, 'The university's bioprocess operates at room temperature using sugarcane juice, seawater, and wastewater, contributing to global efforts to reduce hydrogen costs to $1/kg. We are seeking industry partners for lab-scale development and eventual technology transfer.' 'The work on hydrogen storage is also in progress using Metal-Organic Framework (MOF). The MOFs for hydrogen storage and CO2 capture have been focused on intensely. The university aims to support industries in scaling up the technology, which could be commercially viable within a year,' said Sagar Kanekar.
India Today
22-04-2025
- Science
- India Today
Could sugarcane juice power your car? An Indian team is working to make it possible
As the world continues to look at new alternatives to fossil fuel, your car of the future could have a fuel source extracted from sugarcane fuels are the main source of energy used by humans today. But using too much of them is causing these fuels to run out and creating serious environmental problems. At the same time, the energy demand is growing quickly as the world's economy grows and the population estimate that by 2040, global energy use will increase by 48% compared to what it was in 2012. To reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and meet this growing energy need, we must find a new fuel that is plentiful, renewable, and better for the environment. Sugarcane juice is being used to extract clean hydrogen. (Photo: Sibu Tripathi) This green alternative is hydrogen, which could be extracted from sugarcane juice, and India is one of the biggest producers of sugarcane in the at the Pune-based MIT-World Peace University have devised a unique method to extract hydrogen from sugarcane juice that could be then used as a fuel to power hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which use hydrogen gas to generate patented technology has been successfully used to extract over 140 litres of hydrogen from four litres of sugarcane team is using an undisclosed microorganism, which also converts carbon dioxide into acetic acid, making it more university has developed an innovative bioprocess that uses sugarcane juice, along with seawater and wastewater, to extract green hydrogen — all at room approach stands out from conventional water-splitting methods by not only lowering energy requirements but also producing valuable byproducts, resulting in zero waste discharge. Researchers at the Pune-based MIT-World Peace University have devised the unique method. (Photo: Sibu Tripathi) "The process supports the global push to bring down the cost of hydrogen to $1 per kilogram, making it a promising solution for India's clean energy transition. The team is now looking for industry partners to help scale the technology from the lab to real-world applications through collaboration and technology transfer,". Dr Bharat Kale, Emeritus Professor & Director of the Material Science Department at MIT-WPU university aims to support industries in scaling up the technology, which could be commercially viable within a the process is unique, it still takes over three to four days to extract the hydrogen from the given sample of sugarcane university is now looking to scale up the production in collaboration with private players.(The author visited MIT-WPU on an familiarisation invitation from the university)Must Watch
