The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu celebrated environment day at its Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) High School, Jammu, under the CSIR-Jigyasa Mission. The event aimed to engage students through creative, hands-on activities centered on sustainability and responsible use of resources.Students between 10 to 15 years from RRL High School and Heritage School enthusiastically participated in the “Art from Waste” activity, creating artwork exclusively from discarded materials without using any plastic. This initiative attracted and encouraged young minds to think innovatively about environmental protection through recycling and reuse.

Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, was the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ahmed, said “Through simple and engaging activities like waste-to-art and tree planting, we aim to instil deep-rooted values of sustainability in children. Under the CSIR-Jigyasa initiative, CSIR-IIIM remains committed to nurturing scientific temper and environmental responsibility among the school students, he added.

On this occasion, a tree plantation drive was also conducted in the school premises. The plantation was jointly led by Anju Bala, Principal of RRL High School; Dr. Asha Chaubey, Senior Principal Scientist and Nodal Scientist for the CSIR-IIIM Jigyasa Program; along with other faculty members. This act of planting trees served as a powerful visual message, highlighting the need to care for the environment. Earlier, Dr. Asha Chaubey, Senior Principal Scientist and Nodal Scientist for the CSIR-IIIM Jigyasa Program stated, “Seeing students express their concern for the environment through creative mediums is heartening. Such initiatives help young learners understand the importance of sustainability in a practical and joyful way.” Anju Bala, Principal of RRL High School, expressed her appreciation for the support from CSIR-IIIM, emphasizing, “This event not only showcased the artistic talent of our students but also deepened their understanding of environmental responsibility. “We are grateful to CSIR-IIIM for bringing this unique and inspiring event to our campus”. During the event, certificates were distributed among all the participants by Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu, encouraging their creativity and efforts in promoting a greener world. The celebration reflected CSIR-IIIM Jammu’s ongoing commitment towards community outreach and science-based environmental education under the CSIR-Jigyasa Mission.