Anant National University Launches Climate Lab In Collaboration With Visaka Industries

Ahmedabad, Gujarat based Anant National University (AnantU) has launched a state-of-the-art AnantU Climate Lab, for students to study the practical application-oriented aspects of climate change. In partnership with Telangana – based, Visaka Industries Limited (VIL), which also makes eco-friendly building materials company, AnantU is building its climate tech lab with sustainable construction materials at their Ahmedabad campus. The lab is meant for students of the Anant School for Climate Action that offers the Bachelor in Technology specialising in Climate Change and the Anant Fellowship for Climate Action.

The AnantU Climate Lab in its first phase will be equipped with scientific apparatus such as an automated weather station, a biosafety cabinet with HEPA filters and UV, a thermoelectric pyrheliometer that measures the intensity of solar radiation and other equipment to carry out climatic studies and implement solutions. The AnantU Climate Lab also has the SimaPRO software, to run Life Cycle Analysis simulations to gauge the impact of any product and service on the climate and on other natural resources such as water and land.

The BTech students will learn to run simulations, build technology solutions for mitigating or adapting to climate change at the AnantU Climate Lab.  It will facilitate students to be part of live industry climate projects that will be run at the AnantU Climate Lab, from day one of their joining.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, Dr Anunaya Chaubey – Provost, AnantU, said, “As the world is realising the severity and impact of climate change, we have to intensify efforts to study, research and build sustainable solutions. Anant Climate Lab is our effort in that direction. Here the students will get a chance to experiment, test and build on their ideas. Hand-on experience is crucial for such new and evolving sectors as climate sciences and technology”.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, Vamsi Gaddam, Joint Managing Director, Visaka Industries  said, “There is no denying the impact of climate change. It affects us every day and in every aspect of our lives. We applaud Anant National University for taking the initiative to build this Climate Lab and are extremely proud to have been involved in its construction with our eco-friendly boards and integrated solar roof. We have been in the sustainable building materials industry for four decades and have no doubt that THIS is the need of the hour – to educate our students, and our future, and pass the baton of responsibility to them. Congratulations, Anant U. Here’s to a more sustainable tomorrow.”

“I am delighted at the partnership between Visaka Industries Limited and Anant National University. These are both organisations that are torch bearers of  India’s transition to net zero emissions, led by visionaries who cater to the needs of the present and future. Thanks to Visaka’s Atum solar roofing panels, the AnantU Climate Lab will generate its own electricity and will thus be self-sustaining. This is indeed apt and a powerful aspect that will inspire students at the Bachelor of Technology specialising in Climate Change to think beyond the usual, and create new technology solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change” said Dr Miniya Chatterji, Founding Director, Anant School for Climate Action, and CEO, Sustain Labs Paris.

The AnantU Climate Lab is built by Visaka Industries Limited with construction materials such as Vnext fibre cement boards that are environmentally friendly. The Lab will use Atum, an integrated solar roofing system manufactured by Visaka Industries Limited, that is unlike other solar panels which need to be separately mounted upon a racking system and placed on the truss. Atum is both – the roof and the solar panel that increases energy generation by 20%.