1 COMPILED BY Geetha, K. Geetha Sugumaran Ravi Kumar, C. S. Roopashri, M. S. Savitha Nair Srimathi, M. Thirumalai, N. Vanitha, M. PUBLISHED BY Venkatarathnam, N. Executive Secretary, Indian Academy of Sciences, EDITED BY C.V. Raman Avenue, Anuradha, R. Post Box No. 8005, Nagesh, K. Sadashivanagar P.O., Sushila Rajagopal Bengaluru 560 080 Usha Susan Philip Phone (EPABX): 91-80-2266-1200 Fax: 91-80-2361-6094 PHOTOS Email: off [email protected] The Academy Archives Website: www.ias.ac.in GRAPHICS & DESIGN Subhankar Biswas Copyright Indian Academy of Sciences 2 Contents Foreword 4 1. Introduction 5 2. Vision, Mission, Objectives & Functions 6 3. Progress Report 9 4. Council 12 5. Fellowship 14 6. Associates 21 7. Publications 29 8. Scientific Meetings Mid-Year Meeting 2017 70 Annual Meeting 2017 80 Discussion Meetings 108 9. Repository of Scientific Publications 122 10. Chair Professorships Raman Chair 123 Janaki Ammal Chair 123 Jubilee Chair 124 Academy–Springer Nature Chair 126 11. Science Education Programmes 128 12. ‘Women in Science’ Panel Programmes 148 13. Public Lectures 154 14. National Science Day 2017 163 15. Hindi Workshop 164 16. Vigilance Awareness Week 164 17. Academy Finances 165 18. Acknowledgements 167 19. Tables 168 20. Personnel 171 21. Statement of Finances 175 3 Foreword The scientific programmes of the Academy in the year 2017–18 had some new initiatives. The Academy started two online-only journals – Dialogue: Science, Scientists, and Society and IASc Conference Series. The former is a scholarly forum for scientists and interested stakeholders to discuss and debate issues pertaining to scientists and society. In the IASc Conference Series, we hope to publish invited original research, review, perspective and commentary articles arising from the proceedings of selected high- quality topical scientific conferences. These journals further expand the Academy’s objectives of dissemination of scientific knowledge. A related initiative this year was the commissioning of an editorially moderated discussion forum – Confluence – under the umbrella of the new journal Dialogue. This paves the way to bring together all stakeholders in science and society on issues concerning science, in order to engage in constructive dialogue on a social media platform. Two Chairs were established: The Janaki Ammal Chair in honour of Foundation Fellow Janaki Ammal and the Academy–Springer Nature Chair, commemorating a decade of the co-publishing arrangement between the Academy and Springer. As in the past, the Academy implemented its existing and established programmes with the generous support of the Fellowship. The SRFP Programme adopted a new online platform for publishing and documenting reports. Together with active support and participation of Fellowship and Associateship, the flagship programmes of the Academy – publication of journals and the Science Education Programmes – saw another fruitful year, upholding the cause of science. RAM RAMASWAMY President, Indian Academy of Sciences 10 October 2018 4 THE INDIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES was founded in 1934 by Sir C. V. Raman and was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act. The Academy aims at promoting the progress and upholding the cause of science in pure and applied branches. The Academy encourages and publishes important researches in all branches of science (including engineering) in order to provide publication opportunities to Indian scientists at the international level. The Academy also publishes books, memoirs, journals, proceedings and transactions relating to scientific researches in pure and applied branches. Promotion of original research and disseminate scientific knowledge to the community, through its meetings, discussions, seminars, symposia and publications are the activities of the Academy. 5 VISION To play a crucial role in national regeneration by all means at its disposal in order to promote the progress and uphold the cause of science, and contribute not only to the flowering of science in India but also to national character. MISSION Promoting original research and disseminating scientif ic knowledge to the community, through its activities of publication of scholarly journals, organizing scientif ic meetings, discussions, seminars, symposia, and lectures. Recognizing the special relationship of scientif ic creative activity with the process of education and course of discovery. Identifying and nurturing of scientif ic talent amongst the young. Upholding the principle of social responsibility for all effort, individual or corporate facilitated by the Fellowship of the Academy. 6 OBJECTIVES 1 To promote the progress and uphold the cause of science, both in pure and applied branches. 2 To co-operate with the existing Provincial Academies having similar objectives, and with others when founded. 3 To encourage and publish important researches in the branches of science comprehended by the Academy and to represent internationally the scientific work of India. 4 To undertake, control and direct scientific enterprises of all-India significance and to participate in similar international activities. 5 To collect, sort out and disseminate information concerning the industrial, economic and labour problems relating to India and other progressive countries. 6 To publish books, memoirs, journals, proceedings and transactions relating to scientific researches in pure and applied branches initiated by the Academy and those conducted under the direction of Provincial Academies, the Universities and Government Scientific Institutions. 7 To organize and arrange for the meetings of the Congresses, Committees and Conferences for reading and discussing papers submitted to the Academy, advising Government and other bodies on scientific and other matters referred to the Academy and to co-operate with the National Research Council when instituted. 8 To secure and administer funds, grants and endowments for the furtherance of scientific research. 9 To undertake and execute all other acts which shall assist in and promote the usefulness, aims and purposes of the Academy. 7 FUNCTIONS 1 Publication of Scientific Journals 2 Election of Fellows and Honorary Fellows 3 Selection of Associates 4 Organizing Scientific Meetings 5 Curation of Repository of Publications of Fellows 6 Chair Professorships – Raman Chair – Jubilee Professor – Janaki Ammal Chair – The Academy–Springer Nature Chair 7 Science Academies’ Education Programme – Summer Research Fellowships to students and teachers – Focus Area Science Technology Summer Fellowships to students and teachers targeted at specific geographical regions or specific topics – Refresher Courses for teachers – Lecture Workshops for students and teachers 8 Women in Science 8 PROGRESSProgress Report Promoting high-quality journals in order to provide publication opportunities to Indian scientists at the international level has been an obligation of the Academy since its inception. In addition, the Academy also publishes books, memoirs, proceedings and transactions in pure and applied sciences. The promotion of original research and dissemination of scientific knowledge, through its meetings, discussions, seminars, symposia and publications are the paramount objectives of the Academy. Through its Science Education Programmes, the Academy recognizes the special relationship of scientific creative activity with the process of education and holds that the course of discovery includes the identification and nurturing of scientific talent among the young. A brief account on the progress and achievement of the Academy during 2017-18 is presented below. These programmes and activities are presented in greater detail in the following sections of the report. HIGHLIGHTS Over 2174 peer-reviewed articles have been published in 13 thematic journals and the contents are available on a free-access platform (http://www.ias.ac.in/Journals/ Overview/). The free-access journals during the year had around 17 lakhs downloads. Over 16,700 print versions of these journals were circulated to institutions/individuals on subscription basis. A new online journal Dialogue: Science, Scientists, and Society was launched (www.ias.ac.in/dialogue). An editorially moderated discussion forum Confluence was also launched to discuss issues of concern with Science and Society (www.confluence.ias.ac.in). Journals’ citations have increased over the years. 9 Two Chair Professorships were commissioned : the Janaki Ammal Chair for Women Scientists in honour of Dr Ammal, and the Academy–Springer Nature Chair to commemorate 10 years of the co-publishing arrangement between the Academy and Springer. Two new books were published including reprinting of one book. Under the Summer Research Fellowship programme, 1426 students and teachers underwent two months’ Fellowship and worked with Fellows and other mentors spread across many research institutions of the country. 193 Lecture Workshops and 39 Refresher Courses were held, with over 28300 University faculty/students across the nation attending them. OVERVIEW OF MAJOR PROGRAMMES Publication of scientific journals: The number of journals currently published by the Academy is 13, covering all major disciplines in science & technology. The Academy initiated the publication of online-only journals – Dialogue: Science, Scientists, and Society (online in January 2018), and IASc Conference Proceedings Series. The Academy is one of the biggest scientific journal publishers in the country. Special publications of topical interest