Chennai, May 06 2026: SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram launched the Mission Mausam Urban Testbed and observational facilities, developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, at its Ramapuram campus in Chennai on Wednesday.

The Urban Testbed, the only such facility in the Chennai region, will monitor aerosols, clouds, precipitation, atmospheric dynamics, and thermodynamic parameters across the city to enhance monsoon prediction, nowcasting, and early warnings of severe weather.

Mission Mausam, an initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, aims to enhance disaster preparedness and strengthen climate services for key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, aviation, and energy, with the goal of making India a weather-ready and climate-smart nation.

The Urban Testbeds, established by IITM (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, (An autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India) Pune, feature dense surface observations through automatic weather stations, along with volumetric measurements using radars and profilers that track wind, temperature, relative humidity, aerosols, clouds, and precipitation. These datasets enable researchers to better understand atmospheric dynamics, thermodynamics, and physio-chemical processes driving severe weather, while also supporting accurate nowcasting solutions.

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, inaugurated the facility in the presence of Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, IITM, Pune; Dr. R. Shivakumar, Chairman, SRMIST, Ramapuram ,Chennai & Trichy ; Dr. Thara Prabhakaran, Project Director, IITM; and Dr. M. Sakthi Ganesh, Dean (E&T), SRMIST, along with directors and heads of partner institutions.

The event also marked the inauguration of SRMIST’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences Research and Innovation, along with the signing of an MoU between SRMIST and IITM, a premier central government institute engaged in fundamental research in weather, monsoon, and climate sciences. The MoU will facilitate collaboration in research and academic activities in the field of weather and climate sciences.

In his comments, Dr. Shivakumar said, “We are proud to host the Chennai Urban Testbed and an urban aerosol observational facility at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, and we thank IITM and the Ministry of Earth Sciences for choosing SRMIST for this important national initiative. Our Ramapuram campus is strategically located within Chennai’s urban landscape to document urban aerosol properties.

The Urban Testbed will serve as a representative site, supporting urban weather services and strengthening nowcasting and forecasting, particularly kilometre-scale models. This partnership and the new facilities will significantly enhance research capabilities, foster academic collaboration, and advance understanding of weather and climate, enabling innovative, multidisciplinary applications that will benefit Chennai and beyond.”

Dr. Sakthi Ganesh added, “Urban areas face increasing challenges from severe weather, with greater population exposure and impact across critical service sectors. Mission Mausam seeks to address these challenges by integrating observations, numerical models, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, along with social sciences, within a collaborative ecosystem. The Urban Testbed at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, will play a vital role by generating high-resolution, location-specific data on key meteorological parameters.

This will significantly improve nowcasting and forecasting, particularly in densely populated urban environments like Chennai, and support better preparedness for extreme weather events. The facilities will also offer valuable opportunities for our students and research scholars to undertake advanced research and academic projects.”

Chennai, May 03, 2026: The 16th edition of Dr. Agarwal’s Retina Foundation’s flagship scientific conference, Reticon 2026, convened today, drawing over 1000 participants, including vitreoretinal specialists, general ophthalmologists, clinicians, researchers, and ophthalmology postgraduates from across India and internationally. This one-day event focused on the latest scientific advancements in the diagnosis and management of vitreoretinal disorders. It provided an in-depth exploration of emerging techniques and technologies in retina care, fostering an environment of collaborative knowledge-sharing and scientific exchange.

Prof. Dr. C Sridhar, MD, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, inaugurated Reticon 2026 in the presence of Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, Chairman; Dr. Ashvin Agarwal, Chief Clinical Officer, and Dr. Manoj Khatri, Director, Vitreo-Retinal Services, Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital.

The conference featured around 50 eminent speakers from India and abroad, who shared their expertise through a comprehensive scientific program encompassing both medical and surgical retina. Key sessions focused on emerging trends in retina care, advancements in treatments for retinal vascular diseases, and surgical retina techniques, providing delegates with valuable insights into the latest updates in clinical practice.

Hands-on learning was a major attraction through dedicated Wet Lab sessions focusing on advanced vitreoretinal surgical techniques and skill development, including Glued IOL, SFT, and Intravitreal Injections. Other highlights included expert discussions and debates, where specialists deliberated on important topics in retina care. Panel discussions and interactive sessions were also expected to provide participants with practical insights into the evolving field of vitreoretinal treatment.

In his remarks, Prof. Amar Agarwal stated, “We take great pride in organizing Reticon year after year and witnessing its evolution into a distinguished platform for retina specialists, educators, and researchers worldwide. Reticon embodies this vision by uniting top minds to share knowledge and foster innovation. With a distinguished lineup of speakers and thousands of participants, this conference provides a unique opportunity for vitreoretinal specialists, fellows, postgraduates, and general ophthalmologists to explore the latest advancements in techniques, technologies, and treatment strategies. Our goal is to empower clinicians to improve patient outcomes through ongoing education and global collaboration.”

Dr Manoj Khatri, Organising Secretary, Reticon 2026, said: “Diseases affecting the retina and vitreous are among the most significant causes of vision loss, making timely diagnosis, advanced treatment, and continuous clinical upskilling extremely important. Reticon 2026 has been designed to disseminate the latest knowledge and practical advancements in this rapidly evolving super specialty, enabling ophthalmologists to deliver better outcomes for patients.” He further added “The conference highlights include focused sessions on medical retina, surgical retina, wet labs, debates, panel discussions, and the Reticon Premier League, creating a dynamic platform for learning and interaction. By equipping healthcare professionals with current techniques, emerging technologies, and evidence-based approaches, we hope to strengthen retina care across India and beyond.”

இலங்கையிலிருந்து வந்தும், தமிழர் பண்பாட்டு வேர்களை கொண்ட Dhee, தனது தலைமுறையின் மிகவும் தனித்துவமான மற்றும் உலகளவில் கொண்டாடப்படும் குரல்களில் ஒன்றாக உருவெடுத்துள்ளார்.

இலங்கையிலிருந்து ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் சிட்னி நகரின் படைப்பாற்றல் மிக்க கலைச் சூழலுக்கு சென்ற அவரது பயணம், மரபும் உலகளாவிய தாக்கமும் இணைந்த ஒரு வலிமையான இசை அடையாளத்தை உருவாக்கியுள்ளது.

‘என்ஜாய் என்ஜாமி (Enjoy Enjaami)’ என்ற பண்பாட்டு கீதத்தின் மூலம் Dhee அபாரமான புகழைப் பெற்றார். உலகளவில் பெரும் வரவேற்பைப் பெற்ற இந்தப் பாடல் ஐந்து கோடிக்கும் அதிகமான பார்வைகளை கடந்ததுடன், வேர்கள் மற்றும் அடையாளத்தை கொண்டாடும் அதன் உணர்வால் ரசிகர்களின் மனதில் ஆழமாக பதிந்தது. இந்தப் பாடல் இந்திய சுயாதீன இசையை புதிய பரிமாணத்திற்கு கொண்டு சென்றதோடு, Dhee-யை உலக இசை வரைபடத்தில் உறுதியாக நிலைநிறுத்தியது.

அவரது கலைத்திறன் பரவலாக அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஃபிலிம் ஃபேர் விருதுகள் உள்ளிட்ட பல மதிப்புமிக்க கௌரவங்களை பெற்றுள்ள அவர், சமகால இசை உலகில் முன்னோடி கலைஞராக தனது நிலையை வலுப்படுத்தியுள்ளார்.

மேலும், ‘I Wear My Roots Like A Medal’ மற்றும் ‘Can’t You Stay A Little Longer’ போன்ற சுயாதீன பாடல்கள் மூலம் Dhee தனது கலை ஆழத்தை தொடர்ந்து விரிவுபடுத்தி வருகிறார். இந்தப் பாடல்கள் உணர்வு, அடையாளம் மற்றும் பரிசோதனையான இசை வடிவங்களை ஒருங்கிணைக்கும் அவரது தனித்துவமான திறனை வெளிப்படுத்துகின்றன.

இந்தியா முழுவதும் பெரிதும் விரும்பப்படுவதுடன், உலகளாவிய ரசிகர்களாலும் அதிக அளவில் கொண்டாடப்படும் Dhee, எல்லைகளையும் இசை வகைகளையும் கடந்து நிற்கும் புதிய தலைமுறை கலைஞர்களின் பிரதிநிதியாக திகழ்கிறார்.