CESAR

27/04/2026

Thank you for joining Himalayan Dialogue – Episode 6!

We had an inspiring and insightful session exploring “What Makes Medicine?” through the genetic and ethnomycological significance of Ganoderma mushrooms in Nepal. 🍄

A heartfelt thank you to Brenna Prevelige, Fulbright Scholar from Oregon State University, USA, for sharing fascinating perspectives on traditional knowledge, fungal genetics, and the medicinal potential of Himalayan biodiversity.

The discussion highlighted the powerful intersection of science, culture, and indigenous knowledge in understanding medicine from nature.

🙏 Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this enriching dialogue. Stay tuned for the next episode of Himalayan Dialogue as we continue exploring ideas that connect research, innovation, and the Himalayas.

23/04/2026

Excited to share that CESAR successfully facilitated a three-day AI capacity building workshop held 8–10 Baisakh 2082 (21–23 April 2026) in Pokhara, Nepal.

Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply, Gandaki Province, the workshop was inaugurated by Hon. Nanda Prasad Neupane, Minister, with the support of Secretary Devaraj Niraula.

28 officials from water resources, irrigation, and drinking water offices across all 11 districts of Gandaki Province participated in hands-on training spanning:

• AI fundamentals and prompt engineering
• AI-assisted writing, communication, and document management
• Presentations and reporting with AI tools
• Data handling, Google Colab, and Python basics
• AI Use Case Canvas for workplace action planning

The workshop was facilitated by Kapil Adhikari, PhD (Prithivi Narayan Campus), Bidur Devkota, PhD (Gandaki College of Engineering and Science), Santosh Koirala, PhD, and Dinesh Mani Bhandari (CESAR).

This initiative is a step toward equipping Nepal’s provincial government workforce with practical AI skills for more efficient, data-informed public service delivery.

We look forward to expanding this work across more sectors and institutions in Gandaki Province and beyond.

21/04/2026

Himalayan Dialogue – Episode 6

What makes medicine? Join us for an engaging session exploring the genetic and ethnomycological significance of Ganoderma mushrooms in Nepal.

Speaker: Brenna Prevelige
Fulbright Scholar, Oregon State University, USA

Date: 26 April 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 16:00 – 17:00
Venue: Mountain Brew, Simal Chaur, Pokhara (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VPB6YNhm6SXqybDy8)

This session will dive into the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern science—uncovering how local practices and genetics shape our understanding of medicinal fungi.

Register now: https://forms.office.com/r/hEpwCg7Mrb

Organized by:
Center for Environmental and Sustainable Agricultural Research (CESAR)

11/04/2026

Glad to see Dr. Prayan Pokharel representing CESAR as part of the Scientific Committee. We are always happy to support initiatives like MoChWo that strengthen science in Nepal and beyond. Wishing the team a successful conference.

As we prepare for the upcoming conference this October, we are pleased to introduce the Scientific Committee. This distinguished group will oversee the technical aspects of the conference, including the review and processing of submitted abstracts, ensuring the highest standards of academic rigor and quality.

We are currently accepting abstracts and proposals for symposia.

More: https://conference.kias.org.np

03/04/2026

Today, our Executive Director, Dhaka Ram Bhandari, PhD, delivered a thought‑provoking presentation on spatial and sectoral imbalances in higher education. The session brought together academics and key stakeholders for exchange of ideas. It is great to see CESAR emerging as a significant partner in advancing research in this region.

https://www.eadarsha.com/nep/211259.html

24/02/2026

We proudly announce that our Research Associate, Dipak Paudel, has been selected for the highly competitive TWAS–SISSA–Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme Fellowship (TWAS - The World Academy of Sciences). This recognition places a Nepali researcher among leading international scholars and underscores CESAR’s growing contribution to global scientific collaboration.

The Center for Environmental and Sustainable Agricultural Research (CESAR) proudly announces that its Research Associate, Dipak Paudel, has been selected for the highly competitive TWAS–SISSA–Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme Fellowship. This recognition places a Nepali researcher amo...

24/02/2026

Our researcher, Dr. Prayan Pokharel, is currently on a field visit to the Panchase region with two of our research associates, Ms. Rekha Laudari and Ms. Astha Poudel. The team is studying mistletoe and insect interactions, a study that is the first of its kind in Nepal. This is their second field visit, and a third field trip is planned within the next three months.

Stay tuned for updates from the field.

08/02/2026

Himalayan Dialogue – Episode 5 | CESAR

Dr. Basanta Raj Adhikari shared powerful insights on “Cascading and Compounding Hazards for Risk-Informed Decision Making in the Asian Highlands.”
The talk highlighted how interconnected multi-hazards - landslides, floods, earthquakes, and climate extremes that amplify risks in the Himalayas, and why multi-hazard, science-based decision making is crucial for resilience.

03/02/2026

We are happy to share that Prabhat Dhakal has joined our team. He is a microbiologist and lecturer in food and industrial microbiology, with a focus on food fermentation, probiotics, and gut microbiota. He holds a Master’s degree in Food and Industrial Microbiology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His research interests focus on probiotics, gut microbiota, and human health. He is actively preparing for doctoral research and is engaged in scientific writing and academic knowledge dissemination.

Welcome to the team.

01/02/2026

Certified Workshop Concluded Successfully!

The Center for Environmental and Sustainable Agricultural Research (CESAR) successfully conducted a two-day certified workshop, “Academic Writing Workshop: From Design to Dissemination,” on January 30–31, 2026.

This intensive, hands-on training equipped participants with essential academic and research competencies, including:

🔹 Research Writing – Structure and anatomy of a research article
🔹 Data Skills – Data analysis and visualization using Excel and Python
🔹 Referencing – Practical training with Zotero
🔹 Academic Publishing – Peer review process, responding to reviewer comments, plagiarism, impact factors, and identifying predatory journals
🔹 AI in Research – Key insights into responsible and effective use of AI tools

👨‍🏫 Facilitators:
Atis Kaundinnyayana | Dr. Dhaka Ram Bhandari | Dr. Kapil Adhikari | Dr. Rajib Pokhrel | Dr. Santosh Koirala | Dr. Shiva Devkota | Dr. Somanath Sapkota

🛠 Technical Support:
Dinesh Bhandari | Kusum Gurung | Prayan Pokharel

We sincerely thank all participants for their enthusiastic engagement and contributions, which made this workshop a meaningful and successful learning experience.

27/01/2026

Last Few Seats Remaining!
Academic Writing Workshop: From Design to Dissemination
📅 January 30–31, 2026
Mountain Brew Cafe, Simal Chaur, Pokhara

If you’re a faculty member, early‑career researcher, Master’s/PhD student, or anyone working on research and publications — this is your chance to transform your writing skills!

What You’ll Learn:
• Research ideation: turning ideas into strong concepts
• Crafting a publishable manuscript
• Understanding the anatomy of a research paper
• Data visualization using Excel & Python
• Smart referencing and citation with Zotero
• Research dissemination, ethical publishing & plagiarism awareness
• Responsible use of AI in research
• Real publication experience from experts

Fee: NPR 2000 (Tea, snacks & certificate included)
📝 Registration via QR code
Organized by:
Center for Environmental and Sustainable Agricultural Research (CESAR)

Seats are almost full — secure yours now!