Bangalore: Indo-German research cooperation opens up opportunities

Business & Economy, World Opinion

Bangalore :

“The Indo-German relations have grown considerably over the last six decades, especially in scientific cooperation aiming to serve the welfare of the people. Both countries are now emphasizing to promote international research cooperation to benefit human health,” said Hans-GuenterLoeffler, Deputy Consul General of Germany in Bangalore.

Loeffler addressing media persons at the inauguration of International Humboldt Kolleg on “Bench to bedside translational research: Potential benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration” beingorganized by Clinical Embryology department of Manipal University with support from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany and German Consulate General, Bangalore, said it is known to the world how much India has progressed and Germany was keen for more mature partnership in science and research.

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Interdisciplinary research benefits all and it is possible for both countries to improve the speed and efficiency of transfer of knowledge between basic research, which is very strong in Germany and India, clinical research and application,” he said.

One ministry alone in Germany, the ministry of education and research, spends 5.5 billion Euros to promote cooperation between universities, institutions and industry focused on centres for health all over Germany for most important diseases, cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes etc.

The Humboldt Foundation is a non-profit organization established by the Federal Republic of Germany to promote international research cooperation. It enables highly qualified foreign scholars to have long-term association with German institutes. Earlier recipients of this award include Noble laureates, philosophers and well-known scientists. Humboldt Foundation sponsors Humboldt Kollegswhich is primarily aimed at conducting interdisciplinary meetings to address key research problems.

“Germany is a potential hub for advanced research. Many research and funding organisations offer excellent funding opportunities and ideal conditions for foreign scientists in all fields,” said professor Micheal Bader from Berlin who was a plenary speaker in the Kolleg.

“The very idea of holding the ‘Humboldt-Kolleg’ is that it provides a platform for young researchers and experienced scientists from different disciplines to interact, discuss and find out commonalities among their research interests. These meetings make the base for a long term scientific interaction and especially students are benefited. More than one hundred eminent scientists from top universities and research institutes in Germany and India are participating in the meeting” said Dr Satish Adiga, convener of the conference and a Humboldtian at KMC Manipal.

“The Kolleg offers a great opportunity to learn and discuss how India, Germany and other countries are involved in translating experimental research to clinical applications,” said Dr Vinod Bhat, Pro Vice Chancellor of Manipal University in his presidential address.

National Research professor and Padma vibhushan awardee Dr M S Valiathan, highlighted the need of translational research to benefit patients in his keynote address.

Dr Sudhakar Nayak, Associate Dean of KMC Manipal welcomed the gathering and Dr Guruprasad Kalthur, associate professor in Clinical Embryology proposed vote of thanks.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Media Release / Bangalore, Saturday – November 16th, 2013

‘Acharya Vidyaranya’ awards conferred

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

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Mysore :

“Let us reject superstitions and at the same time retain our strong beliefs,” observed District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President M. Chandrashekar.

He was speaking at the “Acharya Sri Vidyaranya Rajyotsava award” presentation function organised by Himalaya Foundation at the Institution of Engineers Hall on JLB road in the city on Sunday.

The Himalaya Foundation’s initiative to institute the award in the name of Vidyaranya, who was the inspiration behind the Vijayanagar empire, is really commendable, he said.

Seven eminent personalities — Senior Journalist Krishna Vattam (Journalism), Dr. M. Dejamma (Educationist), Advocate O. Sham Bhat (Religious Service), Dr. C. Sharath Kumar (Medicine), Sharath Jois (Yoga), Somasekhar Gowda (Social Service) and Shyamala Murthy (Literature) were presented the awards.

A Kavigoshti (poets meet) also was held on the occasion. Ramanahalli Bhavaikya Basava Kendra’s Basavalingamurthy Swamiji graced the occasion.

Former District Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Himalaya Foundation’s N. Ananth, District Brahmana Mahasabha President B.R. Nataraja Jois and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 26th, 2013

Unani regimen offers hope to mishap victim

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Science & Technology

Imran Khan, a resident of Tumkur, had been bedridden for the best part of 12 years after nearly 200 kg of steel fell on his back when he was visiting a construction site.

The 28-year-old lost all hope of walking again till he found out about Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimental therapy), a little-known system of unani medicine involving massage, cupping and leeching using herbs. Imran underwent 14 months of continuous treatment at the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), which falls under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Now, he has started walking with support.

The story of Tousif Ahmed from BTM Layout is similar to Imran’s. Tousif injured his spine in an accident in Andhra Pradesh in January 2012 in which his uncle died.

“I was told by a private hospital that I would not walk again and would be bedridden for the rest of my life. But with intervention from NIUM, I am moving in a wheelchair and also walking with crutches,” he said.

Tousif has been receiving treatment at the Institute for the past four months. He is currently shooting videos of recovering patients at NIUM in order to make a short film.

“I had wanted to set up a call-centre after getting my BCA, but the accident crippled my dream. But as I can move again, I have set a target of five months to walk out of this hospital,” he said.

Dr D A Muzzaffar Bhat, resident medical officer of NIUM, said the centre was focusing on neuro-rehabilitation. This included attending to patients who suffered from stroke, myopathy, epilepsy, motor-neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, hemiplegia and paraplegia. He said NIUM takes up cases referred from other hospitals like NIMHANS.

He referred to the successful treatment of Mohammed Farooq, who was admitted to Victoria Hospital after meeting with an accident. He was bedridden for eight months with no sensation in his lower-back. Farooq started treatment at NIUM in January and is now walking with the help of crutches.

“No surgeries are done here and our approach is to develop cells and strengthen nerves and muscles,” Dr Bhat said .

Options for Cerebral Palsy Aditya Kholi greets you with a smile and offers a chair to those who approach him and only when he tries to walk, do people notice a problem.

Aditya is a child who was born with cerebral palsy and could hardly move his legs. His father Mahesh Kohli, an IT professional, had quit his job in Dubai to research treatment options for Aditya, when a friend told him about Ilaj bit Tadbeer.

After five months of treatment, Aditya can now sit comfortably and also fold his legs and walk.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Mohammed Yacoob – Bangalore / November 18th, 2013

Pursue contemporary science, says C N R Rao

Science & Technology

“A global index to measure the contemporariness of science shows most of India’s research dates back to the 1950s and 60s. The yesterday and today of science cannot be the same; we must do contemporary science,” Bharat Ratna-designate Prof C N R Rao said on Monday.

At the silver jubilee inaugural lecture of an in-house symposium at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research he regaled the audience with anecdotes and scientific insight.

“Time is catching up with India and we cannot say we have a lot of time. India is 66th among 140 nations in innovation.  India has only 20 years to catch up with science for self-preservation, and no day is a holiday for science,” he told a gathering of young students and  scientists.

To buttress his argument, he said India contributed about one per cent of the top research papers in the world annually compared to China (5 per cent) and the US (10 per cent). Referring to worries over water resources and waterborne diseases, Rao said work must be done on energy and water in the country.

He spoke about the experiences of scientists he called the ‘Gods’ of science.

He described how Excelsior magazine carried out a smear campaign to keep Madame Marie Curie out of the French Academy of Sciences only because she was a woman even though she had won two Nobel Prizes in 1903 and 1911.

Declaring that no one could equal the contributions of Michael Faraday, Rao said the beauty of his work lays in the simplicity of his thinking and experiments.

However, he did not get a Nobel Prize as he died in 1867 before the Nobel Prizes were instituted.

He also spoke of Ernest Rutherford and his Nobel Prize in 1908 for the chemistry of radioactive substances.

Rutherford took to mentoring students in his lab and under his leadership, Chadwick discovered the neutron in 1932.

Following this, John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton performed experiments to split the nucleus in a controlled environment, he added.

Rao also referred to the spiritual realm, quoting Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore, to stress how science was a great means to make Indians selfless.

He said, “It is important that we criticise and question science. But it must be in an open process and not to belittle others. Daily trifles kill most people. Let us not pay too much attention to small things.”

Rao showed his lighter side as he spoke of the wrongs suffered by material and structural chemists at the hands of organic chemists.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Express News Service – Bangalore / November 19th, 2013

Infosys and BT win outsourcing award

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The National Outsourcing Association has presented Infosys and BT with the 2013 award for excellence in telecommunication, utilities and hi-tech outsourcing.

The project has made it easier for BT’s 20,000-strong field engineers to work on the move and has led to significant productivity improvements.

The solution addressed the inefficiencies and costs associated with traditional ways of coordinating, managing and tracking the workload of a mammoth field force.

Infosys and BT collaborated to improve the field engineer’s experience and accelerated response rates by taking a transformational approach to field management.

source: http://www.stockmarketwire.com/ StockMarketWire / November 21st, 2013

Moily to meet investors on Monday

Business & Economy, Leaders

Major merchant bankers and MFs investing in oil firms likely to take part.

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To push the next round of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (Nelp) for the petroleum sector, minister M Veerappa Moily  will conduct an investors’ meet in Mumbai on Monday.

He will have separate meetings with upstream companies, fund managers, rating agencies and media editors. Major merchant bankers and mutual funds investing in oil companies are also expected to take part in the conference.

The 10th round, set to begin in January, would be the second highest offering of blocks since the advent of Nelp in 1999, with 86 blocks up for bids. Of the blocks being considered for offer, 25 are deep-water ones, 20 in shallow water and 23 are on land. Another 18 would be put for offer by March. The petroleum ministry says it has got initial clearances for 58 of these blocks from the environment and defence ministries. It has set up an experts’ committee on blocks that could face hurdles from the latter two.

“The aim (of Monday’s meet) is to boost investor sentiment, especially in the upstream sector. It will also be a preparatory round for the next Nelp round,” Vivek Rae, petroleum secretary, told Business Standard.

A senior official said, “Moily wants to create a positive mood among the investors, highlighting the steps being taken by the ministry.”

During the previous nine rounds, the ministry awarded 254 blocks for exploration of oil and gas. However, the past few got minimal response from global majors. When asked about this, Debashish Mishra, senior director of Deloitte in India, said, “There seems to be disinterest among global investors. India was never known for having huge potential for oil and gas. Other than Bombay High and the recent discoveries in Barmer, there were no noteworthy discoveries. Promises of large gas finds have not met actual output.”

The major roadblock in attracting foreign investors was related to lower potential on reserves, policy issues and delay in getting clearances, he said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> News / by Shine Jacob / New Delhi – November 22nd, 2013

CNR Rao, a high priest of pure science gets Bharat Ratna

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

New Delhi:

Eighty-year-old Prof. Chintamani Nagesha Ramachandra Rao has been chosen for India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. The world renowned chemist was named for the top civilian award along with Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

However, both Rao and Tendulkar share nothing in common. Sachin is a national sporting icon, India’s most famous Cricketer while Rao is an icon in the field of science, the most famous scientist of the country, a renowned Chemist in the World.

A press release from the government of India describes CNR Rao as an eminent scientist and Sachin as an eminent sportsperson. It is a very banal description of the two geniuses.

Unlike the Cricketers, scientists won’t retire. Sachin has got the highest honour, the day he has retired. Rao is still very much active. As they say “once a scientist, always a scientist”.

It is sad that the entire focus is only on Sachin and not on CNR Rao. Unlike Cricket, the science is not flamboyant. Scientists spend most of their life in unglamorous environments away from limelight and people.

The demand for Bharat Ratna for Sachin had been there for at least 6-7 years. It had polarized the public opinion. Cricket is a great entertainment. If the people from the field of entertainment can get Bharat Ratna, there is nothing wrong in Sachin also getting it. After all, he has entertained the Cricket lovers all over India for 24 years.

Rao, a Kannadiga and Sachin, a Maharashtrian have got India’s highest civilian award together. After engineering genius Sir M Vishweshwaraiah and the Hindustani music great Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, CNR Rao is the third Kannadiga to get Bharat Ratna. Sachin is the 6th Maharashtrian to get the same honour.

CNR Rao is undoubtedly a mega star among the scientists. His path breaking research in Nano science is a well known fact. His aversion to Information Technology (IT) is also a well known.

Rao is an admirer of his home town Bangalore’s science city environment and its science city tag. He feels that the undue importance given to IT has killed other forms of science, mainly the scientific research. A few years ago speaking to ‘Outlook’ magazine he famously said “‘If IT Is Going To Take Away Our Values, Burn Bangalore, Burn IT. I am a real Bangalorean. I was born in Basavangudi. The greatness of Bangalore was that it allowed simplicity and enjoyment-a cup of coffee and a masala dosa at Vidyarthi Bhavan kept you happy. I don’t see that Bangalore anymore. It is now an awful city. There was more poetry and music here before the IT boom. The city we have created in recent years is rotten-highly polluted, garbage strewn everywhere, including the intellectual garbage dumped on this city by the IT industry”.

Attacking modern icons of Bangalore, CNR Rao had said “Our society has created a bunch of icons and role models who are distorting not just the future of this city but of all India, and of our sense of values. Our people have lost respect for scholarship. Money and commerce has taken over. If IT is going to take away our basic values, then you can burn Bangalore and burn IT.”

Rao is known for his outspokenness. He is not a typical scientist. He is a man of many interests. A lover of literature, music, Kannada language, history, cinema, pure science, Bangalore’s weather and of course research.

He has been advocating more money and importance for the scientific research in India. Even at the age of 80, CNR Rao attends several seminars and symposiums stressing on the need for a scientific temperament. According to the people close to him, he works for more than 16 hours a day.

Rao, who was born in Bangalore in 1934, has received more than 40 Honorary Doctorates from various prestigious Universities across the World. A world authority on structural Chemistry, Rao taught at the IIT Kanpur, Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) Bangalore, Oxford, Cambridge and University California in an illustrious career spanning over 50 years. He is also the foremost solid state and materials chemists in the World. Author of over 45 books on science, Rao has held various prestigious government posts. He has been the chairman of Indian scientific advisory council to the Prime Minister since 2005. He earlier held the same position between 1985-89, when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister.

He has got almost all high honours within and outside the nation including Padma Vibhushan to Karnataka Ratna Awards. His name was nominated for the Nobel Award in Chemistry several times in the past. Circles and flyovers have been named after CNR Rao in Bangalore.

Undoubtedly, CNR Rao has been one of the greatest scientists of our times and a true national icon. Good luck and best wishes to both CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar. Country is grateful to you.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / IBN Live / Home> IBN Live> India / by DP Satish, CNN IBN / New Delhi – November 17th, 2013

NITK all set to patent IPR

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

Off late, National Institute of Technology (Karnataka), Surathkal, is all set to protect the intellectual properties that have been originating in the institute. The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cell set up in the institute will formulate its policy soon and thereafter will exclusively look into patenting the ideas and new technologies of the faculty and students of the institute, said NITK Director Prof Swapan Bhattacharya. He was speaking to media persons in the backdrop of the 11th annual convocation held at NITK campus in Surathkal on Saturday. 

Prof M B Saidutta, who is in-charge of the IPR Cell explained that already six patent applications have been sent. These are from Chemical Engineering, Electronics and Communications and Chemistry departments. More students and faculty are preparing for patenting their intellectual properties, he said. To a query, he said that it was found that some new ideas or technologies that were originated at NITK Surathkal and put in public domain were patented by some others elsewhere. Also, off late, it has been realised that most of the innovations developed here have commercially high significance but unfortunately not capitalised, said Saidutta.

He hinted that in many a cases, one’s ideas in public domain were patented by someone else.

MoU with Michigan University

Prof Swapan Bhattacharya briefed that as a part of the MoU NITK inked with Michigan State University, US, a host of facilities are made available. Conducting joint workshop in the field of fire safety construction technology is the significant one.

The executive Vice President of the Graduates School of Sciences and Technology, Michigan University, Prof Satish Udupa who was the chief guest of the convocation said that post 9/11, the US has been brain storming on research activities on constructing fire resistant buildings. It has been found that the collapsed twin buildings of World Trade Centre was hardly fire resistant.

Faculty exchange programme, sending under graduates of NITK to Michigan University on summer vacation with stipend, conducting joint research and development projects, organisation of international seminars, symposia at NITK are also planned as a part of MoU.

The director said that as per the MoU signed with Larson and Toubro (L&T), 30 students will be admitted in NITK out of which 15 will be  L&T employees. All the study expenses will be borne by  L&T and the company will also absorb them after the successful completion of the course.

‘Wait for delayed gratification’

The Executive Vice President of the Graduates School of Sciences and Technology, Michigan University, Prof Satish Udupa in his convocation address called upon students to overcome the temptation of instant gratification with delayed gratification. Instant gratification is for short term only. Delayed gratification will bring wonders in your professional and personal life.

He also exhorted students to do their bit to balance the bridge between have’s and have not’s. There is nothing as wrong like the notion that a single person can not make a difference in society, he pointed. Later, at press meet,  Prof Udupa maintained that India has started focussing on research just five years back and it will take time to reap the benefits.

At the convocation programme, NITK Surathkal Chairman Sushil Chandra Tripathi, Dean (Administration) Prof Suman David, Registrar K Ravindranath among others also spoke.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS / Surathkal – November 16th, 2013

GSSS Engg. students represents India

Sports, World Opinion


BenazirMPos28nov2013Mysore :

City skater, Benazir Meera, a 5th semester student of Electrical Engineering at GSSSIETW, Mysore, represented India in the Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track Championship (also a qualifier for the Winter Olympics) held between Nov. 7 and 11 at Torino, Italy. She has been coached by K. Srikantha Rao.

Benazir Meera is the daughter of A. Mohammed Meera and Naheed Meera, residents of city.

Benazir Meera had previously won the second place in National Short Track Speed Skating Fall/ Winter Ranking Competition held in Taipei Arena Annex Ice Rink in 2007 and represented India in 2008 at the same event.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / November 22nd, 2013

A tablet to help detect pesky pests

Science & Technology
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Bangalore :

The next time you find your favourite plants infested with pests or diseased, don’t lose heart. Technology will come to your rescue.

Electronic Solutions Against Agricultural Pests (e-SAP), an innovative tablet device, promises to be of much help in the field of agriculture. It helps people get instant information about the kind of pest that’s ruining the plants, with suggestions on how to fight it.

“The hand-held device is easy to use. Even a layman can navigate to find the problem in his crop. A single tablet costs Rs 25,000. Prices are likely to come down if there’s a large-scale demand,” said Nageshwar Rao of Tene Agricultural Solutions, Bangalore. The company provided a platform called Triptolemus for University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur to design the tablet and hold its copyright.

The device works on a web-based application system, which facilitates flow of information from the grower to the farm scientist at the click of a button. It also has a voice-based application that guides the farmer in the local dialect. The tablet can also recommend so lutions based on geography and agro-climatic con ditions of the area where the crop is being grown.

Just a click away: As soon as you notice a pest in your garden or farm, capture images of the same using the device. “e-SAP captures high-quality images of pests and their symptoms, and then guides the user on how to identify them. It also provides instant solutions on how to get rid of them,” explained Rao.

Following its first successful trial in Raichur, Tene Agricultural Solutions and UAS, Raichur have entered into an MOU to make e-SAP available to the larger market. “We have sent a proposal to the government to implement this solution in other states too,” said Rao.

The other two prominent agriculture universities of Karnataka – Bangalore and Shimoga have decided to promote the green tab among farmers.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Tech> Tech News> Hardware> Tablet / by Manu Aiyappa, TNN / November 18th, 2013