SRINAGAR: Secretary Science & Technology Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhury, today inaugurated the Immersive Virtual Reality Lab. (IVRL) in the Division of Veterinary Anatomy at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Shuhama SKUAST-Kashmir.
The Secretary was accompanied by distinguished dignitaries, including Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir Prof.Nazir Ahmad Ganai, at the event, along with other University Officers and faculty members from various Medical Colleges of Kashmir Division.
It is worth mentioning that the newly created facility is one of the finest curriculum-based laboratories in the world and stands as the first of its kind developed in any University across India. The new lab. hosts world-class equipment for AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), and other 3D facilities that can be used in various fields, including medical, Veterinary, and related sciences, as well as their sub-disciplines such as anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medicine, Surgery, Radiology, and other clinical subjects.
The facilities will be of great help to students, researchers and other clinicians in better understanding their subjects and their applicability to a diverse range of skill subsets added to their kitty. The newly established facilities will further overcome ethical constraints faced in upholding the sessions on real/practical subject items with the presence of best-in-class material at one’s fingertips. The Division of Veterinary Anatomy has named the Lab and its adjoined facilities rightly as Skills Hub Centre and is being majorly funded by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
In his address, Dr. Shahid Iqbal congratulated the University for its Innovative Projects and assured all the support from his Department for the Research and development projects. Dr.Shahid Iqbal stressed the need to overcome the prevailing disconnect between different institutions in their scientific discourse by reducing the existing gaps through effective planning.
Dr Shahid Iqbal further emphasized on the growing need to introduce new innovative methodologies in teaching and research, as seen in most parts of the developed world.
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, in his address, highlighted the achievements of the university and complimented the Veterinary faculty for the new facility developed at its campus. He further appreciated the efforts of Dr Firdous A Dar, PI of the newly established IVR Lab developed at the Division of Veterinary Anatomy with the help of NABARD.
Prof. NazirAhmad highlighted the importance of this new lab for the competitive grooming of students in an effective manner. He also invited the students, researchers and other faculty members from different related institutions to this lab for the utilisation of available services in a regulated manner. He further impressed upon the faculty to take a lead in similar scientific ventures in their respective fields and work for the development of UT as a bio-economic model of the rest of the country.
Earlier, Prof. Riaz A Shah, Dean FVSc& AH, formally welcomed the guests and other participants at the event and hoped that the new facility would improve the practical skills of students and foster innovations among them. Afterwards, Dr FirdousAhmad gave a detailed demonstration of the Virtual lab to the audience in a quite impressive manner.
The event ended with a vote of thanks presented by Head Division of Veterinary Anatomy, Prof. A.R. Chowdhury, while the session was handled by Dr Andleeb Rafiq, Assistant Prof. in the host Division at FVSc & AH, Shuhama.
