By Faculty of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources
March 14, 2026: Shubham Gade, a doctoral student in the Agricultural Systems and Engineering (ASE) program under the Faculty of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR), has won the 1st Prize along with a cash award in the Oral Presentation category at the 4th Roorkee Water Conclave (RWC 2026). The prestigious international event was jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), bringing together leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss innovative solutions to global water challenges.
Competing among approximately 300 participants from more than 20 countries in the oral presentation category, Shubham presented his innovative research under the theme “Integrated Water–Energy–Food Nexus.” The award-winning presentation was titled: “A Nexus Approach to Resilient Horticulture: Optimizing Water and Biochar for Bell Pepper Production and Quality.”
The award was presented during the closing ceremony by Vijay P. Singh, Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor at Texas A&M University, USA, and Nicola Fohrer, Chair of Hydrology and Water Resources Management at Kiel University, Germany, in the presence of senior officials and representatives from the host institutions. The recognition highlights Shubham’s outstanding contribution to advancing research in sustainable water management.
Reflecting on this achievement, Shubham expressed his sincere appreciation for the support he received at AIT: “I sincerely thank my supervisor, Dr. Sushil K. Himanshu, for his invaluable guidance and for providing me with this opportunity.”
AIT warmly congratulates Shubham on this remarkable international accomplishment and wishes him continued success in his research endeavors!
