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Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Deputy Director at the Center for Water Resources Studies, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. With expertise in hydrology, water resources, and climate risk assessment, he has published over 85 peer-reviewed articles and received the Young Scientist Award from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. He has also served in key roles, including at the International Water Management Institute as a Water & Climate Specialist.

Dr. Pawan Kumar Bhattarai is an Assistant Professor specializing in hydraulics, water resources, and flood management at Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He coordinates the MSc in Water Resources Engineering program and has extensive academic and professional experience, including a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Kyoto University. Dr. Bhattarai has contributed significantly to research, publishing in international journals and advising Nepal's Department of Energy Development.

Nepal, being a Himalayan country located in headwaters of the Ganges River basin in South Asia, is at high risk of climate change. It is affecting water and related sectors, primarily manifesting the risk through water, given the nexus of water with other sectors called as water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE). Recent water-induced disasters, record breaking heavy rainfall, growing water scarcity, and projected impacts on agriculture yield are some examples of increasing climate risk in Nepal. Government of Nepal has responded to those risks by prioritizing various interventions, including developing climate-responsive policies, and focusing on climate-resilient initiatives across multiple sectors. In this context, this talk will highlight stock-taking of climate risk across water-related sectors in Nepal and then potential opportunities for universities to contribute through research for development initiatives in partnership.

This event is made possible by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Grant managed by the MSU Asian Studies Center.