Exploring Water and Sustainability : Satva 2025 at IIT Palakkad

The Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Engineering Centre (ESSENCE), in collaboration with the Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence (GSCOCE) and the Centre for Periyar River Basin Management Studies (cPeriyar), organized SATVA 2025 – ESSENCE’s annual flagship symposium. This year’s theme focused on Water and Sustainability, bringing together experts, practitioners, and students to engage in meaningful dialogue on pressing environmental issues. The symposium featured insightful talks by eminent speakers including Dr. Jaideep Joshi, IIT Bombay; Dr. Rajib Maity, IIT Kharagpur;  Dr. R. Venkataraghavan, Unilever; Mr. Vishwanath S, Biome Environmental Solutions and Mr.Priyesh, Chief Engineer, IDRB.

A highlight of the event was a visit to the Miyawaki Forest on the IIT Palakkad campus– an inspiring example of a living lab showcasing the institute’s sustainability initiatives. The symposium also featured engaging student poster and oral presentations, with awards presented to the best entries in each category.

At the end of the first day, attendees were treated to a captivating Odissi dance performance by Sujatha Pradhan, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all and added a beautiful cultural touch to the academic gathering.The event concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Climate  Resilience,Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management: Are We Ready to Solve These Simultaneous Equations?” Moderated by Dr. Venkataraghavan, the panel included Dr. Joshi, Dr. Maity, Mr.Priyesh, Mr. Vishwanath, and Dr. Sarmistha Singh.