Prof (Dr) Durgesh Pant is among the earliest adopters and pioneers of Computer Science and Information Technology in the Uttarakhand Himalayan region of the country. He is credited with establishing the Department of Computer Science of Kumaun University Nainital as early as 1989-90. He has been instrumental in the establishment of many institutions as Head of Department and Convener of Computer Science,Kumaun University. He has extensively worked for strengthening the ODL (Open and Distance learning) paradigm since 1994 through his association with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) first as its counselor and later as its coordinator from 1999 for about 11 years. He has also been associated with the establishment of Open University in the state in Uttarakhandin the year 2005.tablishing Uttarakhand Open University's school of Computer Science & IT in July, 2010. He established Dehradun Campus of Uttarakhand Open University in November, 2010 as its founding Director resulting in ODL's phenomenal spread inGarhwal region of the state since then.He also held the additional charge of the Director, Uttarakhand Space Application centre (USAC) for about three years. Under his guidance, USAC scaled new heights and started several new initiatives in association with ISRO and other organizations of repute.