Kathmandu, Feb. 6
Bilateral Technical Committee (BTC) between Italy and Nepal has
decided to revitalise the use and role of the Pyramid Observatory Laboratory,
established 35 years ago by Prof. Ardito Desio at 5,050 Meters near Mount
Everest.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Nepal
Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in Khumaltar of Lalitpur on 4-5
February.
Pyramid is a laboratory for human adaptation to the issues
of the health of local populations' exposure to high altitude and indoor and
outdoor pollution, water availability and sustainable development.
It also conducts research on the management of natural
resources for agriculture and sustainable tourism on the highest and most
emblematic mountains in the heart of Asia, of which Everest is a symbol.
Italy and the Ev-K2-CNR project in collaboration with NAST,
with the Pyramid Laboratory located below Everest, holds international
scientific research in this iconic place not only for Nepal but for the entire
world and for high-level scientists dealing with nature and the environment,
the NAST informed in a statement issued after the meeting.
It also said that there is a long and deep friendship,
relationship, and trust between Nepal and Italy, which has been renewed in
recent days with the renewal of bilateral agreements and the approval of
multiyear joint research projects.
"The population, stakeholders, local administrations,
and the scientific and academic community of Nepal have strongly focused their
strategic interest on the full reactivation of the Pyramid Laboratory and
scientific collaboration between Italy and Nepal," read the statement.
Speaking at the BTC meeting, Vice Chancellor of the NAST,
Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, highlighted the enhancement and boosting of cooperation
between the two organisations aiming at developing new projects in Nepal.
Prof. Maurizio Gallo highlighted the history, collaborative
projects in past, new collaboration, and opportunities for the future in the
Pyramid Laboratory. Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary of NAST, spoke about
the history and the new collaboration opportunities for the Pyramid Laboratory.
Likewise, Dr. Franco Salerno shared the main scientific
results, which was recently published in nature and other esteemed journals
along with other publications and other achievements.
The BTC meeting discussed further about the activities of
the scientific projects presented by both parties for execution in the next
three years, in order to approve the research proposals and other activities.
Regarding the activities to be executed, the BTC members reviewed 14 projects
on the Nepali side and 19 projects on the Italian side.
The BTC meeting recommended that every project approved by
the BTC can be implemented in Nepal and at the Pyramid Observatory Laboratory,
provided it has the necessary financial coverage.
Similarly, it is recommended that the Italian projects will
support the Nepali researchers for their living operational costs and
potentially activating Ph.D. and masters level scholarships as far as possible.
The meeting also suggested that the NAST should be informed
of the implementation of any individual project at least 4 months earlier in
order to facilitate its execution by providing necessary support for the
release of authorizations, permits, licenses as required by Nepali law.
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