The life and work of Prof. Durgesh Pant serve as a great source of inspiration for all those who strive to make a difference through their work. His life and work have been a testimony to his passion for leveraging science and technology for the upliftment of society and promoting education for all, regardless of their location or socio-economic background. He is a pioneer in the field of Computer Science and Information Technology in the Uttarakhand Himalayan region, having established the Department of Computer Science at Kumaun University Nainital in 1989-90.
In addition to his current role as Director of Computer Science and IT at Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani, Prof. Durgesh Pant has been appointed as the new Director General of the Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) in 2022. Prof. Durgesh Pant’s unwavering dedication to leveraging science and technology for the betterment of society is a testament to his remarkable leadership and serves as an inspiration to all. Prof. Pant brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously served as the Director of the Uttarakhand Space Applications Centre (USAC) and the Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC).
Prof. Pant has been instrumental in the establishment of many institutions as Head of Department and Convener of Computer Science at Kumaun University. He has worked extensively to strengthen the ODL paradigm through his association with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the establishment of the Open University in Uttarakhand in 2005. In July 2010, Prof. Pant established the Uttarakhand Open University’s school of Computer Science & IT and the Dehradun Campus of Uttarakhand Open University in November 2010, resulting in ODL’s phenomenal spread in Garhwal region of the state since then.
Under his guidance, Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) scaled new heights and started several new initiatives in association with ISRO and other organizations of repute. One of the prominent achievements of Prof. Pant during this stint was to accomplish the ‘Uttarakhand School Mapping Information System’ project. Prof. Pant has been a meritorious student all through his academic career, earning scholarships from school to university level. He is an alumnus of Kumaun University, Nainital, and Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra. He has chaired, participated in, and presented research papers at conferences and seminars across the world.
His penchant for leveraging science and technology for the betterment of society is evident from his involvement in developing scientific and technological solutions, innovations that are beneficial to the society at large and particularly to the last-mile learners in difficult geographies like Uttarakhand. During the Covid period, Prof. Pant initiated many initiatives, including the development of the first tracking app, the Uttarakhand COVID 19 tracking system, and promoting online education through a series of webinars, e-workshops, and web conclaves on ‘Technology-Enabled Education’.
Establishing eco-clubs across the state for school children, establishing ‘JalShala’ for promoting water education, creating a centre for disability studies along with promoting Artificial intelligence, cyber security and other technological interventions have been his fields of interest. Prof. Pant’s unwavering dedication to his work and passion for using technology for the betterment of society is truly remarkable. His dedication to using science and technology for the betterment of society and his commitment to education have left a lasting impact in the Uttarakhand Himalayan region and beyond. He has inspired many through his work and continues to do so as a Professor and Director of the School of Computer Science and IT, Vocational Education and ONLINE education at Uttarakhand Open University. Prof. Durgesh Pant is a true leader and an inspiration to many.