UGC (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018

University Grants Commission

Notification

University Grants Commission (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018

New Delhi, the 23rd July, 2018

F. 1-18/2010(CPP-II) | The Gazette of India: Extraordinary [Part III—Sec. 4]

Preamble

Whereas, University Grants Commission (UGC), as per UGC Act, 1956, is mandated to coordinate and determine the standards of higher education; And whereas, assessment of academic and research work done leading to the partial fulfillment for the award of degrees at Masters and Research level, by a student or a faculty or a researcher or a staff, in the form of thesis, dissertation and publication of research papers, chapters in books, full-fledged books and any other similar work, reflects the extent to which elements of academic integrity and originality are observed in various relevant processes adopted by Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs);

Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (j) of Section 12 read with clauses (f) and (g) of subsection (1) of Section 26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the University Grants Commission hereby makes the following regulations:-

1. Short title, application and commencement –

a. These regulations shall be called the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018.

b. They shall apply to the students, faculty, researchers and staff of all Higher Educational Institutions in the country.

c. These regulations shall come into force from the date of their notification in the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions -

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

a. "Academic Integrity" is the intellectual honesty in proposing, performing and reporting any activity, which leads to the creation of intellectual property;

b. "Author" includes a student or a faculty or a researcher or staff of Higher Educational Institution (HEI) who claims to be the creator of the work under consideration;

c. "Commission" means the University Grants Commission as defined in the University Grants Commission Act, 1956;

d. "Common Knowledge" means a well-known fact, quote, figure or information that is known to most of the people;

e. "Degree" means any such degree specified by the University Grants Commission, by notification in the Official Gazette, under section 22 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956;

f. "Departmental Academic Integrity Panel" shall mean the body constituted at the departmental level to investigate allegations of plagiarism;

g. "Faculty" refers to a person who is teaching and/or guiding students enrolled in an HEI in any capacity whatsoever i.e. regular, ad-hoc, guest, temporary, visiting etc;

h. "Higher Educational Institution (HEI)" means a university recognized under section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 or an institution deemed to be university under section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 or an affiliating college/ institution or a constituent unit of a university;

i. "Information" includes data, message, text, images, sound, voice, codes, computer programs, software and databases or microfilm or computer generated microfiche;

j. "Institutional Academic Integrity Panel" shall mean the body constituted at Institutional level to consider recommendations of the departmental academic integrity panel and take appropriate decisions in respect of allegations of plagiarism and decide on penalties to be imposed. In exceptional cases, it shall investigate allegations of plagiarism at the institutional level;

k. "Notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression "notify" with its cognate meanings and grammatical variation shall be construed accordingly;

l. "Plagiarism" means the practice of taking someone else's work or idea and passing them as one's own.

m. "Programme" means a programme of study leading to the award of a masters and research level degree;

n. "Researcher" refers to a person conducting academic / scientific research in HEIs;

o. "Script" includes research paper, thesis, dissertation, chapters in books, full-fledged books and any other similar work, submitted for assessment / opinion leading to the award of master and research level degrees or publication in print or electronic media by students or faculty or researcher or staff of an HEI; however, this shall exclude assignments / term papers / project reports / course work / essays and answer scripts etc.;

p. "Source" means the published primary and secondary material from any source whatsoever and includes written information and opinions gained directly from other people, including eminent scholars, public figures and practitioners in any form whatsoever as also data and information in the electronic form be it audio, video, image or text; Information being given the same meaning as defined under Section 2 (1) (v) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and reproduced here in Regulation 2 (l);

q. "Staff" refers to all non-teaching staff working in HEIs in any capacity whatsoever i.e. regular, temporary, contractual, outsourced etc.;

r. "Student" means a person duly admitted and pursuing a programme of study including a research programme in any mode of study (full time or part-time or distance mode);

s. "University" means a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes an institution deemed to be university under section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956;

t. "Year" means the academic session in which a proven offence has been committed. Words and expressions used and not defined in these regulations but defined in the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in UGC Act, 1956.

3. Objectives

3.1 To create awareness about responsible conduct of research, thesis, dissertation, promotion of academic integrity and prevention of misconduct including plagiarism in academic writing among student, faculty, researcher and staff.

3.2 To establish institutional mechanism through education and training to facilitate responsible conduct of research, thesis, dissertation, promotion of academic integrity and deterrence from plagiarism.

3.3. To develop systems to detect plagiarism and to set up mechanisms to prevent plagiarism and punish a student, faculty, researcher or staff of HEI committing the act of plagiarism.

4. Duties of HEI:

Every HEI should establish the mechanism as prescribed in these regulations, to enhance awareness about responsible conduct of research and academic activities, to promote academic integrity and to prevent plagiarism.

5. Awareness Programs and Trainings:

(a) HEI shall instruct students, faculty, researcher and staff about proper attribution, seeking permission of the author wherever necessary, acknowledgement of source compatible with the needs and specificities of disciplines and in accordance with rules, international conventions and regulations governing the source.

(b) HEI shall conduct sensitization seminars/ awareness programs every semester on responsible conduct of research, thesis, dissertation, promotion of academic integrity and ethics in education for students, faculty, researcher and staff.

(c) HEI shall :

i. Include the cardinal principles of academic integrity in the curricula of Undergraduate (UG)/Postgraduate (PG)/Master's degree etc. as a compulsory course work/module.

ii. Include elements of responsible conduct of research and publication ethics as a compulsory course work/module for Masters and Research Scholars.

iii. Include elements of responsible conduct of research and publication ethics in Orientation and Refresher Courses organized for faculty and staff members of the HEI.

iv. Train student, faculty, researcher and staff for using plagiarism detection tools and reference management tools.

v. Establish facility equipped with modern technologies for detection of plagiarism.

vi. Encourage student, faculty, researcher and staff to register on international researcher's Registry systems.

6. Curbing Plagiarism

a) HEI shall declare and implement the technology based mechanism using appropriate software so as to ensure that documents such as thesis, dissertation, publications or any other such documents are free of plagiarism at the time of their submission.

b) The mechanism as defined at (a) above shall be made accessible to all engaged in research work including student, faculty, researcher and staff etc.

c) Every student submitting a thesis, dissertation, or any other such documents to the HEI shall submit an undertaking indicating that the document has been prepared by him or her and that the document is his/her original work and free of any plagiarism.

d) The undertaking shall include the fact that the document has been duly checked through a Plagiarism detection tool approved by the HEI.

e) HEI shall develop a policy on plagiarism and get it approved by its relevant statutory bodies/authorities. The approved policy shall be placed on the homepage of the HEI website.

f) Each supervisor shall submit a certificate indicating that the work done by the researcher under him / her is plagiarism free.

g) HEI shall submit to INFLIBNET soft copies of all Masters, Research program's dissertations and thesis within a month after the award of degrees for hosting in the digital repository under the "Shodh Ganga e-repository".

h) HEI shall create Institutional Repository on institute website which shall include dissertation/ thesis/ paper/ publication and other in-house publications.

7. Similarity checks for exclusion from Plagiarism

The similarity checks for plagiarism shall exclude the following:

i. All quoted work reproduced with all necessary permission and/or attribution.

ii. All references, bibliography, table of content, preface and acknowledgements.

iii. All generic terms, laws, standard symbols and standards equations.

Note: The research work carried out by the student, faculty, researcher and staff shall be based on original ideas, which shall include abstract, summary, hypothesis, observations, results, conclusions and recommendations only and shall not have any similarities. It shall exclude a common knowledge or coincidental terms, up to fourteen (14) consecutive words.

8. Levels of Plagiarism

Plagiarism would be quantified into following levels in ascending order of severity for the purpose of its definition:

i. Level 0: Similarities upto 10% - Minor similarities, no penalty

ii. Level 1: Similarities above 10% to 40%

iii. Level 2: Similarities above 40% to 60%

iv. Level 3: Similarities above 60%

9. Detection/Reporting/Handling of Plagiarism

If any member of the academic community suspects with appropriate proof that a case of plagiarism has happened in any document, he or she shall report it to the Departmental Academic Integrity Panel (DAIP). Upon receipt of such a complaint or allegation the DAIP shall investigate the matter and submit its recommendations to the Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP) of the HEI.

The authorities of HEI can also take suomotu notice of an act of plagiarism and initiate proceedings under these regulations. Similarly, proceedings can also be initiated by the HEI on the basis of findings of an examiner. All such cases will be investigated by the IAIP.

10. Departmental Academic Integrity Panel (DAIP)

i. All Departments in HEI shall notify a DAIP whose composition shall be as given below:

a. Chairman - Head of the Department

b. Member - Senior academician from outside the department, to be nominated by the head of HEI.

c. Member - A person well versed with anti-plagiarism tools, to be nominated by the Head of the Department.

The tenure of the members in respect of points 'b' and 'c' shall be two years. The quorum for the meetings shall be 2 out of 3 members (including Chairman).

ii. The DAIP shall follow the principles of natural justice while deciding about the allegation of plagiarism against the student, faculty, researcher and staff.

iii. The DAIP shall have the power to assess the level of plagiarism and recommend penalty(ies) accordingly.

iv. The DAIP after investigation shall submit its report with the recommendation on penalties to be imposed to the IAIP within a period of 45 days from the date of receipt of complaint / initiation of the proceedings.

11. Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP)

i. HEI shall notify a IAIP whose composition shall be as given below:

a. Chairman - Pro-VC/Dean/Senior Academician of the HEI.

b. Member - Senior Academician other than Chairman, to be nominated by the Head of HEI.

c. Member - One member nominated by the Head of HEI from outside the HEI

d. Member - A person well versed with anti-plagiarism tools, to be nominated by the Head of the HEI.

The Chairman of DAIP and IAIP shall not be the same. The tenure of the Committee members including Chairman shall be three years. The quorum for the meetings shall be 3 out of 4 members (including Chairman).

ii. The IAIP shall consider the recommendations of DAIP.

iii. The IAIP shall also investigate cases of plagiarism as per the provisions mentioned in these regulations.

iv. The IAIP shall follow the principles of natural justice while deciding about the allegation of plagiarism against the student, faculty, researcher and staff of HEI.

v. The IAIP shall have the power to review the recommendations of DAIP including penalties with due justification.

vi. The IAIP shall send the report after investigation and the recommendation on penalties to be imposed to the Head of the HEI within a period of 45 days from the date of receipt of recommendation of DAIP/ complaint/ initiation of the proceedings.

vii. The IAIP shall provide a copy of the report to the person(s) against whom inquiry report is submitted.

12. Penalties

Penalties in the cases of plagiarism shall be imposed on students pursuing studies at the level of Masters and Research programs and on researcher, faculty & staff of the HEI only after academic misconduct on the part of the individual has been established without doubt, when all avenues of appeal have been exhausted and individual in question has been provided enough opportunity to defend himself or herself in a fair or transparent manner.

12.1 Penalties in case of plagiarism in submission of thesis and dissertations Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP) shall impose penalty considering the severity of the Plagiarism.

i. Level 0: Similarities upto 10% - Minor Similarities, no penalty.

ii. Level 1: Similarities above 10% to 40% - Such student shall be asked to submit a revised script within a stipulated time period not exceeding 6 months.

iii. Level 2: Similarities above 40% to 60% - Such student shall be debarred from submitting a revised script for a period of one year.

iv. Level 3: Similarities above 60% -Such student registration for that programme shall be cancelled.

Note 1: Penalty on repeated plagiarism- Such student shall be punished for the plagiarism of one level higher than the previous level committed by him/her. In case where plagiarism of highest level is committed then the punishment for the same shall be operative.

Note 2: Penalty in case where the degree/credit has already been obtained - If plagiarism is proved on a date later than the date of award of degree or credit as the case may be then his/her degree or credit shall be put in abeyance for a period recommended by the IAIP and approved by the Head of the Institution.

12.2 Penalties in case of plagiarism in academic and research publications

I. Level 0: Similarities up to 10% - Minor similarities, no penalty.

II. Level 1: Similarities above 10% to 40%

i) Shall be asked to withdraw manuscript.

III. Level 2: Similarities above 40% to 60%

i) Shall be asked to withdraw manuscript.

ii) Shall be denied a right to one annual increment.

iii) Shall not be allowed to be a supervisor to any new Master's, M.Phil., Ph.D. Student/scholar for a period of two years.

IV. Level 3: Similarities above 60%

i) Shall be asked to withdraw manuscript.

ii) Shall be denied a right to two successive annual increments.

iii) Shall not be allowed to be a supervisor to any new Master's, M.Phil., Ph.D. Student/scholar for a period of three years.

Note 1: Penalty on repeated plagiarism - Shall be asked to withdraw manuscript and shall be punished for the plagiarism of one level higher than the lower level committed by him/her. In case where plagiarism of highest level is committed then the punishment for the same shall be operative. In case level 3 offence is repeated then the disciplinary action including suspension/termination as per service rules shall be taken by the HEI.

Note 2: Penalty in case where the benefit or credit has already been obtained - If plagiarism is proved on a date later than the date of benefit or credit obtained as the case may be then his/her benefit or credit shall be put in abeyance for a period recommended by IAIP and approved by the Head of the Institution.

Note 3: HEIs shall create a mechanism so as to ensure that each of the paper publication/ thesis/ dissertation by the student, faculty, researcher or staff of the HEI is checked for plagiarism at the time of forwarding/ submission.

Note 4: If there is any complaint of plagiarism against the Head of an HEI, a suitable action, in line with these regulations, shall be taken by the Controlling Authority of the HEI.

Note 5: If there is any complaint of plagiarism against the Head of Department/Authorities at the institutional level, a suitable action, in line with these regulations, shall be recommended by the IAIP and approved by the Competent Authority.

Note 6: If there is any complaint of plagiarism against any member of DAIP or IAIP, then such member shall excuse himself / herself from the meeting(s) where his/her case is being discussed/investigated.

13. Removal of Difficulty

UGC reserves the right to remove difficulty/difficulties in the course of implementations of these Regulations in consultation with the Government of India/ Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Prof. Rajnish Jain, Secy.

[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./161/18]

The Gazette of India: Extraordinary [Part III—Sec. 4]

Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 & Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

See Also:

Das, A.K. (2018). Plagiarism and Research Integrity. Presented in the 1st Refresher Course in E-Learning & E-Governance (Interdisciplinary), July 30, 2018 at UGC-Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Call for Applications for the GODAN Action Online Course on Open Data Management

Apply Now: Free e-Learning Course on Open Data Management in Agriculture, Nutrition and Land

The GODAN Action Team is pleased to announce a new call for applications for the Open Data Management Online Course.

The GODAN Action team has expanded the content of the course to include land in addition to agriculture and nutrition. This edition of the course has also been revised with communities who manage and store data specifically in mind. We invite anyone handling data in their studies or work, in the areas of land, agriculture and nutrition, to apply for the course which will be held from 1-19 October 2018.

The curriculum consists of four units of Open Data Principles, Making Data Open, Sharing Open Data, and IPR and Licensing.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and benefits of open data.

• Understand ethics and responsible use of data.

• Identify the steps to advocate for open data policies.

• Recognise the necessary steps to set up an open data repository.

• Define the frameworks and FAIR data principles.

• Understand the basics of copyright and database rights.

• Apply open licenses to data.

The course will last 3 weeks and is offered in English. Participants are expected to spend on average eight hours per week completing lessons and engaging in activities such as discussion forums and webinars. The course is free of charge.

For more information, please visit the e-learning course homepage.

To apply for the course, please complete this online form by 17th September 2018.

The course will run between 1 - 19 October 2018 for 3 weeks.

For further information, please feel free to email us.

This online course is the result of a collaboration between GODAN Action partners, including Wageningen Environmental Research, Agroknow, AidData, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), the Land Portal, the Open Data Institute (ODI) and the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA).

Source: https://www.godan.info/news/apply-now-free-e-learning-course-open-data-management-agriculture-nutrition-and-land

11th STIP Forum Lecture "Pulse Revolution for Addressing Protein Malnutrition" | 7th August, IHC New Delhi

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) Forum Lecture Series

We request your gracious presence at the Eleventh STIP Forum Lecture on

"Pulse Revolution for Addressing Protein Malnutrition"

by

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra

Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education & Director General, ICAR

Chair: Dr. Rajendra Singh Paroda [Former DG, ICAR and Chairman, Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Science (TAAS)]

Date: 7 August 2018 (Tuesday), Time: 7:00 pm

Venue: Casuarina Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi (Entry from Gate No. 3)

About the Speaker: Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra joined as Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on February 22, 2016. Prior to this Dr. Mohapatra was holding the position of Director-cum-Vice Chancellor of the prestigious Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Earlier on he worked as the Director of National Rice Research Institute (formerly CRRI), Cuttack. He served National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, IARI, New Delhi as researcher and teacher for about 20 years. He is a scientist of global repute working in the area of molecular genetics and genomics. Dr. Mohapatra has over 145 research papers in national and international journals of repute and several book chapters. His research accomplishments include development of the first high yielding Basmati rice variety resistant to bacterial leaf blight through molecular marker assisted selection, and physical mapping and genome sequencing of rice and tomato. He has the distinction of receiving several honours and awards in recognition of his research contributions including the INSA Young Scientist Award, Prof. LSS Kumar Memorial Award, NAAS-Tata Award, IARI BP Pal Award, DBT Bio-science Award and NASI-Reliance Industries Platinum Jubilee Award. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences-India, Allahabad and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. 

About the Chair: Dr. Rajendra Singh Paroda is an agricultural scientist and currently serving as Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS). He is a former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India. He was General President of the Indian Science Congress Association during 2000-2001 and was the President of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) from 1998-2000. He was elected as the first Chairman of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), FAO, Rome from 1998-2001. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1998.

About  STIP Forum: The Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) Forum has been set up with the objective of promoting debate on various aspects of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy. The Forum would go beyond the disciplinary boundaries by taking into account the intersectionality of S&T and I. It aims to will also bridge the gap between the science and society for dissemination of scientific achievements as well as for generalising debate of societal aspirations and promoting responsible research and innovations. The monthly lecture series of public lectures has been launched to sensitize the public discourse on science, technology and innovation policy. Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA), Vigyan Prasar and India Habitat Centre (IHC) are the collaborating institutions.

RSVP: Dr. Manish Anand, Tel: 011-24682100, e-mail: manand@teri.res.in

New Book | Bridging the Communication Gap in Science and Technology: Lessons from India

Bridging the Communication Gap in Science and Technology: Lessons from India
edited by Pallava Bagla & V.V. Binoy, Springer Verlag, Singapore, 2017, 324 pages, ISBN 9789811010255. 

About the Book

This first-of-a-kind volume provides a snapshot of existing science communication policy and practice in India across different S&T sectors, and offers solutions to building effective communication. It provides an understanding on how to avoid societal clashes in situations when science meets the public in these sectors. The editors and contributors argue that effective S&T communication leads not only to a more informed public but also benefits research itself, and in a changing society like India this is a crucial element related to good governance and policy making. In this volume, experienced masters of the craft provide practical solutions to making S&T communication more effective in a vast democracy like India, which has complex issues related to literacy levels, diverse languages, varying political will, reach, and resources. Through, discussions on cases of creating information modules for the public on the Internet, television and radio, social media, as well as traditional ways of outreach like people's science movements, holding popular science events, and fairs, the volume provides highly valuable directions on how developing countries with low resources and complex populations can communicate S&T research to the public and bridge communication gaps. This volume will interest researchers from science, social science, mass communication and public relations departments, journalists, as well as practitioners and policy makers from government and non-government institutions involved in S&T policy, practice and communication and people who want to understand the complex S&T landscape of India.

Table of Contents (21 chapters)

• Introduction: When Science Meets the Public—Bridging the Gap | VV Binoy
  
• Responsibilities of Science, Responsive to Society: A New Dialogue | Ramesh, Jairam
  
• India's Maiden Mission to Mars: Many Firsts and Some Missed Opportunities in ISRO's Efforts at Public Outreach and Communications | Pallava Bagla
  
• Challenges in Communicating about Defence Research: Insight into Defence Research and Development Organisation's Media Strategy | Gupta, Ravi Kumar
  
• Communicating Issues Related to Land and Natural Resources | Meenakshisundaram, S. S.
  
• The Art and Science of Communicating Risks of Natural Hazards | Tyagi, Ajit
  
• The Challenges of Earthquake Risk Communication to Public | Chadha, R. K.
  
• The Queer Case of Communicating Risks Associated with Use of Mobile Phones and Neighborhood Mobile Towers: Are People Contracting More Brain Cancers? | Parthasarathy, K. S.
  
• Atomic Energy: Reaching Out to the People for Perception Management | Malhotra, Swapnesh Kumar
  
• Current Status of Public Understanding of Science: Results of Kumbh Mela Survey Studies | Raza, Gauhar (et al.)
  
• Communicating Science for a Better Tomorrow | Khan, Hasan Jawaid
  
• Challenges of Communicating Science in Regional Languages: Experiments in Kannada | Sharma, A. S. K. V. S.
  
• Challenges Faced by Science Journalists and Communicators Working in Vernacular Languages and Insights Pertaining to Science Communication Courses | Kapoor, Nimish
  
• Enhancing Science Content on Indian Television: Status, Issues and Way Forward | Venkateswaran, T. V.
  
• SCIDEV.NET: Advent of Online Science Journalism in India | Padma, T. V.
  
• Smart Websites: Insights from the Department of Biotechnology | Bhatta, Archita
  
• Using Social Media for Research and Reaching Out | Sekar, Sandhya (et al.)
  
• Vigyan Rail: Science Exhibition on Wheels | Kamble, Vinay B.
  
• Organising Children's Science Congress: Challenges and Opportunities | Sinha, Anuj
  
• Bridging Educational Institutions for a Citizen Science Project: A Case Study from Malappuram District, Kerala, India | VV Binoy (et al.)
  
• Communicating Science to the Common: Perspectives of the Science Communicators from India | Balasubramanian, D. (et al.)
  

Further Details

New Report "Artificial Intelligence and Human Development: Toward a Research Agenda"

Artificial Intelligence and Human Development: Toward a Research Agenda

by Matthew Smith, & Sujaya Neupane, International Development Research Center, Canada, 2018.

Abstract: Like most new technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to exacerbate existing problems, reinforce structural inequalities, and superimpose biases. This paper proposes a proactive research agenda for the ethical and equitable application of AI in the Global South, drawn from a broad overview of technologies associated with AI capabilities, and the opportunities and challenges they present. Three areas are identified in which action can be taken: policies and regulations; inclusive and ethical AI applications; and infrastructure and skills. Within each area, the paper makes recommendations for research necessary to make concrete progress.

Download Full-text PDF

See Also:

Discussion Paper on National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, by NITI Aayog, New Delhi, 2018. 

Statement on behalf of Inter Academy Panel on Ethics in Science

Statement on behalf of Inter Academy Panel on Ethics in Science 

(This panel is constituted jointly by three science academies, namely, Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Sciences, India)

When we became an independent republic, our founding fathers adopted the Constitution of India which demands that its citizens abide by and uphold reason and scientific temper. Scientific temper encompasses rationality, rights and responsibility in equal measure.

It crystallizes what Tagore wanted India to be, namely, a nation

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action,

Into that heaven of freedom;

let my country awake.

Yet, we note with sadness and growing anxiety several of statements and actions which run counter to this constitutional requirement of every citizen of India. It is important that exemplary punishment be given to such trespassers of reason and rights. We also appeal to all sections of Indian society to raise their voices against such violated acts, so that they are nipped in the bud.

Source: INSA Website [http://www.insaindia.res.in/scroll_news_pdf/Statement.pdf]

Call for Indo-Japanese Joint Project on "Establishment of Young Researcher Fellowship Programme 2018-19" | INSA-JSPS Fellowship

Call for Indo-Japanese Joint Project on "Establishment of Young Researcher Fellowship Programme 2018-19" 

INSA-JSPS Fellowship

Further Details

Vacancies at Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), New Delhi

Further Details: http://fitt-iitd.in/career/

Twenty-four new sites join UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves

UNESCO press release No. 2018-67

Twenty-four new sites join UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Paris, 25 July – The International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme has added 24 new sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves during its meeting in Palembang (Indonesia) from 23 to 28 July. The MAB network now numbers 686 Biosphere Reserves. Two existing biosphere reserves have been extended and had their names changes.

"Conserving the biodiversity and the management of natural resources in these ecosystems is a pre-requisite for sustainable development," declared UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. "These sites are laboratories of harmonious interaction between people and nature, allowing for advances in the sciences and in traditional knowledge. They facilitate the sharing of knowledge, promote the interaction between science and society and help bring concrete improvements to the lives of local populations," she added.

Biosphere reserves have been designated in Moldova and Mozambique for the first time this year.

Also, five sites in Australia, one site in the Netherlands and another in the United States of America have been withdrawn from the World Network of Biosphere Reserves at the request of the States concerned. The withdrawn Australian sites are: Wilson's Promontory, Hattah Kulkyne and Murray Kulkyne, Yathong, Barkindji and Prince Regent. The USA site that pulled out of the MAB Network is San Dimas Biosphere Reserve and Experimental Forest.

Biosphere reserves are sites destined to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity and human activity through the sustainable use of natural resources. One of their objective is to give rise to innovative sustainable development practices. New reserves are designated every year by the International Co-ordinating Council for the programme, a body with a rotating elected membership of 34 UNESCO Member States. Established by UNESCO in the early 1970s, the Man and the Biosphere Programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to improve relations between people and their natural environment.

The new biosphere reserves are (in alphabetical order of countries):

Arly (Burkina Faso) – Situated in the West African savannah, this biosphere reserve presents a wide variety of natural landscapes including wetlands, gallery forests, dry clear forests, and tree and shrub savannahs. These are natural habitats for vulnerable and endangered species including the cheetah, elephant, lion, leopard and vulture. Agriculture is the main economic activity in Arly with cereal crops (millet and sorghum), peanuts and cotton, alongside livestock.

Mount Huangshan (China) – This biosphere reserve is located in the hilly region of Nanling Range in south-east China. It has been a World Heritage site since 1990 and harbours a forest ecosystem almost unchanged since the last glacial period. Mount Huangshan has become a sanctuary for many ancient animal and plant species since the Quaternary glacial period. The area thus serves as an important germplasm bank and a hotspot for animal and plant biodiversity. This biosphere reserve is also an important water source for the Xin'An, Qing Yi and Qiupu river systems.

Mount Kumgang (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) – The biosphere reserve is located in the middle of the Great Paektu Mountain Range, in the south-east of the country, and includes adjacent marine areas to the east. Mount Kumgang is a forest-oriented ecosystem linked to coastal, agricultural and freshwater ecosystems. It is home to many endemic and rare species of global significance. The coastal area and natural lakes form the habitats of migratory birds that use the East Asia-Australasian Migratory Pathway. The main economic activities on the site are fishing, agriculture and forestry.

Chocó Andino de Pichincha (Ecuador). Situated in north-west of Ecuador, in the province of Pichincha, the biosphere reserve covers an altitudinal range of 360 to 4,480 metres and encompasses the humid moist forest of the Chocó-Darien. The region is considered a biodiversity hotspot hosting some 270 species of mammals, including spectacled bear, Ecuadorian mantled howler and pacarana, alongside endemic species such as the Choco toucan and the Pichincha rocket frog. Approximately 880,000 people inhabit the biosphere reserve. Their main sources of revenue are the cultivation of sugar cane, and fish farming, as well as breeding and trading livestock.

Khangchendzonga (India) – Located in the state of Sikkim, bordering Nepal to the west and Tibet (China) to the north-west, this biosphere reserve is one of the highest ecosystems in the world, reaching elevations of 1,220 to 8,586 metres above sea level. The site is one of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots. It includes vast natural forests that support high species diversity with high levels of endemism. The main economic activities are agricultural and horticultural crops, animal husbandry, fish, dairy and poultry farming.

Berbak-Sembilang (Indonesia) – Located on the south-east coast of Sumatra, this biosphere reserve includes Berbak and Sembilang national parks as well as two wildlife reserves. It contains undisturbed swamp forest peat ecosystems as well as freshwater swamp forests, mangroves and lowland forests surrounding riverbanks with swamps that reach a depth of up to 10 metres. Palm oil plantations, rubber, traditional agriculture (rice fields, dry fields etc) and timber are the main economic activities.

Betung Kerihun Danau Sentarum Kapuas Hulu (Indonesia) – Located at the eastern tip of Kalimantan Barat province, on the island of Borneo, the biosphere reserve consists of two national parks, Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum. It features unique lowland and mountain tropical rainforests that are home to a great diversity of flora and fauna.

Rinjani-Lombok (Indonesia) – The biosphere includes Lombok Island, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. It consists of relatively flat coastal areas and hilly and mountainous areas. The highest peak is Mount Rinjani, the second highest volcanic mountain in Indonesia (3,726 metres above sea level). It has a very high level of biodiversity, comprising various types of forest vegetation (savannah forest, mountain and lowland rain forest), about 40% of which are primary forests. The inhabitants' main sources of revenue comes from horticultural (vegetables and fruits), cereal crops (rice), animal husbandry (cows, goats and chickens) and the cultivation of coffee and cacao.

Kopet-Dag (Islamic Republic of Iran) – The biosphere reserve covers part of the Kopet-Dag mountain range, along the Islamic Republic of Iran's border with Turkmenistan. The ecological region of Kopet-Dag is an important part of the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot, whose primary function is the conservation of many of the endangered species in this area. The main economic activities are agriculture and livestock.

Mont Peglia (Italy) – The site is located in the centre of Italy at the confluence of two river systems, the Tiber to the east and Paglia to the west. It consists of an extensive forested area and constitutes an important natural pool of fauna, flora and mushroom species in and around this ancient extinct volcano. These natural resources allow for activities compatible with sustainable development.

Val Camonica – Alto Sebino (Italy) – The site is located in the eastern part of Lombardy. The area is characterized by typical alpine and pre-alpine valleys, ranging from valley bottom landscapes to the highest peaks of Europe and the Adamello Glacier, and ends in the Iseo Lake, one of Italy's largest basins. The landscape features rivers and lakes, woods and forests, glaciers, meadows and prairies. Farming and animal husbandry in the region follows ancestral traditions.

Tsimanampesotse – Nosy Ve Androka (Madagascar) – Located in the south-west of the country, this biosphere reserve is a mosaic of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems and is considered a biodiversity hotspot due to vulnerable ecosystems, which include coral reefs, beaches, dunes, sea marshes, mangroves, gallery forest, and littoral forest. The terrestrial part of the biosphere reserve is home to a small number of plant and animal species, whose high rate of endemism reaches 90%. The main economic activities are agriculture, livestock farming and fishing.

Lower Prut (Republic of Moldova) – Located in the south of the country, this biosphere reserve encompasses the Prut River and floodplain lakes. Two-thirds of the surface of the area is occupied by Lake Beleu. A wetland area extends along the Prut River, covering a mosaic of water, meadow and forest ecosystems. The main economic activity is agriculture, which provides 90% of the inhabitant's income.

Quirimbas (Mozambique) ­– Located in Cabo Delgado province, in the north of the country, the site consists of 11 islands, a combination of marine parks and a freshwater system including the Montepuez river and Lake Bilibiza, a bird sanctuary. The islands support 3,000 floral species, of which 1,000 are endemic, and a rich fauna that includes 23 species of reptiles, 447 species of birds and 46 species of terrestrial mammals including four of the "big five" (elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard), as well as eight species of marine mammals including whales and dolphins. The main economic activities are fishing, animal husbandry, tourism, arts and crafts and sea transport.

Maasheggen (Netherlands) – This agricultural river landscape in the Meuse valley, in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, has been shaped by continuous interaction between people and nature. The site is used for hay meadows and includes the oldest and largest network of natural hedges in the Netherlands. The landscape comprises a mosaic of small agricultural fields enclosed by hedges, sand dunes, forests, lakes, wet meadows and reed beds. The plan is to use the biosphere reserve as a laboratory for sustainable development and tourism.

Charyn Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Kazakhstan) – Situated in the inter-montane basin of Ili, in the southeast of Kazakhstan, this biosphere reserve unites the canyon-like valley of the Charyn river with relict ash forest, deserts and steppes typical of Central Asia. The floristic diversity includes some 1,000 species of higher vascular plants. The fauna is rich and diverse. While agriculture has long been the main economic activity in the region, tourism has been developing for several years alongside cattle breeding and horticulture.

Zhongar Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Kazakhstan) – This biosphere reserve is located on the northern slope of the Zhetysu Alataun Ridge and incorporates the entire range of mountain ecosystems characteristic of the Tien Shan mountains and Central Asia. The territory is of global importance as the location of the wild apple gene bank. The main economic sectors are agriculture and the industrial production of sunflower oil, flour and mineral water. Lands are mainly used for grazing and hayfields.

Suncheon Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Korea) – Situated on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, the biosphere reserve includes the terrestrial ecosystems surrounding Suncheon City (centred on Mount Mohusan and Mount Jogyesan), as well as coastal tidal flat wetland ecosystems in Suncheonman Bay. The site's rich biological resources include crustaceans, fish and shellfish, as well as medicinal herbs, communities of reeds (Phragmites communis) and East Asian Seepweed (Suaeda japonica). The inhabitants – rural, fishing and mountain-dwelling villagers – utilize ecosystem services in their economic activities, which include rice cultivation, medicinal herbs and fruits such as plums and persimmons.

Mountainous Urals (Russian Federation) – Located in the Southern Urals, this biosphere reserve is covered with mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests as well as mixed coniferous small-leaved forests and mountain taiga spruce-fir forests. Mountain ranges (with summits of 800 m to 1,178 m) and mountain valleys are interconnected by boulder streams. The western part of the reserve is low altitude. While the eastern part alternates between sloping mountain ridge elevations and depressions covered with lakes and deeply incised swampy valleys. About 12,000 people inhabit the site, whose main objective is to transition from extractive industries to a sustainable development model based on biological natural resource management, tourism and the rehabilitation of landscapes scarred by mining.

The Mura River (Slovenia) – Located in the eastern part of the country, this biosphere reserve includes the largest preserved complex of floodplains in Slovenia, where the interweaving of natural factors and human presence has created an exceptional cultural riverine landscape. The main sources of income for residents are agriculture, industry, forestry and tourism. 

Marico (South Africa) – Located in the north of the country, this biosphere reserve comprises a unique freshwater ecosystem which includes the Molemane, Molopo and Marico river systems. The ecosystem is characterized by wetlands and a dolomitic system, which constitute a valuable part of South Africa's natural heritage. The savannah and grassland areas support vulnerable plant species such as Searsia maricoana. Endemic fauna include 73 species of mammal such as the African elephant, the black rhinoceros and the lion. The main economic activities are subsistence agriculture, livestock, game ranching and tourism.

Ponga (Spain) – This remote area of sparsely populated mountains and forests is located on the northern slopes of the Cordillera Cantabrica, in the Asturias. The area is renowned for its steep terrain with altitudes ranging from 213 to 2142 metres above sea level. Deep green valleys climb to vertiginous peaks, passing through extensive beech forests. The majority of the vegetation consists of mixed deciduous woodlands, composed of species such as sycamore, alder, ash, chestnut, oak and hazel. The region contains many animal species, a large number of which are protected, notably the brown bear, the western capercaillie, the grey wolf and golden eagle.

Wadi Wurayah (United Arab Emirates) – Situated in the Emirate of Fujairah, the biosphere reserve consists of a water catchment area in an arid climate that is part of the Haiar mountain range. The site hosts a rich fauna and flora endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the last Emirati places where traditional farming practices are still maintained.

Gombe Masito Ugalla (United Republic of Tanzania) – The biosphere reserve, a major site for Chimpanzee research, includes the Gombe National Park, forest land reserves and part of Lake Tanganyika. Faunal species present in the area include African elephants, ornate frogs and eight primate species. Its flora includes a species discovered in, and named after, Gombe (Pleiotaxis gombensis). The biodiversity of Lake Tanganyika includes over 300 fish species, 250 bird species, and reptiles such as the water cobra and the Tanganyika water snake.

Extensions:

Thuringian Forest Biosphere Reserve ­ [extension and renaming, former Vessertal-Thuringe Biosphere Reserve] (Germany) – designated in 1979, this biosphere reserve was extended in 1986 and 1990. Including its new extension, the site now covers 34,000 ha and should provide support for local communities to create a model region for sustainable development.

Ticino, Val Grande Verbano Biosphere Reserve [extension and renaming of the former Valle del Ticino Biosphere Reserve] (Italy) – Following its extension, wooded and semi-natural areas of the biosphere reserve designated in 2002 now constitute almost half of the entire site compared to 24% previously. The extension also increases the surface of wetlands and water bodies with the presence of large sub-alpine Insubrian lakes, notably Lake Maggiore and Lake Varese.

****

Media contact: Agnès Bardon, UNESCO Media Services, +33(0)145681764, a.bardon@unesco.org

 

Photo gallery: https://en.unesco.org/mab2018

 

Videos of the new biosphere reserves: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/multimedia/news-videos/b-roll/mab-2018/

 

If you would rather not receive future communications from UNESCO, let us know by clicking here.
UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, PARIS, NA FRANCE France