The Mission Mausam Urban Test Bed Facility – Chennai Inaugurated at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

The Mission Mausam Urban Test Bed Facility – Chennai, was inaugurated on 13th October 2025 at
Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University), Chennai, with the support of
the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India. This state-of-the-art facility marks a major milestone in the nation’s climate science
initiatives and strengthens India’s preparedness toward becoming a “Weather Ready and Climate Smart” nation.

The facility was inaugurated by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, as the
Chief Guest, and presided over by Dr. Mariazeena Johnson, Hon’ble Chancellor of Sathyabama Institute of
Science and Technology and and Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, IITM, Pune.

Dr. Thara Prabhakaran, Scientist G and Project Director, Mission Mausam, IITM Pune; Prof. Balaji
Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT; Dr. R. S. Kankara, Director, NCCR; and Dr. B. Amudha, Head, IMD- RMC, Chennai and Dr. T.V.S. Udaya Bhaskar, Scientist G, INCOIS, Hyderabad were present in the
inauguration.

With a focus on investigating and understanding Chennai’s urban climate variability, the facility is equipped
with state-of-the-art atmospheric instruments Sathyabama Research Park, alongside a dedicated Data Recording and Processing Centre located in the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics located in Sathyabama Research Park. The facility is equipped with advanced atmospheric observation systems such as a Ceilometer, SODAR, and Micro Rain Radar, which provide continuous high-resolution observations of three-dimensional
wind circulation, aerosols, clouds, and rainfall characteristics over Chennai — one of India’s most climate- vulnerable urban regions.

In addition to the Urban Test Bed Facility, the ceremony also marked the inauguration of the Paleoclimatology
Laboratory and Information Galleries – Geochronos, Oceana, and Innovaria. These facilities aim to serve as
knowledge and outreach hubs for promoting climate literacy, citizen science, and collaborative research on
environmental sustainability. Together, they will contribute to building scientific awareness and resilience
among communities in Chennai and across the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mariazeena Johnson expressed her pride in hosting the first Urban Test Bed
Facility in Chennai at Sathyabama. She stated, “Sathyabama is actively promoting sustainability-focused
research that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The establishment of the Mission
Mausam facility reinforces the belief that education and science must work hand in hand to serve society, safeguard the environment, and build a better future for generations to come.”

This initiative represents a significant step toward integrating scientific research with urban climate adaptation
strategies. By combining the expertise of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and its constituent institutions, the
facility will create new avenues for capacity building, student training, and interdisciplinary research.

The inauguration of the Mission Mausam Urban Test Bed Facility at Sathyabama symbolizes a new era of
collaboration between academia and national research institutions, advancing India’s eforts to enhance
atmospheric observation, improve weather forecasting, and strengthen the nation’s resilience to climate change.