Overview
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham hosted a roundtable titled “From Sensor to Settlement: Operationalising University‑Led Disaster Risk Reduction and Locally Led Climate Resilience” on 10 November at the YÖK Pavilion in the COP31 Blue Zone, Antalya. The university’s Chancellor, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), called for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and emphasized compassion‑driven research.
Key Initiatives
- The university showcased its wireless sensor network for landslide detection, first deployed in Munnar, Kerala in 2009 and later extended to Sikkim, demonstrating the technology’s scalability across Indian terrain.
- Dr. Raghu Raman, Dean of the Amrita School of Business and UNESCO Chairholder, highlighted the need for reliable technology, trusted local authorities, and communities that understand alerts, stressing that warnings must be delivered in voice, text and sign language to include persons with disabilities.
- Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, Pro Vice‑Chancellor and UNESCO Chairholder, underscored the role of artificial intelligence, when used responsibly, to enhance accessibility of early‑warning messages.
Institutional Profile
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is ranked among the top ten universities in India and placed 37th globally in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings. The university hosts three UNESCO Chairs, including the UNESCO Chair on Assistive Technologies in Education.
Excluded Content
References to partner institutions from Nepal, Thailand, Kenya and broader COP31 discussions on global adaptation finance, as well as the Turkish host’s imece concept, have been omitted to focus solely on India‑specific information.