NICHOD competition concluded

22/09/2022

Science Education and Outreach working group of National Young Academy of Nepal (NaYAN) completed first ever thesis presentation competition called NICHOD in Nepal in collaboration with Pokhara University Research Center (PURC). NiCHOD is a nationwide competition of research students to present their original research findings in three minutes among people not from their disciplines.

The grand finale of NICHOD was organized on the occasion of 10th National Science Day 2079 (2022) of Nepal which occurs on Ashoj 1st (September 17). The slogan of science day this year was ''Expansion of Investment in Science and Technology: The Basis of Growth and Prosperity”. The program was held in IAC Hall, Pokhara University, Kaski. The day-long celebration was jointly organized by NaYAN and PURC with support from Gandaki Province Academy of Science and Technology, Gandaki and InterAcademy Partnership, USA. The program was a part of celebration of International Year of Basic Science for Sustainable Development 2022 (IYBSSD2022).

Prof. Purusottam Basnet, Former Dean of Pokhara University delivered an inaugural talk on the applications of nanomedicines in pharmacy to celebrate the day.

Ten finalists presented their NICHOD presentation among the panel of judges and audiences. The finalists were Bipana Giri, Gopal Acharya, Laxmi Dahal, Tulasa Chaudhary, Sudeep Poudel in graduate category and Ajaya Acharya, Laxmi Kunwar, Nawraj Pandey, Prasamsha Thapa, Shailendra Sharma in undergraduate category.

The three membered distinguished panel of judges included: Dr. Mohan B. Dangi, Professor at California State University, Fresno and a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Nepal, Ms. Kalpana Parajuli, Associate Professor at Pokhara University, and Dr. Shiva Devkota, Research Fellow at Global Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Bipana Giri was announced as the winner of graduate category and Nawraj Pandey was announced as the winner of undergraduate category. Cash prize of NRs. 50000/- to graduate category and NRs. 30000/- to undergraduate category was awarded to the winners which was sponsored by Prime Commercial Bank. Participants were also provided with certificates.

Co-chair of NaYAN Dr. Basant Giri, co-leads of science education & outreach working group Dr. Sasmita Poudel and Dr. Bal Kumari Oliya, and co-lead of research ethics working group Dr. Nirina Khadgi were also present in the program.

Dignitaries from Pokhara University including Deans Dr. Amar Nagila, Mr Rajesh Thagurathi, Dayaraj Dhakal, Executive Director of Pokhara University Research Center Dr. Namraj Dhami, Executive Director of International Relations Dr. Umesh Singh Yadav, Chief of Planning Dr. Deepak Raj Paudel, Dr. Sushil Panta, Deepanjal Shrestha, Shiva Sankalpa, Chanu Moktan Tamang, Tej Narayan Paranjuli, were present during the event. Similarly, the Executive Director of Gandaki Province Academy of Science and Technology - GPAST Dr. Dhakaram Bhandari was also present in the program.

Few photographs of the event are below.