ISB-TCS Conduct a Field Carbon Measurement Workshop in Simdega: Empowering Communities through Citizen Science
24.05.23
On 23 May 2023, the Indian School of Business (ISB), in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), organised a one-day forest carbon stock assessment workshop at the Tribal Art Centre in Tutikel, Simdega district, Jharkhand. The workshop was conducted under the three-year ISB–TCS partnership project, ‘Forest Carbon Stock Assessment Pilot–Sky and Earth Convergence Carbon’.
Owing to tremendous support and active engagement from team members, the pilot was successfully launched with 34 students from various educational institutes across three pilot blocks—Kolebira, Jaldega, and Bano—under the Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE).
About the Event
The workshop aimed to provide students with hands-on learning in carbon measurement while fostering environmental awareness among youth. It sought to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to measure and understand carbon levels in their local forests. The ISB–TCS partnership advances technological innovation for monitoring forest ecosystems and promoting citizen science, where individuals actively contribute to data collection and monitoring efforts.
The students were introduced to new technologies for capturing data in forest landscapes and encouraged to appreciate the importance of environmental stewardship. Through the pilot programme, they developed a foundational understanding of the carbon cycle and the importance of measuring carbon. The training also equipped them with practical skills to use mobile-based tools for forest carbon measurement—skills that can be applied in future assessments and community-based carbon monitoring activities.
Key Objectives
For the pilot session, 10 test field sites were selected within the training location, enabling students to explore factors influencing forest carbon levels. Using the F-DAT tool developed by TCS, students recorded sample data at each demonstration site, including tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and crown cover. They also learned the fundamentals of biomass and carbon measurement using the data they had collected.
Prior to the field measurements, students participated in training sessions covering basic environmental concepts, such as the carbon cycle, along with various carbon measurement techniques. They were also provided with appropriate instructions on the use of the F-DAT tool .
This pilot initiative demonstrated the potential of involving young learners in environmental science and raising awareness within their communities. By providing hands-on experience and practical training, the programme aims to empower students to measure and understand carbon levels in their community-owned forests.