THE Department of Meteorology and Hydrology will hold a ceremony in MICT Park to mark the 44th World Meteorological Day on March 23.

“The ceremony is being held to raise public awareness about meteorology,” said U Tun Lwin, the deputy director-general of the department under the Ministry of Transport.

U Tun Lwin said although the department has held interdepartmental ceremonies to mark the annual event in the past, this year’s event will be the first to include paper presentations and exhibitions intended to provide the public with information about meteorology.

Eight papers on meteorology will be presented by experts from the department, and by invited professionals from selected universities and other ministries, he said.

The day is marked every year under a theme chosen by the World Meteorological Organisation; this year’s theme is ‘Weather, climate, water and sustainable development’, he said.

Meanwhile the department is inviting candidates to make submissions in two competitions to mark World Meteorological Day – an essay contest for basic education high school students, and an article contest that is open to everyone.

Entries for both competitions must focus in the topic of using meteorology to prevent natural disasters, and must be submitted by March 14.