Under our project ‘Catalyzing Geospatial Capacity Building’ post-National Geospatial Policy 2022 led by Prof. Dr. Shamita Kumar, BVIEER recently partnered with the National Geospatial Program, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India to host a groundbreaking workshop on spatial thinking for localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conducted at the National Institute for Geoinformatics Science and Technology (NIGST), Survey of India, Hyderabad, on December 20, 2023, the event was attended by 38 participants from diverse government and private schools in Hyderabad, including representatives from SCERT and DIETs. 

The workshop aimed to empower educators to leverage open-source geospatial technologies to localize SDGs, aligning with the National Education Policy’s (NEP 2020) competency-based education framework and National Geospatial Policy 2022. Shri Sunil Kumar inaugurated the session, setting the tone for insightful discussions led by experts: Dr. Shamita Kuar, Coordinator, NGP; Dr. Shubha Pandey, Scientist E, DST, GoI; Dr. S. Suresh Babu (Head, SLA, SCERT, Telangana); Dr. Stalin; Dr. Pankaj Mishra (Deputy Surveyor of India, NIGST, Hyderabad); Dr. Madhurima Dey; and Ms. Samruddhi Patwardhan from BVIEER.

The event featured sessions on spatial thinking’s significance in achieving the SDGs and hands-on sessions with open-source tools like Google Maps, Google Earth, and the Epicollect 5 app. Participants engaged in discussions, brainstorming sessions, and group activities focusing on recognizing how spatial thinking can be used and geospatial tools can be used to address community challenges. They also had the opportunity to visit the facilities at the Photogrammetry Laboratory and the CORS at NIGST.

The valedictory session, led by Dr. Pankaj Mishra and Dr. Shamita Kumar, emphasized the pivotal role of spatial thinking in education. The workshop provided a comprehensive platform for understanding geospatial integration in education, aligning with national goals. Participants left with practical insights to implement spatial thinking strategies in their educational settings.