Author: user

GE GRAPHIA

GE GRAPHIA

EDITORIAL

THINKING AHEAD

Vol. IX Issue. 1

June-July 2016

TAKING GEOGRAPHY AHEAD

Newsletter Published by Department of Geography, Parvatibai Chowgule College (Autonomous), Margao– Goa

Geographers Shine Again: Results
The results of the department at the Third Year University examination have been appreciable. Tanvi Deshpande secured 83 per cent at B.Sc. and her passion in Geography has culminated into taking admission to M.Sc. programme in Geography at the Savitribai Phule University, Pune. The 10 students of six unit students at B.A. have secured Distinction, First Class and Second Class. Apurva Gauns Desssai was the highest scorer with an aggregate score of 80 per cent. Six students have sought admission in the Department of Geography and ... (Contd. On Pg 4)

THE ACHIEVERS

Apurva Gauns Dessai

Tanvi Deshpande

Geographers Shining
Geography and Geographers rock ! All the PG Diploma students of GIS have been placed in various GIS firms like Megasoft Systems, Margao, Goa and GeoServer, Mumbai. Vishwajeet Yadav, an ex-student of PGDGIS expressed, “Coming from rustic background, getting an opportunity to study at Chowgule College and now, to work in a reputed institute, is like a dream come true.”
Amongst the Postgraduate students of Geography, M.G. Ashodi was selected at Manovikas English High School , Margao and Vijaya Nemikal was selected as a PG teacher at Sinhgard Institute, Pandarpur (Maharashtra). Vijaya, who completed her graduation in Geography in 2004, rejoined the department as she felt that the department provided the best education and skills that would… (Contd. On Pg 4)

Enrolments
The admission to the various programmes in geography has seen a significant increase. Masters’ Programme in Geography had an enrolment of 23 students as compared to 14 last year. The Post Graduate Diploma in GIS admissions have also been phenomenal. The total admissions till date are 24 against 11 last year. The admission to this course has been from across Goa. Except for one, all are from different parts of Maharashtra, mainly Kolhapur, Nipani, Solapur, Ratnagiri ,…. (Contd. On Pg 3)

INSIDE…...
Editorial ————————————–—————-— Pg 2
Thinking Ahead —————–————————---—- Pg 2
Upcoming Events Alert ———–—————-———— Pg 4

Page 1

(Title)
After a prolonged period of scorching heat, mercury levels rising as high as 40 degree Centigrade in the months of April and May, a few pre-monsoon showers and then heavy downpours have shown indications of monsoon arrival. However, there was a delay in arrival of monsoons in Goa by a week or so. Usually, the monsoons hit Goa by the 6th of June. Monsoons in Goa is a sight to behold. Paddy fields being ploughed, nurseries made ready, water logged to make perfect planting ground. The Dudhsagar Falls rejuvenates with full force and nature comes alive with hints of greenery.
The geographical phenomena is erratic but contrasting to the mid-land peninsula of Maharashtra and Karnataka, which still starve for water.
This unreliable and erratic distribution of rainfall calls upon the need for systematic regional planning and for re-engineering the regional landscape. Water harvesting and conservation would definitely be the micro-level planning, but at macro-level, transfer of water from surplus to deficit areas would be path breaking. This is not the newest technique, Indira Canal is an outstanding example of greening Rajasthan by extraction of water from River Beas. Regional Planners have to engineer techniques of combating water shortage by transfer from surplus Konkan Region to deficient Peninsular Maharashtra. I think it is high time to address this serious issue and State and Government intervention could bring about the right solutions.

Page 2

(Title)
Goa, has shown good performance in human and social development indicators in last few years. However, this also has a flip side— ugly urban landscape, garbage, traffic congestions, encroachments and slums.
Squatter settlements at Moti Dongar, Azadnagar, and Zuarinagar, are the three identified slums of Margao, Ponda and Vasco, respectively. A total population of 26,000, residing in dilapidated, ugly and compact settlements / houses at these three locations have grown significantly over the decade. In fact, it would be prudent to state that apart from these three, with a cursory glance at various towns, one could identify colony of hutments like the Kharebandh at Margao. This raises the question, “ Does Goa qualify to be the ideal State in Urban Development?”

Chowgule College Faculty join hands with Goa State Biodiversity Board
Chowgule College faculty, Principal Dr. Nandkumar Sawant, Dr. Sanjay Gaikwad, Dr. Nandini Vaz Fernandes and Dr. Uma Masur were selected as members by Goa State Biodiversity Board as Technical Support Group (TSG) to support Biodiversity Management Committees. With this regard, they attended Two days Training Programme at Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Saligao, Bardez- Goa. Dr. G. Sailu, State Project Coordinator of Telangana State along with others conducted the training and gave valuable information about the status and working of Biodiversity Boards.
Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) is an autonomous body…... (Contd. On Pg 3)

GE GRAPHIA

GE GRAPHIA

Faculty invited at various institutes
Dr. Nandkumar N. Sawant was invited at GIPARD (Goa Institute for Public Administration and Rural Development), Old Goa, to deliver a lecture on “Planning and conducting Social Survey” in April 2016
Dr. Anil Yedage and Mr. Sagar Mali were invited as a Resource Persons for the Short term Course on “GIS for Amateurs” organized by Gogate-Jogalekar College, Ratnagiri from 4th to 9th April 2016.
Dr. Nandkumar N. Sawant was invited as Resource person for the “Research Methodology” Workshop organized by S.P. College, Pune. He spoke on ‘Recent Trends and Methodologies in Social Geography with emphasis on PRA (Participatory Rapid Appraisal) Technique”, in May 2016.

Dr. Sawant attends Leadership Programme
Dr. Nandkumar N. Sawant attended Two-Day Leadership Programme at Higher Education Leadership Academy, TISS, Mumbai, organized in April 2016.

Certificate Course in GIS for Faculty
GIS is gradually finding its applications in various other fields. In view of that, the department organizes short term and certificate courses, in both basic and advanced GIS, for professionals and academicians alike.
A Certificate Course in Basics in GIS Technology for Teachers and Researchers was conducted from 24th to 30th April 2016. The resource persons were Dr. Anil Yedage and Mr. Sagar Mali.

Page 3

Enrolments (Contd. From Pg 1)
…and Chiplun. Sonal Hardikar, one of the students stated, “In today's world, almost every field uses GIS Technology. The wide range of career opportunities in this developing field is what prompted me to pursue this course in GIS”.
At the undergraduate level, B.Sc. Geography is also becoming popular and many of them have shown inclination towards geography to seek vertical mobility in their careers in GIS, environment and research.
“The admissions to B.A. (Arts) have been the same as the previous year, but seems to be students with deep inclination to developing geographical skills”, stated Dr. Nandkumar Sawant who teaches the first year. Raymond Morokole, a student from Lesotho, said that he has chosen Geography Minor to understand certain issues at regional level.

Chowgule College Faculty join hands with Goa State Biodiversity Board (Contd. From Pg 2)
… of Government of Goa under Department of Science, Technology and Environment, situated in the premises of Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Saligao, Bardez- Goa. The primary mandate of the Board is to conserve biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of biological resources. This Board is a body corporate under the BD Act 2002.
GSBB invited applications for Expression of Interest from Scientific Institutions, University, Registered & Reputed Non-Government Organization (NGOs), Community based organisations / Groups having knowledge and experience in the field of Bio-resources, biodiversity and related areas, for constitution of Technical Support Groups (TSGs) to support Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the field level for preparation of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), Documentation & Preparation of Database of Tradable / Economically Potential Bio-Resources along with their economic valuation and associated traditional knowledge in the Goa (includes collection of reliable secondary data) for which our college applied and was selected.

Upcoming Events Alert
World Population Day
World Population Day will be observed on 11th July 2016. You can find the details of the event on our college website.
Coordinator: Mrs. A. Shaik (Ph: 9922562265)
Monsoon Trek
The Monsoon Trek organized annually by Club GLOBE (Geographers’ Loving Our Beautiful Environment) will be on Sunday, 31st July 2016. Keep an eye out for more details on the college website.
Coordinator: Mr. A. Ashish (Ph: 9890027338)
Hiroshima Nagasaki Day
This solidarity event is observed every year by our department to pay homage to the victims of the Atomic Bombings on the Japanese towns of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The details of activities organized as part of this event will be posted on the website soon.
Coordinator: Mr. A. Ferro (Ph: 8007651359)

Geographers Shining (Contd. From Pg 1)
… enhance her qualification and employability. Teja Kudnekar and Anuja Sawant have joined as Teachers in Government Higher Secondary, Khandola and Morlem High School, Sattari, respectively. Ashvek Shanbag was selected as Assistant Professor at Mallikarjun College, Canacona. A few of the students have joined the B.Ed programme.

Notable Quote on Geography
“The Study of Geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world”
- President, Barack Obama

Page 4

Department Event Calendar 2016-2017

Date	Activity
11th July 2016	World Population Day
31st July 2016	Geography Monsoon Trek
6th August 2016	Hiroshima Nagasaki Day
2nd September 2016	Geographize – Geography Intercollegiate Event
October 2016	Workshop on Preparation for NET in Geography
November/ December 2016	Academic Exchange Programme, Sri Lanka
November 2016	TYBA Study Tour
December 2016	AGES (Association of Geography ex-students) Meet
January 2017	Collaborative activity with Gogate-Jogalekar College under MoU
January 2017	Workshop on Research Methodology
February 2017	Intercollegiate Workshop on Dissertation
February 2017	One Day Workshop on Basic Cartography & GIS

Results (Contd. From Pg 1)
… Research Centre, whereas three have been admitted for B.Ed. programme. Apurva was ecstatic about her results. “I was always fascinated by Geography and then, when my results were declared, without any second thought I applied for the Master’s Programme”, she expressed.

DISCLAIMER
The Editorial team is not responsible for the views expressed in the newsletter.

Editorial Team
Teacher-in-Charge: Dr. Nandkumar N. Sawant
Student editor:

Send your feedback to:
geography@chowgules.ac.in