Kathmandu, Nepal – The Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (CDHM) at Tribhuvan University (TU) and the Kathmandu Center for Research and Education (KCRE, CAS-TU) jointly organized the KCRE Excellent Student Thesis Grant Distribution Ceremony 2024 to recognize 13 outstanding postgraduate students pursuing master's degrees under the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), TU.

The initiative, which began in 2014 through an agreement between TU and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has provided grants to  students across various departments and campuses, fostering excellence in research and innovation.

Chief Guest Prof. Dr. Kedar Prasad Rijal, Registrar of TU, congratulated the recipients and expressed hope that their research endeavors would elevate the university’s reputation. He urged the young scientists to complete their research promptly and publish their findings in reputed journals.

Prof. Tao Wang, Executive Director of KCRE, addressed the event virtually, encouraging the students and reaffirming KCRE's decade-long commitment to supporting Nepali researchers. Prof. Wang also expressed optimism about expanded academic collaborations following the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TU and CAS.

Prof. Dr. Deepak Aryal, Head of CDHM, shared his excitement about upcoming initiatives, including a summer school program planned in collaboration with prestigious academic institutions.

Dr. Binod Dawadi, Associate Professor at CDHM and Deputy Director of KCRE, provided a comprehensive overview of the grant's history and structure. He explained that each student receives NPR 48,000 upfront, representing 60% of the total NPR 80,000 grant. The remaining 40% is distributed in two phases: 20% upon completing research within nine months and 20% after publishing their research in national or international journals within two years.