Silchar : A month-long research programme in Portugal has given a young student from Assam’s Cachar district international exposure to advanced scientific research, highlighting the growing impact of the state government’s sustainability-focused academic initiatives.

Bishali Choudhury, a 20-year-old undergraduate student of Cachar College, was selected under the Chief Minister’s Green Fellowship for 2025-26 and was among seven students from Assam sent to NOVA University Lisbon for research exposure in sustainability and green science.

She was the only participant selected from Cachar district. Speaking after her return from Portugal, Bishali said the programme offered her a first-hand understanding of the difference between classroom-based learning and practical scientific research conducted in advanced laboratories.

“I never imagined stepping into another country for research at this age. The exposure showed me the huge difference between classroom learning and actually working inside advanced laboratories,” she said.

Before travelling abroad, Bishali had conducted field studies in Sonabarighat and nearby agricultural areas in Cachar district, interacting with farmers facing crop disease issues affecting vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and lady’s finger.

During her stay in Portugal, however, her work focused on environmental sustainability and green chemistry. She participated in research related to extracting bioactive compounds from olive pomace – an agricultural byproduct being studied for possible pharmaceutical and healthcare applications.

“At first, I expected research linked to my own domain. But after reaching Portugal, I realised the exposure was much broader and the learning was on how science can convert waste into something useful for society,” she said.

Although the research work differed from her earlier field observations in the Barak Valley, Bishali noted that both experiences centred on sustainable and practical applications of science.

The Chief Minister’s Green Fellowship, conceptualised by the Pollution Control Board Assam, aims to provide selected students with exposure to environmental and sustainability-oriented research programmes.

Chairman of the Pollution Control Board Assam, Arup Kumar Misra, described the fellowship as a transformative initiative designed to encourage scientific temperament and research orientation among students in the state.

“Today, Assam has an opportunity to redefine itself through knowledge, technology, research and innovation,” Misra said.

He added that students from remote districts, many of whom had never imagined entering world-class laboratories, were now receiving opportunities for global academic exposure through the fellowship programme.

Principal of Cachar College, Apratim Nag, said research exposure often helps students develop confidence and stronger academic interest. “Students often possess tremendous potential, but because of lack of exposure, that potential remains untapped. This fellowship has opened an entirely new window,” he said.