DRASS: The Department of Zoology, Government Degree College (GDC) Drass, has secured a place in the Grand Finale of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) National Hackathon after emerging among the top five teams at the National Semi-Finals held in Dehradun.
The team, led by Dr. Javed Iqbal Naqi and comprising Dr. Talib Hussain and student member Mudassir Hussain, represented the Northern Region after winning the regional round conducted by ZSI at Solan.
Their project, developed under the theme “Traditional Knowledge for Biodiversity Conservation,” focuses on harnessing indigenous practices and community knowledge to promote sustainable biodiversity conservation in the Trans-Himalayan region.
The National Semi-Finals witnessed participation from 15 teams from across the country, each presenting innovative solutions for biodiversity conservation rooted in traditional knowledge systems. Following evaluation by an expert jury, five teams were shortlisted for the Grand Finale.
Besides GDC Drass, the finalists include the University of Allahabad, Biodiversity Management Committee NHRC Meghalaya, Marine Biology Regional Centre Chennai and RV Engineering College Bengaluru.
The Grand Finale is scheduled to be held at the Zoological Survey of India Headquarters in Kolkata, where the shortlisted teams will present their projects before a national panel.
The achievement marks a notable academic accomplishment for the institution and highlights the growing contribution of higher educational institutions from Ladakh to national-level research and innovation platforms.
The team credited its success to the encouragement and support extended by the Principal of GDC Drass, whose guidance and mentorship, they said, played a vital role in motivating them to participate and excel in the competition.
