Dr Suman Mor received National Award for Science Communication

Chandigarh, March 3, 2022: Dr. Suman Mor, Chairperson and Associate Professor, Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University Chandigarh, has received the “National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science and Technology Communication through Innovative and Traditional methods” in an event held on National Science Day 2022 in Vigyan Bhavan.

The award carries a citation, a memento and a cash prize of two lakh rupees. This award is presented by National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India (GoI) every year to an individual for outstanding contribution in the field of science and Technology communication and to promote scientific temper.

This prestigious award was given by  Dr. Jitender Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Government of India. The award ceremony was graced by Dr. S Chandrasekhar, Secretary, DST; Dr. Shekhar C Mande, DG, CSIR; Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES; Dr. Balram Bhargav, Secretary, DHR, GoI. During the event, Dr. Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, presented an overview of Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate, after which national awards were presented.

Dr. Suman Mor has been working in the area of environment and public health for over 21 years. Dr Mor was also recently listed in the top 2% of scientists of the world as per Stanford University and Scopus ranking for 2020 and 2021.

Dr Mor is also appointed as Nodal Faculty for Chandigarh under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)  by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India. She is actively involved in building scientific temperament to create awareness and motivate action for better health and the environment. Her research focuses on solving common environmental problems, e.g., air pollution, solid waste and wastewater management. She aims to communicate and disseminate scientific knowledge to the public in a way that creates awareness about emerging environmental concerns and motivates them for continued action to ensure sustainability.
 
Recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mor led the development of ‘Information, Education and Communication’ materials with scientific knowledge to empower the public for their role in disease prevention. She also developed a public health shield to promote COVID-19 appropriate behaviors. Dr. Mor has developed awareness materials to educate the masses about source segregation of municipal waste, including the safe disposal of COVID-19 household waste during the pandemic.
 
Prof. Mor is actively engaged in conducting capacity-building training and awareness workshops for professionals and the general public. She also developed a booklet to create awareness on ‘How to celebrate pollution-free and eco-friendly Diwali’, to engage the public in celebrating safe and eco-friendly Diwali.
 
Her work on bringing the National Green Tribunal key judgment in simple languages with pictorial was widely appreciated as it helped to educate and empower citizens about their rights for a healthy environment and to protect the most vulnerable. Dr. Mor also developed an ‘Eco-Health Calendar’ to raise awareness and educate citizens about the important days marked to promote public health and the environment.