Building Science Chasing Coronavirus-How Young Scientists Help Combat COVID-19 in Nepal
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is a specialized agency of the United Nations and has formed the National Building Science Chasing Coronavirus How young scientists help combat COVID-19 in Nepal Building Science Chasing Coronavirus Chasing Science Building feedbacks and assists to NNCU regarding the area of science and technology. Engineering, Tribhuvan University. IHP is the only intergovernmental program of the United Nations system devoted to water research and management, and related education and capacity development. Resources Himalaya Foundation was established as a research think tank on natural resource conservation by the late Dr Pralad Yonzon. It is a non- administered by its Executive Team. It has over 33 years of experience in innovative research and capacity building in biodiversity, environment and www.resourceshimalaya.org Building Science Chasing Coronavirus HOW YOUNG SCIENTISTS HELP COMBAT COVID-19 IN NEPAL August 2020 Kathmandu August 2020 Building Science Chasing Coronavirus © Resource Himalaya Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal ISBN: 978-9937-0-7647-0 Editors Dinesh Neupane, Kanchan Kattel, and D R Bhuju Published by Resources Himalaya Foundation, Lalitpur, Nepal www.resourceshimalaya.org Supported by Science Committee and Intergovernmental Hydrological Program (IHP) Nepal National Commission for UNESCO Print Himalayan Map House Pvt. Ltd. [email protected] Cover Photo: Mithila art prepared by YSV-Province-2 Message COVID-19 has impacted the world unprecedentedly. Misinformation and Thus science has a greater responsibility to overcome such rumors. In addition to human health impact, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the environment. Importantly, it has been recommended to wash the hands every 2 hours with soap or detergent. With this, water demand has increased, and thus, it is a crucial aspect to be understood. Resources Himalaya Foundation has been doing a commendable job by mobilizing the young scientists and volunteers to combat COVID-19. Environmental Graduates in Himalaya (EGH), a network of young environmental scientists supported by Resources Himalaya Foundation members and getting them engaged in possible activities in the global mission of combating COVID-19 since March 2020. Nepal National Commission for UNESCO (NNC UNESCO) is delighted and happy to be a part of this good cause and collaborate with Resources Himalaya Foundation in educating society through the dissemination of science-based information. The team is doing its best in creating awareness among people in the best possible ways. The awareness materials, including audiovisual materials, awareness posters, arts and paintings, articles, and journal publications, are the best ways to communicate with society. The team of these young scientists has produced awareness materials in English, Nepali, Newari, Maithili, Gurung, Doteli, among other friendly. We congratulate Resources Himalaya Foundation, Environmental Graduates in Himalaya, and Combat COVID-19 Young Scientist Nepal, pandemic. Nepal National Commission for UNESCO is your proud supporter in the mission of “Building Science Chasing Coronavirus.” Prof Dr-Ing Ramesh Kumar Maskey Dr Mahesh Bhattarai NNC UNESCO-Science Coordinator NNC UNESCO-IHP Coordinator Acknowledgements The action research “Building Science Chasing Coronavirus” was carried out with the generous support of Nepal National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The research was made possible by the initiative of Prof Dr Ramesh Kumar Maskey, Coordinator of Science Committee and Dr Mahesh Prasad Bhattarai, Coordinator of IHP Committee at NNC-UNESCO. Dr Babu Ram Adhikari, Deputy Secretary General of the commission helped materialize the project. We express our sincere thanks to all of them. Undertaking the project activities was not an easy task especially during possible only because of the commitments and zeal of service shown by the young scientist volunteers and research scientists in conducting the action research. They deserve our highest appreciations and thanks. The associates/fellows at Resources Himalaya Foundation provided with their support in successfully implementing the project. Table of Contents Message Acknowledgements PART ONE BACKGROUND 9 Objectives 11 Methodologies 11 1. THEME I: SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS Background 16 Grant Call and Participation 16 2. THEME II: LOCKDOWN IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY AND HYDROLOGY 25 2.1 Impact of Lockdown on Wildlife Conservation in Nepal during COVID-19 Pandemic 25 2.2 COVID-19 and Municipal Water Demand 28 PART TWO REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES BY YOUNG SCIENTISTS AT PROVINCE LEVEl 31 PART ONE BACKGROUND The spread of coronavirus is expanding in an unprecedented scale and increasing negative impact on socio-economic orders across the world. It is estimated that over 1.54 billion students are severely impacted by closure of educational institutions across the world amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The closures of educational facilities present an unprecedented risk to children’s education and jeopardize their learning opportunities. Amid the lockdown, the school children are idling to unproductive time on one hand, and on the other hand, the recent graduated and/or graduate students are desperate to support their communities. Almost 2.8 billion people, one-third of the world population, are under lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus by the end of June 2020. Unfortunately the situation has increased incidents of poaching and timber smuggling as criminal networks exploit perceived opportunities of park closures, reduced patrols in protected areas, or the diversion of law enforcement resources to deal with COVID-19 issues. There are everyday reports of such of illicit activities occurring across Asia and Africa since most of the world went into lockdown. regarding its risk to the public, leads to greater uncertainty and fear. A great deal of the uncertainty about COVID-19 is linked to the misinformation that is circulating about it – particularly misrepresentations of risk to the the prevailing superstitions, religious practices and low science literacy. In order to contain the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus, Nepal enacted lockdown on March 24, 2020. The rise of COVID-19 cases, however, was in rise especially in later days. A message was clear: the lockdown will be continued and the worst hit will be the schools as they are the one 9 the children, whose number nearly 7.4 million. Nepal has dedicated 23.23 percent of its land for conservation, but seeing a surge in wildlife poaching due to lockdown. People get information of the disease in every call they receive or make; however, the malpractice of the code is rampant. The Government of Nepal Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (GoN-MoEST) formed a High-level Committee to Combat COVID-19 on March 28, 2020 by the decision at Ministerial level chaired by Hon’ble Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel. The Committee included vice-chancellors of the universities, academicians, the former minister Er Ganesh Shah comprised of six thematic groups as follows: i. Alternative education and pedagogy, ii. iii. iv. Technology development and innovation, v. Diagnosis and tests, and vi. literacy was NAST Academician Dr Dinesh Raj Bhuju, General Secretary of Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF). This thematic group mobilized young scientist volunteers, science teachers, university professors and experts, which established nationwide networks of communication bringing hundreds of scientists and technologists to the platform. In order to enhance the capacity of the scientists and volunteers, and support Nepal National Commission for UNESCO has mobilized and supported researchers and young volunteers to prepare awareness materials and conduct an action research. 10 Objectives The overall objective of the proposed action research project was to s COVID-19 through awareness programs and undertake case studies of impact of lockdown and to address the gaps in two major sectors: objectives of the proposed project were: 1. To engage young scientists volunteers in preparing science education materials for public awareness, and 2. To support research scientists in conducting case studies on the lockdown impact on biodiversity and hydrology. Methodologies Resources Himalaya Foundation, the secretariat in function of the thematic other logistic supports. The project invited enthusiastic and innovative young conservation scientists and science volunteers. An open call was made to give equal opportunities. The call for applications was made in two thematic areas: 1) Science education materials for public awareness, and 2) Lockdown impact on biodiversity and hydrology, research study. A gist of the activities is summarized in the Table 1. On theme one, applications were called from the young scientist volunteers actively engaged in combating COVID-19 in Nepal. They have groups at provincial level with networks in over 65 districts in the country. Each group representing one province prepared science-based educational materials including audio-visuals, poster and arts, articles for journals, and conducted various activities. Altogether 67 materials from seven groups were received for evaluation. The materials were also uploaded in social media for public views. The evaluation included experts’ ranking and public voting as well (Table 2) and an independent 11 team of experts evaluated