WAH! CSIR scientists say ‘Wrinkles Achhe Hain’ to fight climate change

NEW DELHI: Do you wear an un-ironed shirt or saree to work, by design? What if that’s the memo? Scientists of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India’s largest civilian network of research labs, are turning up in wrinkled clothes on Mondays, wearing their green consciousness on their crumpled sleeves.“In a step towards energy saving, CSIR introduced ‘Wrinkles Achhe Hain (WAH) campaign wherein CSIR workforce can wear un-ironed clothes on Mondays. The council and its constituent laboratories…have joined the campaign to remind everyone about saving energy, protecting the environment and spreading awareness about climate change,” CSIR said.

“Let’s iron out climate change, not our clothes!” CSIR’s National Institute Of Science Communication and Policy Research posted on X.

CSIR and its vast network of laboratories, which are currently observing Swachta Pakhwada from May 1 to 15, have kicked off the wrinkles campaign under the leadership of its first woman director general, Dr N Kalaiselvi, who has initiated several environment-friendly measures. In a media interview, she said ironing each set of clothes amounts to carbon dioxide emissions. By wearing unironed clothes, one can prevent such emissions to some extent, she said.

Though CSIR’s initiative is symbolic, it inspires young scientists to innovate green technologies to help fight carbon dioxide emissions. In other energy-saving measures, the Kalaiselvi-led CSIR is also planning to reduce 10% electricity consumption across its laboratories. Recently, India’s largest climate clock was installed atop the building of the CSIR headquarters.

CSIR, which works in diverse science and technology areas, has a network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, an innovation complex and three units with a pan-India presence. It has 3,521 active scientists supported by about 4,162 technical and support personnel.