Kathmandu institute of Applied Sciences and Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan jointly organized one day seminar ‘Know Nepal through its History, Culture, Society and Biodiversity’ on August 19, 2017 at Grand Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal. The seminar, KIAS – HIGO seminar, was the second one after resounding success of previous year . HIGO program was initiated with the aim of making global leaders of future by making graduate students of Japan aware of contemporary issues in different socio-cultural settings. The seminar was attended by faculties and students from Kumamoto University lead by Dr. Hari Prasad Devkota including Dr. Umeda Kahoko and 9 other graduate students. KIAS played an important role in familiarizing participants about Nepal’s social, cultural, ecological and geological environments.

The program was moderated by Dr. Rashila Deshar. Dr. Prakash K. Paudel, Scientist at KIAS, gave a welcome speech with an outline of the seminar. Dr. Susma Giri, Associate Scientist, KIAS, talked about the Nepal’s physical and biological diversity. Dr. Chitra B. Baniya, Associate Professor, Tribhuvan University, discussed about nexus between people and biodiversity, with a particular focus on medicinal plants. He stated ‘most of the plant species in Nepal are of the medicinal importance’ and clued-up some of the research on ethno-botany. Dr. Janak Rai, Associate Professor at Central Department of Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, talked about linguistic and cultural diversity prevailing in Nepal. Dr. Basanta Raj Adhakari, Associate Professor at Institute of Engineering, TU, talked on geology of Himalayan disasters with a particular emphasis on Gorkha earthquake, 2015. Dr.  Pardeep Giri, Associate Professor, Tribhuvan University, talked on modern history of geopolitics of Nepal. The seminar was concluded with a remark by Dr. Dibas Shrestha.

[Reported by Shishila Baniya]