Assam down town University proudly presents the National Conference on “Sustainable Development Goals and Community Engagement towards Mitigating Local and Global Crisis”, organized by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).

The event commenced with an Inaugural Session, beginning with Saraswati Vandana, followed by a Welcome Address from Dr. Prateeti Barman (she/her), Dean cum Convenor of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In her address, Dr. Barman stressed the significance of aligning sustainable development goals with active community engagement to build inclusive, resilient, and future-ready societies.

The Keynote Address by Dr. R. Murugesan, Director of the North Eastern Regional Centre of the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD & NERC), and a special address by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Assam down town University, added further depth to the conference's vision, highlighting the need for community-driven, sustainable solutions in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Day 1 featured two engaging technical sessions. The first, themed Psychosocial Well-being and Social Support, covered research on mental health challenges faced by cancer patients, transitional stress among young professionals, and coping mechanisms for adolescents. The second session, titled Rethinking Development, explored green banking, the role of renewable energy, and how academia perceives AI as a tool for sustainability.

Additionally, parallel sessions focusing on Sustainable Livelihoods, Climate Action, and Environmental Sustainability shed light on topics such as community-based tourism, women-led rural entrepreneurship, and food security. Researchers presented findings on sustainable agricultural practices and the environmental impacts of shifting cultivation in Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.

This conference stands as a platform for researchers, professionals, and students to collaborate, exchange ideas, and build actionable strategies for mitigating the growing environmental and social crises, both locally and globally.