Gauhati University Hosts 8ᵗʰ India Radar Meteorology (iRAD) Conference, Strengthening Climate and Weather Research in Northeast

 

Guwahati, 14th January: Gauhati University successfully hosted the 8ᵗʰ India Radar Meteorology Conference (iRAD 2026) from 7 to 9 January 2026, under the aegis of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). The prestigious national and international conference was held for the first time in the North-Eastern region of India, highlighting the strategic importance of the region, which is highly vulnerable to extreme rainfall, floods, landslides, and severe weather events.

As a prelude to the conference, a Radar Meteorology Training School on Complex Terrain was organized on 6 January 2026. The training school was inaugurated by M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES. The main conference was formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University.

The inaugural ceremonies were graced by several eminent dignitaries, including Soma Sen Roy, Head, Radar Division, India Meteorological Department (IMD); Sanjay O’Neil Shaw, Head, Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati; the Director of North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC); S. P. Aggarwal; and S. S. Kakatkar, Programme Director, SAMEER, who attended as Guests of Honour.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ravichandran commended Gauhati University for its active participation in climate-change research and assured continued support from MoES to strengthen the ST Radar facility at Gauhati University, with the objective of enhancing regional capacity building and observational capabilities. The Director, NESAC emphasized that effective weather prediction requires synergistic integration of ground-based radar observations with space-borne satellite data. Dr. Soma Sen Roy and Dr. Sanjay O’Neil Shaw highlighted IMD’s initiative to install 12 Doppler Weather Radars across the North-Eastern region to improve monitoring and forecasting of severe weather systems.

The Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University reiterated the university’s commitment to climate research and noted the appointment of Bhupendra Nath Goswami as Professor of Excellence at the university. He highlighted the university’s advanced ST Radar facility, which plays a crucial role in studying atmospheric dynamics and climate variability, and appealed for continued ministry support to further strengthen climate research initiatives. Prof. Goswami, in his welcome address, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced radar and remote-sensing infrastructure in the North-Eastern region and called for a robust national policy framework to support sustained observations.

The conference featured a keynote address by V. Chandrasekhar, Professor at Colorado State University, USA. Invited talks were delivered by Tomoo Ushio, Principal Investigator of the GSMaP rainfall product from Osaka University, Japan, and Nobuhiro Takahashi, Chief Scientist of the GPM mission from Nagoya University.

A total of 118 research papers were presented during the conference by scientists and researchers from premier institutions such as IITM, IMD, NARL, IITs, ISRO, IISc, and several universities from India and abroad. The presentations showcased state-of-the-art radar technologies and their applications in flood monitoring, severe weather surveillance, precipitation processes, and addressing long-standing scientific challenges over complex terrains like the North-Eastern region.

The pre-conference Radar Meteorology Training School contributed significantly to capacity building and skill development of young scientists, students, and professionals working in weather, climate, and disaster-management sectors. The school provided hands-on training on the integrated use of space-borne satellite data and ground-based radar observations, strengthening downstream applications in nowcasting, forecasting, and climate services.

An exhibition of technical stalls by leading research institutions and industry partners was also organized, facilitating direct interaction with participants and showcasing the latest advancements in radar systems and observational technologies.

The conference concluded with a vote of thanks by the Registrar of Gauhati University, who expressed gratitude to all participants, invited speakers, sponsors, and organizers. iRAD 2026 emerged as a landmark scientific event, reinforcing its role as a premier platform for promoting research, innovation, capacity building, and operational excellence in radar meteorology, while significantly strengthening weather and climate science in the North-Eastern region of India.