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FOREWORD
Nature reflects our nature
It is a matter of immense pleasure for me to write about the new edition of Pratibimba - Nature and Social Concern Society ’ s yearbook . Pratibimba 2020 is the culmination of the collective efforts of NSCS members and the Pratibimba team at one of the most unprecedented times . We are living with a pandemic , one that is truly global in scale : the effort worldwide to contain it has been dubbed ‘ the biggest experiment in human history ’. The publication of Pratibimba in this scenario is an encouraging achievement for NSCS and the fraternity of Environmental Science students .
NSCS as a departmental club of Department of Environmental Science and Engineering , Kathmandu University has a history of its own – one that is carved by the aspirations , struggles , and perseverance of the numerous batches of ES students since 2001 . The club ’ s history remains largely undocumented but continues to survive in the legacy of the alumni who have reached far and wide in creating an impact in the global society . In this context , we should remember the work of our seniors who nurtured the club into what it is today . As one of the younger members in the family of ES graduates , I know about a minuscule fraction of this history . But I can say that continued publication of yearbooks , magazines , and newsletters is one way to chronicle the club ’ s history in the making . This is the third edition of the yearbook which was first published with the name ‘ GAIA ’ in 2010 . Worth mentioning is the attempt by our seniors to publish another edition of GAIA in 2014 . The edition , however , could not be published in hard copy then . I hope our seniors will be happy to see the legacy live in the enthusiasm of the current batches of NSCS members for the continuation , or rather a revival of the yearbook publication initiative .
The essence of NSCS thrives at the interface of the memories of the past batches and the dreams of the present batches of members ; the two realms are connected by the club ’ s cherished traditions under a common canopy and by publications like this . In the weeks before the publication , I witnessed the great lengths to which NSCS members , especially the Pratibimba team went to bring out the best from the club ’ s present and past . The output brings together an eclectic ensemble of works from the wider community of environment lovers from DESE , KU , and beyond . Like the trees planted by our seniors ( for instance , those planted in 2012 that now adorn the road to KU Ground ), Pratibimba 2020 is a harbinger of a promising future for NSCS . The fact that this edition is coming out largely in inexpensive , eco-friendly electronic form as an e-magazine is a testament to the fact that drastic circumstances call for extraordinary measures . As we expect the world to adapt to a ‘ new normal ’, we should go for eco-centric thoughts and actions instead of continuing with the ecocidal business as usual . Modern problems ranging from pandemic to climate emergency necessitate global action and systemic solutions ( that will have to arise from the very fundamental aspects of our lives ). If we are to imagine a better future , minimalist , conscientious , and sustainable ways of living will have to replace the long-prevalent consumerist , egocentric , and anthropocentric outlook . In this light , I wish for our forwardthinking juniors to steer the club ahead with progressive thoughts and actions while also passing along the essences cultivated by our seniors . May we strive for substance over show , quality over quantity , and impact ( albeit small ) over perfunctoriness when it comes to environmental action . Remember opinions matter , voices count , and individual actions speak volumes ! In Howard Zinn ’ s words , “ What matters is the countless small deeds of unknown people who lay the basis for the significant events that enter history ”.
Happy Reading ! Bibek Shrestha Former President ( 2017 ), NSCS B . Sc . Environmental Science Class of 2018
14 Year Book of Environmental Science