Online Teachers’ Training on Climate Education

Online Teachers’ Training on Climate Education Jointly Organized by FERCC and IMS, Nagpur Chapter

Inaugural Program and Course I on 25^th January 2026

The Foundation for Education and Research in Climate Change (FERCC), New Delhi, and the Indian Meteorological Society, Nagpur Chapter (IMSN), jointly organised an online program on ‘Teachers’ Training on Climate Education (TTCE)’ on 25^th January 2026 at 3:15pm. Earlier, online registration was called for the interested teachers to participate in the event and there were 79 entries. On this occasion, Mrs. Hema Deshpande, Regional Officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Nagpur was the Chief Guest, Course Director Prof. Sushil Kumar Dash, Former HoD, Centre of Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi and President FERCC, Chaired the session; Course Director Prof. D.V. Bhaskar Rao, Honorary Professor, Andhra University & General Secretary FERCC and Shri. R. Balasubramanian, Scientist F & Dy. Director General of Meteorology, RMC, Nagpur were the Guests of Honor. Dr. Ravindra Akre, Retd. Meteorologist and Secretary, IMSN delivered the welcome address; and Dr Praveen Kumar, Scientist C and Joint Secretary IMSN delivered vote of thanks. Ms. Sapana Meena, Scientific Assistant, IMD conducted the event. Mrs. Reena Surpam, Meteorologist A, Gunjan Anand Scientific Assistant, and Vijayta, Scientific Assistant worked hard for the success of the programme.

This training is important for the teachers, because it aims at fostering climate literacy, empowering students to become informed citizens, and inspiring innovative ideas and necessary behavioral changes for a sustainable future. Needless to say TTCE is focused on weather, climate and environmental sciences. TTCE consists of twelve courses pertaining to the current issues in Weather and Climate Science. Each course is prepared by a designated resource person and will be delivered by her/him.

At the beginning, Dr. Ravindra Akre welcomed all the dignitaries, invited guests, resource persons and participant teachers. He focused on two important aspects that would be covered during the training i.e. (i) importance of the teachers in the society, who are the role models and shape students’ academics, personal and social growth and (ii) to promote knowledge of climate science. He presented the list of courses which are to be delivered in the training and he informed that courses are going to be organised at two levels; the first one on the preliminary aspects and the second at an advanced level.

Prof. D.V. Bhaskar Rao discussed different aspects of climate science, climate change, ozone hole and other such relevant matters and enlightened the participants about the importance of having climate information for actions to be taken.

Shri. R. Balasubramanian could not participate due to his sudden travel schedule. He conveyed his best wishes for the success of the program. Mrs. Hema Deshpande narrated as to how students follow the teachings of the teachers and listen to them more than to their parents.

Prof Sushil Kumar Dash expressed that some meteorological societies are currently executing advanced level Teachers’ Training on Weather and Climate and we should initiate such programmes in India at the earliest. He also highlighted earlier similar project being implemented in several schools in our country by setting up weather labs there. The present twelve courses will hopefully be interesting to the teachers and in future these will be modified based on feedback from the participants.

Dr.Sujata Damke, Head of the Head Geography Department, Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences, Nagpur prepared Course I entitled ‘Fundamentals of Weather and Climate’ and delivered the same to the participating teachers after the inaugural programme. She covered the topics such as the Differences between weather and climate bringing out the time scale factor such as daily, weekly, monthly, season, and climate with examples, especially from India; Important weather and climate parameters, and a brief account of climate classification with particular reference to India; Stratification of the atmosphere with its constituents and significant roles of some important gases; Fundamental forces in the atmosphere highlight the incorporation of rotation and revolution of the earth and finally brief mention of the closed system of equations governing the dynamics of the atmosphere leading to scientific method of forecasting.