Dr Satyanand Shashtri.
World Meteorological Day is celebrated every year across the world on March 23. This celebration provides an opportunity for the world to recognise meteorology as a vital component of climate change. The theme – “The ocean, our climate and weather”, celebrates the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) focus in connecting the ocean, climate and weather within the Earth System. It also marks the starting year of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
In Fiji, we are providing a holistic approach to climate adaptation mechanism in accordance with GEF (Global Environment Facility) and, other branches of the United Nations.
Covering some 70% of the Earth’s surface, the ocean is a major driver of the world’s weather and climate. It also plays a central role in climate change. The ocean is also a major driver of the global economy, carrying more than 90% of world trade and sustaining the 40% of humanity that lives within 100 km of the coast.
At the Fiji National University (FNU), we also believe that meteorology-based education needs to ascertain a high level of learning and teaching inclusive of a strong faculty. We have a qualified team of teachers with depth and refinement of the subject to train young scientists as workforce for the Fiji Meteorological Station, Mineral Resource Department, Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), Pacific Community (SPC) and Ministry of Environment.
Our graduates are well trained in meteorology through industry attachment. We have a strong collaboration with international organization’s such as Global Insight and extend support to budding scientists, keeping in mind the contemporary climate crisis of extreme weather phenomenon and global warming that generates warriors to save climate and environment.
FNU’s College of Engineering Science and Technology (CEST), Meteorological and Environmental Sciences Department, offers courses such as Bachelor of Environmental Science, Bachelor of Environmental Management, Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science and Management, Master of Environmental Science and Management and PhD in Environmental Science and Management.
The Department offers excellent educational courses that impart quality research learning and abilities that is expected of a competent bachelors graduate and post-graduate diploma graduate. The courses include autonomous experiment arranging, field sampling and data collection, and critical thinking aptitudes in line with the end goal to address environmental conservation and climate change.
To meet the demands of global industries and employers for graduates capable of working effectively with people and climate, FNU, through CEST, offers the Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science and Management, which presents paradigms of applied science education in the Pacific Islands.
Our graduates are pursuing Masters and PhD at various cis and trans-Pacific Universities. Through this article, the Department would also like to thank those who are providing their services to Fiji in the nation-building process and acknowledge climate warriors for their commendable efforts.
With the concept of biodiversity, climate change and geospatial techniques gaining global attention recently, involving environmental conservation and climate change show the demand for graduates in applied science has increased, as the study of this discipline develops specific skills that easily translate across many careers.
In the Meteorology and Environment Science Department at CEST, FNU offers units like Earth Processes and Resources, Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development, Environmental Pollution, Climate Change & the South Pacific, Atmospheric Science and Global Climate Change, Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing and Geo-spatial techniques and Fiji and South Pacific Coastal Management to produce students with an articulated background to contribute workforce of Fiji for climate change and environmental conservation.
At last but not least, on World Meteorological Day, the Department of Meteorology and Environmental Science reiterates to commit to the cause of environmental conservation and climate change.
Dr Satyanarayan Shashtri
Head of Department Meteorology and Environment Science
School of Applied Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Technology
Fiji National University