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In a major leap for environmental research and international academic collaboration, Amity University Chhattisgarh, Raipur, has become the first academic institution in the state to partner with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), USA. The university has established a NASA-AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) Atmospheric Monitoring Station on its campus, marking a significant milestone in India’s scientific progress.
This initiative positions Amity University Chhattisgarh on the global research map, joining NASA’s prestigious AERONET program, which includes more than 600 stations across over 80 countries. With this achievement, Amity University Chhattisgarh also becomes the second Amity campus in India, after Amity University Haryana in Gurugram, to be integrated into this elite global network.
The station, named ‘Amity_Univ_Raipur’, is located at coordinates 21.396°N, 81.891°E and stands at an altitude of 298 meters. It operates under NASA’s latest AERONET Version 3 DS and SDA Version 4.1 protocols, ensuring the delivery of real-time, high-resolution aerosol data. This data is critical for climate change research, air quality assessment, satellite data validation, and shaping environmental policies worldwide.
A key highlight of the program is that all data gathered by the station is automatically uploaded to NASA’s central database and made publicly accessible, reinforcing the global movement toward open-science and transparency in environmental monitoring.
This groundbreaking development is made possible by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and the Amity Education Group. It reflects Amity University Chhattisgarh’s dedication to cutting-edge research and global scientific cooperation.
“This collaboration marks a proud moment not just for Amity University Chhattisgarh but for the entire state,” said Prof. (Dr.) Piyush Kant Pandey, Vice Chancellor of Amity University Chhattisgarh and the local Principal Investigator of the project. “This facility will empower students, researchers, and policymakers with accurate data to drive informed decisions on air quality, climate action, and sustainable development.”
The successful setup of the station is a result of collaborative efforts by both Indian and international scientists. Along with Prof. Pandey, Prof. Roshan Mathew (Co-Principal Investigator) and Dr. C.S. Devara from Amity University Haryana have been instrumental in the project. They worked closely with NASA scientists Dr. Brent Holben, AERONET Project Scientist, and Dr. Alexander Smirnov, Lead SDA Scientist.
This partnership not only strengthens India’s role in global environmental monitoring but also opens new avenues for academic research, international collaboration, and student engagement in cutting-edge climate science.