UNIGIS@Kathmandu organised a week long intensive workshop from September 1-6, 2014 at Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL), Nepal. The workshop focussed on enhancing the geospatial analytical competences of UNIGIS MSc candidates by critically discussing their Master theses currently being prepared by 9 students. The students presented preliminary findings of their research encompassing a range of topics highly relevant to the environment and society in the Himalayas.
Their research areas covered land use / land cover changes, forest biomass estimation in various ecological zones, soil carbon estimation, habitat suitability for particular tree and animal species as well as applications of GIS for evaluating municipal tax collection systems and garbage management systems. The presentation sessions were open for participation and critical feedback by other students and faculty members. The vibrant discussion sessions spread over 2 days followed by a thesis proposal session by another 14 students now entering into the MSc thesis stage.
Dr. Shahnawaz (Director, UNIGIS S/E Asia), Dr. Ambika P. Gautam (Principal, KAFCOL), Mr. Durgendra Kayastha (Coordinator, UNIGIS@Kathmandu) and Dr. Krishna Poudel conducted the workshop. The week concluded with a meeting of the Board of Studies to review the progress of UNIGIS@Kathmandu. The Board expressed immense satisfaction with the outcomes and decided to organise such workshops more frequently and, possibly, to offer these as open seminars for a wider ‘geospatial’ audience in the region.