ISSN 0409-7467

VOL 59 NO 2 30 JANUARY 2009

NIO's newly acquired RV Sindhu Sankalp

irector of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, along with his staff welcomed Dthe newly acquired Research Vessel Sindhu Sankalp , which arrived at the Captain of Ports Jetty, Panaji. She sailed on 14 November 2008 from the port of Dunedin, New Zealand. Besides the regular officers and crew, three members of NIO and Mr Malcolm A Macleod, previous owner, accompanied the vessel. The 56 m long and 9 m wide vessel with a gross tonnage of 709 tonnes, would be used to study the seas around India.

30 JANUARY 2009 17 R&D Highlights

Speaking on this occasion, NIO New Processes released by CFTRI Director Dr Satish Shetye observed that the seas around India (the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and Mini Versatile Dhal Mill for Rural Areas the equatorial North Indian Ocean) he Central Food Technological the operation. It has an adjustable are unique in several respects. This TResearch Institute (CFTRI), clearance to suit different size of uniqueness arises from two factors: Mysore, has designed a versatile grains. Also, the byproducts First, the water of the Indian Ocean mini dhal mill to dehusk all kind of generated such as husk and broken is blocked in the north by landmass pulses. Basically the unit consists dhals could be used for animal (Asia) from having access to polar of three principal components, i.e. feeds. The investment required is region; Second, because of the the dehusking, aspiration and quite small and well suited for monsoon, these waters experience grading systems. The unit is cottage and rural industry. one of the strongest seasonal specifically suitable for rural areas variability of atmospheric and has a good market potential conditions anywhere in the world for a large number of these units oceans. This gives rise to large in Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya variations of wind stress, Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. evaporation, precipitation and It will prove beneficial to the pulse coastal run-off that not only make farming community and will be a the dynamics of this water unique, boon for agro-based economy in but also have a profound influence the rural sector. on biogeochemical cycles. NIO has The salient features of this mini made an impact on the global dhal mill include: 75-77% yield of oceanographic research arena by dhal and dehulling ratio around 97- sustained observations of these 98% with breakage limited to 2-4%. waters. The unit has the capacity to “The acquisition of RV Sindhu process 150 kg dhal per hour. Sankalp is an important milestone All variety of pulses can be in the history of NIO,” Dr Shetye processed and the operation is further added. “It will help the user friendly. Since the unit has scientists advance into the seas in been designed for dry pre-milling, and around Indian waters for minimum dust is generated during research purposes.” Earlier, Dr P. S. Rao, Senior Scientist and Project Leader, Process for Preparation of briefed the gathering on the vessel acquisition process. Dr Rao said Expanded Horse Gram that the vessel would be modified to suit the requirements of NIO by orse gram is generally used getting it fitted with necessary Hafter soaking, germination, scientific equipment. As the vessel cooking and also as extract or soup. is proven to be a stable platform, Papad from horse gram flour are the scientists can plan experiments also prepared in southern region of round the year. India. Pulses like Bengal gram and Mr Sanjeev Afzalpurkar peas are available in puffed / proposed the vote of thanks. expanded form but not horse gram,

18 CSIR NEWS R&D Highlights

because raw horse gram does not acceptable expanded ready-to-eat and shelf stable. It can be used as give puffed or expanded product at snack product. The product such or as a snack after salting or normal moisture content and has ‘reduced anti-nutritional spicing. It can also be added as an conventional puffing conditions. A factors’ with improved protein ingredient in cereal bar or chikki. process has been developed for digestibility. The process can be had from the expanded horse gram to give an The product is crisp, crunchy institute for commercialization.

Natural Flavourant from Swallow Roots

ecalepis hamiltonii is a D. hamiltonii root is 2-hydroxy-4- the extract is crystallized in a low Dmonotypic genus found in the methoxy benzaldehyde (HMB), polar solvent to get the final product. Deccan (South) peninsula, mostly in which is an isomer of vanillin. HMB (2-hydroxy-4-methoxy the forest regions of Eastern and CFTRI has developed a process benzaldehyde) from swallow roots Western Ghats. The swallow root for optimizing extraction and finds application as a natural has a strong aromatic odour and isolation of HMB from swallow flavourant in beverages, dairy sweet taste, and it is used in roots. Swallow roots are grated and products and bakery products. It traditional Indian medicine as an subjected to steam-hydro can also be used as a natural appetizer and blood purifier. The distillation. The organic fraction of preservative in many preparations. sliced root is pickled as such or along the distillate contains HMB as the The principal plant and with lime fruit where it acts as a major volatile compound along with machinery required include: wet flavourant as well as a preservative. other flavour compounds. The comminuting mill, steam-hydro The chemical compound responsible distillate is then subjected to solvent distillation still, extraction unit, for the aroma and taste of extraction. After desolventization, mixing tank, refrigerated tanks and chilled water plant. The other auxiliary requirements are boiler, generators, quality control laboratory and effluent treatment systems. The process know- how is available from the institute for commer- cial exploita- tion.

Decalepis hamiltonii plant Swallow roots

30 JANUARY 2009 19 S.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winning Work

Nanoscale Textures and Metal-Insulator Transitions in Correlated Electron Systems Dr Pinaki Majumdar’s Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize-winning Work

r Pinaki Majumdar of the and multiferroics, there is a common D Harish-Chandra Research feature that all these materials Institute (HRI), Allahabad, has been involve multiple competing phases. awarded the Bhatnagar Prize in Small changes in doping, pressure, Physical Sciences for the year 2007. strain, etc. could, for example, His area of research is materials convert an insulator into a theory with focus on topics like superconductor (in the cuprates) or magnetism and superconductivity. an antiferromagnet to a ferromagnet To set his work in context it would (in the manganites). The proximity help to quickly review the link of competing phases and their tiny between solid state theory and energy difference amplify the effect materials science. of small perturbations. In particular, The modern theory of solids dilute impurities that would be came into being in 1930’s, after the uncertainties in our understanding. ‘irrelevant’ in a traditional metal advent of quantum mechanics. The The last couple of decades have (copper or gold, say) could now have first triumph was in explaining the seen a shift of focus to more complex a dramatic effect. Compared to our different electrical properties of materials, many of them oxides of early example of silicon, the new solids in terms of electronic bands transition metals, where a variety of materials necessarily involve strong in a crystal. A partially filled band phenomena emerge due to strong interactions and often require an ‘ab led to a metal, a fully filled band to interactions between the electrons. initio’ understanding of impurity an insulator, and a full band with a The most famous in this category are effects. Interactions and disorder are ‘narrow gap’ led to a semiconductor. the copper oxide based high Tc no longer afterthoughts, they are the The 1940’s saw the development of superconductors. Close at their starting point of the theory. semiconductor-based transistors, heels came the ‘colossal magneto Unfortunately there are no using the microscopic resistance’ (CMR) manganites. readymade tools to approach a understanding gained from the There have been many others, e.g., problem of this kind. theory. Silicon based cobaltates with unusual Dr Majumdar’s major effort at semiconductors have dominated thermopower, and ‘multiferroics’— HRI has been in developing technology for the last six decades. capable of huge electric or magnetic methods for studying correlated While the silicon story is well response. They all involve unusual electron systems in the presence of known, there are two properties of collective states arising from disorder, and understanding spatial silicon as a ‘device material’ that interactions among electrons, textures in such systems. This is deserve highlighting: (i) Si needs to phonons, magnetic moments, etc. motivated by recent experiments be ‘ultra pure’ to function in a and the 1930’s approach to solids is (see Fig.1 for manganites) which device, and (ii) the effects of woefully inadequate. A new branch suggest that in many materials electron-electron interactions, etc., of solid state physics - the theory of matter at the nanoscale is very in Si are negligible. For a theorist, ‘correlated electrons’ came into inhomogeneous. An understanding Si is a ‘clean’ non-interacting being. of the spatial character of such a system. The physics is simple, While there is no single theory state is key to controlling its almost boring! There are no that describes cuprates, manganites transport properties, and possible

20 CSIR NEWS S.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winning Work

Figure 1: A pattern of coexisting insulating and ferromagnetic metallic regions in a manganite, measured using tunneling spectroscopy. The dark regions are metallic. The image is for a sample roughly 1 µm wide. The panels, left to right, are for increasing magnetic field

Figure 2: Result of a simulation exploring coexistence effects in the presence of dilute impurities. The red regions are ferromagnetic metals, and the panels, left to right, refer to increasing field.

use in devices. The computational Engineering from Jadavpur head of the Cavendish Lab at tools developed by Dr Majumdar University in 1986. He did Masters Cambridge). and his students helped clarify the in Solid State Technology from IIT- Dr Majumdar moved back to unusual transport in the manganites Madras, winning an Institute Merit India in 1998 end and joined HRI and its relation to spatial textures. Prize and Medal for his work there, as a Faculty Fellow. Over the years The typical result from a large scale and joined the Physics Department he got promoted, and became a simulation is shown in Fig.2, at IISc Bangalore in 1990 for his Professor in 2007. He has guided one mimicking the experimental results Ph.D. He worked at IISc from 1990- student to his Ph.D. and is working in Fig.1. These calculations define 96 with Prof. H. R. Krishnamurthy. with several others currently. He the state of art, and now allow Among his mentors were Prof. T. V. has organized and taught at SERC theoretical access to a wide range Ramakrishnan. He moved to Bell schools for young researchers, and of complex materials. Laboratories, Lucent Technologies also organized Summer Schools at Dr Majumdar’s early schooling (formerly the AT&T Bell Labs) HRI to attract B.Sc. and M.Sc. was in Bengal. He won a National towards 1996 end and stayed on for students to research. He has held Scholarship in the Secondary two years as a postdoctoral fellow visiting positions at Cambridge and examination, studied at St. Xaviers in the Theoretical Physics group. Oxford University, and the Institut College, Kolkata, for his class XI- Much of his work at Bell Labs was Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. XII, and did his B.E. in Electrical done with Dr Peter Littlewood (now

30 JANUARY 2009 21 MoUs

IMMT signs MoU with MoU between NAL and NIMS Tata Advanced Materials Limited (TAML), Bangalore for Collaboration in Advanced Composites

MoU documents being shown after signing by the signatories

he Institute of Minerals and Materials TTechnology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar and National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan, have Exchange of MoU document signed an MoU and there by agreed to collaborate with each other for sharing and n MoU was signed between National Aerospace advancement of knowledge, development Laboratories (NAL) and M/s Tata Advanced Materials of technology and human resources. The A two institutions shall cooperate on Limited (TAML), Bangalore, on 27 November 2008 with the “Fabrication of advanced ceramics by mutual intent of working together in the area of Advanced powder processing”. The cooperation will Composites for aerospace applications. NAL team led by NAL include exchange of researchers, exchange Director had visited TAML in November 2007 to see TAML’s of information and publications on the composite manufacturing facilities at their factory premises. research and implementation of the With signing of the MoU both sides will have technical cooperative research of mutual interest. collaboration and work together in composite design activities. The MoU was signed by Prof. B.K. TAML’s experienced and trained manpower, state of the art Mishra, Director and Dr L. Besra, equipment and a comprehensive capability to undertake design, Scientist, CMC Department of IMMT and Prof. Yoshio Sakka, Managing Director, development, testing and manufacture of different types of NIMS, and Dr Tetsuo Uchikoshi, Chief composite products will be useful to NAL in its on-going and Researcher of Nanoceramics Center, future civil aviation programmes and in turn, TAML will be NIMS, in a function organized at NIMS benefited by NAL’s vast expertise in the field of advanced on 21 November 2008. composites. Tie-up between NAL and TAML will be one of The initiative is the first of its kind for public-private partnership working together for the benefit of IMMT to kick start cooperation with a industry, laboratory and the nation. national research institute abroad.

22 CSIR NEWS MoUs

CSIO signs MoU with CSIR-UNB MoU for mutual cooperation Panjab University, Chandigarh

he Central Scientific Instruments TOrganisation (CSIO) and Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, have signed an MoU on occasion of the former’s Foundation Day on 30 October 2008, to promote joint research work and human resource development. The areas identified for co-operation included Health Monitoring, Geo-Seismic and Disaster Management Instrumentation, Exchange of MoU documents by Shri P.K. Ghosh, Finance Officer, UNB and Dr Naresh Kumar, Medical Instrumentation, Sensors/ Head, RDPD, CSIR. Prof. A. Basumajumdar, VC, UNB, presided over the function Transducers, Virtual Instrumentation, Soft Computing Techniques, Image he Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Processing, Optical and Photonics- TUniversity of North Bengal (UNB), Siliguri – a state university based Instrumentation, Physics-based endeavoring to provide quality education and research, have signed Instrumentation, Material Science, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 27 November 2008. Nanotechnology, Chemical and CSIR and UNB have complementary endowments in academics and Biosensors, Chemistry and HRD. advance research, and the MoU is to facilitate a working arrangement The MoU was signed by Dr Pawan to jointly move forward and provide greater dynamism and value for Kapur, Director, CSIO and Dr R.C. the benefit of both the organizations. The MoU was signed by Dr Sobti, Vice Chancellor, Panjab Naresh Kumar, Head, RDPD, on behalf of CSIR, and by Shri P.K. University. Ghosh, Finance Officer, UNB, on behalf of UNB. Under the MoU, students of M.Sc., Initially, the cooperation programme is proposed to be B.Tech., and M.Tech. in the respective implemented with participation of UNB and a few select CSIR areas of specialization at PU will be laboratories, viz. CMERI, CFTRI, CGCRI, CMFRI, IICB, IIP, allowed to pursue their project work NCL, NEIST and NPL as UNB’s specific interest is in the areas of at CSIO and staff members from CSIO Biotechnology, Materials, Physics, Chemistry, Petroleum (energy) and will be able to register for Ph.D. Food Technology. CSIR scientists shall extend teaching support by programmes at PU, with joint giving lectures on topics of their expertise and those matching with supervision on emerging areas of and the UNB course curriculum. research and applications. Initially, up to ten students in a year shall be allocated summer The MoU will help build stronger training opportunity at the select CSIR laboratories, where they shall linkages between academia and R&D also be extended use of CSIR facilities. The University of North institutions towards quality manpower Bengal shall extend its facilities to CSIR scientists and researchers generation and utilization in various on reciprocal basis. The UNB shall also accredit participating CSIR niche areas. It will also help in optimal scientists for guiding research leading to Ph.D. degree. Under the utilization of R&D facilities in high MoU, University of North Bengal and CSIR will also explore areas priority area programmes of science & of mutual cooperation through workshops, symposia, short-term technology. training courses, etc.

30 JANUARY 2009 23 Symposia

Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Spices and Other Natural Products

he Indian Institute of research easier and TChemical Technology beneficial. (IICT), Hyderabad, in Prof. Barry Noller, association with UNESCO, Chairman of the the organiza-tion for International Advisory Prohibition of Chemical Committee from Australia, Weapons (OPCW) and said that India was one Depart-ment of Science & country that was going to Technology (DST), make its presence felt in this organized the XIII Asian area as still traditional and Symposium on Medicinal herbal medicines are being Plants, Spices and Other practiced in many parts of Natural Products Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Spices and Other Natural Products the country. (ASOMPS) at IICT during (ASOMPS) in progress Other important 3-6 November 2008. The speakers included Prof. John symposium focussed on Natural enhancing, etc. Blunt, University of Canterbury, Products in Drug Discovery with Prof. Geoffrey A Cordell, New Zealand; Dr Muvva Rao, Botany, Microbiology, Department of Medicinal Chemistry Novartis Pharma, Switzerland; Prof. Pharmacology, Natural Product & Pharmacology, University of Eric J. Thomas, University of Chemistry, Medicinal Plant Illinois, Chicago, USA, said that Manchester, UK; Prof. Rene Gree, Chemistry and Synthesis of Natural research in the medicinal CNRS, France; Dr David Y.K. Products as the thematic areas. The application of natural products is a Chen, Agency for Science & deliberations were held in 11 team work and there is far greater Technology & Research, Singapore; sessions consisting of 16 plenary need for collaboration amongst the Dr Vijay Kumar, University of lectures, 53 invited lectures and nations for furthering the knowledge Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; Prof.Burt about 200 poster presentations. of natural products. He further said Fraser-Reid, Pillboro, USA; Dr Sheo Speaking at the symposium, Dr that social dimension of research in B. Singh, Merck Research Labs, J.S. Yadav, Director, IICT, pointed natural products such as benefits to USA; Prof. Jyoti Chattopadhyaya, out that natural products are gaining human beings should be decided on Uppsala University, Sweden, etc. popularity as more and more basis of the need of the world by Prof. Goverdhan Mehta, former multinationals are on shopping spree social and research networking. Director, Indian Institute of Science, in India looking for New Chemical Dr A.V. Rama Rao, CMD, Bangalore and Chairman, Research Entities (NCEs) for various AVRA Laboratories & former Council, IICT, delivered a lecture disorders such as cancer, diabetes, Director of IICT, said that globally on “Enhancement and exploration ulcer and HIV. This stems from the the drug discovery is slowing down of natural products’ diversity”. fact that incidences of side-effects and only 27 new chemical entities About 500 delegates from are relatively lesser or nil in the case were registered during the last year. across the Asian subcontinent and of natural products as compared to Now, the time has come to look at Pacific region including Pakistan, Sri allopathic drugs. He informed that the nature for medicinal Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Australia IICT has in the pipeline about 15 applications. The availability of new and New Zealand in addition to bioactives derived from natural technological tools to understand USA, UK and other European products for HIV, tropical diseases, various medicinal properties of countries participated in the Alzheimer, Malaria, and for Memory natural products would make the symposium.

24 CSIR NEWS Conferences

IICB and CNMCH organize Conference on Neuroscience

he Indian Institute of Chemical TBiology (IICB) and Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital (CNMCH), Kolkata, jointly organized a neuroscience conference, ‘Neuro Update 2008’, at the Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), Jadavpur, Kolkata, during 20-21 September 2008. The unique feature of the conference was that half of the speakers represented clinicians and other half, basic neuroscientists. The hallmark of this conference was bringing together of basic neuroscientists, neurologists and students from both medical and basic sciences as well as patients or the immediate relatives on a common platform for an effective Dr Surya Kanta Misra, Minister of Health, Panchayat and Rural dissemination of knowledge and fruitful discussion Development, Government of West Bengal, lighting the inaugural lamp on the recent advances in basic and clinical researches on neuroscience. Dr Surya Kanta Misra, Minister of Health, Panchayat and Rural Development, Government of West Bengal, inaugurated the two-day conference, which consisted of seven sessions, viz. Neuro-aids, Epilepsy, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Neurodegenerative disorders, Drug development and Diagnostics, Drug dependence and Stroke. Each session had two major speakers, one each from the basic science and from the medical field, in the same area of neurological or neuropsychiatry problem of the disease. The session Dr Surya Kanta Misra, Minister of Health, Panchayat and Rural followed by three panelists, who spoke and Development, Government of West Bengal, amidst members of the organizing commented on the two lectures, and the committee (from left to right): Dr K. P. Mohanakumar (Organizing Secretary, IICB), Prof. B. C. Mohanty (Chairman, CNMCH), Prof. coordinator brought the topics’ essentiality into P. K. Gangopadhyay (General Secretary, CNMCH) and focus. The speakers consisted of eminent Dr Sumantra Das (Organizing Secretary, IICB) neuroscientists, neurologists and psychiatrists from all corners of the country who provided invaluable insight into the latest developments, challenges and scientists of Kolkata, namely Prof. J. J. Ghosh, a noted requirements in the field of neuroscience. The stress neurochemist and Centenary Professor of was on how the knowledge gathered at the bench could Neuroscience of Calcutta University; Prof. K. L. be brought to the bedside of a suffering patient, and Mukherjee, an eminent teacher and clinical what the neurologists or the psychiatrists would like biochemist, retired from Calcutta University; and to have from the basic scientists, and vice versa. The Prof. Shyamal Sen, a well known doctor of conference also saw the felicitation of three noted neuromedicine, retired from Calcutta University.

30 JANUARY 2009 25 Workshops

Indo-US Workshop on Micro Air Vehicles (INDUS MAV ’08)

s a part of in the subsequent A National technical sessions Aerospace by scientists from Laboratories (NAL) US and India and DRDO’s covered a variety Golden Jubilee of topics dealing celebrations, a with unsteady workshop on ‘Micro aerodynamics, Air Vehicles’ was flapping wing jointly organized by MAVs, flight NAL, ADE and dynamics, AFRL, USA on 13- guidance, 14 November 2008. A dais view of Indo-US Workshop on Micro Air Vehicles (INDUS MAV ’08) navigation and The US team flight control, consisting of members from AFRL, AFRL would be able to demonstrate smart materials, active flow control AOARD, US Army’s RDECOM and a biomimetic bird-sized UAV techniques and CFD applications MIT was led by Dr Douglas Blake, platform with the capability of semi for MAVs. Deputy Director, AFRL, USA. autonomous operations and hoped The technical sessions on the The inauguration was held in SR to design and autonomously fly a bee second day were held at ADE. The Valluri Auditorium at NAL. Mr sized MAV by 2030. The keynote focus this time was on vision-based Shyam Chetty, Co-ordinator of the address was delivered by Prof. surveillance, visual sensing and workshop, initiated the inaugural Dattaguru, IISc, who gave a processing for navigation and proceedings with a brief overview perspective of R&D activities in the control and efficient storage of optic of the objectives of the workshop. field of MAVs being pursued in flow data for vision sensors. Papers The main objective was to identify different academic institutions in on task allocation, search strategies core technology areas of common India. and consensus mechanisms for MAV interest related to MAV The inaugural session was swarms and group coordination aerodynamics, structures, control, followed by paper presentations tactics were also presented. This guidance and navigation. spread over three technical was followed by round table Dr A.R. Upadhya, Director, sessions. Lt. Gen. Sundaram discussions in the areas of MAV NAL, delivered the welcome presented an overview of the MAV aerodynamics, controls and address. Mr P.S. Krishnan, Director, activities in India. Lt. Col. John Seo, structures. The final round of ADE, gave a perspective on MAVs Technical Director, AOARD, USA discussions at the workshop and the activities being pursued at and Mr C.U. Hari, Director, focussed on exchange of ideas and ADE. Dr Douglas Blake delivered Directorate of Aeronautics, DRDO, arrive at a roadmap for future joint the inaugural address and also New Delhi, presented the role of collaborative research in this released a souvenir containing the AOARD and AR&DB in promoting strategic area with special emphasis abstracts of the presentations research activities in the area of on autonomous flapping wing and scheduled for the technical sessions. MAVs. Dr Siva S. Banda from bio-inspired flight. In his address, Dr Blake covered the AFRL, and Prof. Jonathan How from More than 150 delegates strategic vision of AFRL and the MIT then gave interesting talks on from various R&D organizations, challenges in development of the autonomous MAV flight research private industry and academic autonomous system technologies for being carried out in their institutions in India participated in MAVs. He indicated that by 2015, institutions. The papers presented the workshop.

26 CSIR NEWS Workshops

Workshop on Herbarium Techniques

he National Institute of Science TCommunication And Information Resources (NISCAIR), New Delhi, conducted a six-day workshop on herbarium techniques during 20-25 October 2008. The workshop was aimed at imparting current knowledge on scientific methods of plant collection, preservation, identification, nomenclature, techniques for creation of herbarium database, documentation of information on plants, management of herbaria, etc. to the participants and to make them Seen on dais (from left) are : Dr Narendra Kumar, In-charge, NISCAIR Training Programmes; aware of the latest developments Shri S. K . Rastogi, the then Acting Director, NISCAIR, and Dr H.B.Singh, Co-ordinator related to the herbarium of the workshop on Herbarium Techniques techniques. It was targeted to herbarium curators, bioscience four modules: Herbarium and the role of herbaria in research, teachers of schools, college/ techniques comprising collection education and conservation of university lecturers, scientists from and preservation of plant materials biodiversity. research institutions, research and practical exercise including field Dr B. Subramaniam, Scientist, scholars and students and those who trip for collection of plant specimens; NISCAIR, gave a presentation on were interested in setting up a processing of mycological specimens ‘Herbarium and Its Functions’. He regional herbaria. Eighteen and preservation of plant genetic explained that herbaria are scientific participants from India, Pakistan resources; techniques of plant tools for establishing correct and Nepal attended the workshop. identification, nomenclature and botanical identity and nomenclature The workshop was divided into creation of herbarium databases; of plants, and housing plant

Participants collecting plants during field collection trip

30 JANUARY 2009 27 Workshops

Hands-on exercise on processing of specimens

specimens in a recognized system Mycology Herbarium, enlightened on plant nomenclature. He of classification. Herbarium the participants regarding recent explained the rules and regulations collections serve as the basis for our techniques used for collection and of the International Code of understanding of biodiversity. As a preservation of fungi and diseased Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) by basic resource for the study of plant specimens and maintenance of which name of a taxon is systematic botany and related fields, culture collections. determined. herbarium serves as a reference A visit to the Herbarium Shri S.K. Burde, Scientist, centre, a documentation facility and “Cryptogamae Indiae Orientalis” NISCAIR, made the participants data storehouse. Dr H.B. Singh (HCIO) at Indian Agricultural aware of the methods of creating discussed the materials and Research Institute (IARI), New herbarium database. He threw light equipment required during the Delhi, was arranged. on the different softwares required collection of plant specimens and for Dr E. R. Nayar, Head, for creating herbarium database. developing a new herbarium. Dr Exploration Division, National Dr B. Subramaniam in his Singh also demonstrated various Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources lecture on plant identification steps and techniques involved in (NBPGR), gave an overview of the described the methods of plant plant processing such as plant significance of Herbarium in identification in detail and the role pressing, drying, poisoning, preservation of wild germplasm of of ‘identification keys’ in the mounting, stitching, labelling, cultivated plants and their wild identification of plants. He sorting, accessioning, indexing and relatives and emphasized on the demonstrated online databases incorporating of herbarium sheets in utility of wild species in genetic related to plant identification using cupboards. He also threw light on upgradation of crop species. A visit vegetative characters of the plants. physical and biological agents to the ‘National Herbarium of He also conducted a hand-on responsible for deterioration of Cultivated Plants’ (NHCP), exercise on plant identification. herbarium specimens and how National Gene Bank and National Dr P.L. Uniyal, Reader, different methods are used for Cryogen Bank of NBPGR enabled Department of Botany, Delhi preservation of plant specimens in the participants to understand the University, gave a talk on ‘Role of the field as well as in herbarium. current techniques of preservation Herbaria in Conservation of The participants were given and maintenance of genetic Biodiversity and Protection of hands-on exercise for processing of resources of the country. Environment’. He was of the opinion specimens like mounting, stitching Dr M. P. Sharma, Professor of that herbarium is a centre of and labelling. Botany, Jamia Hamdard University, knowledge resource that can be used Dr D.K. Agarwal, former Head, New Delhi, gave an elaborate talk for deciding primary centre of origin

28 CSIR NEWS Foundation Day Celebrations

of genetic resources. He further CSIO celebrates Foundation Day elaborated importance of herbaria to serve as a means of locating hotspots, “Measurement Sciences and Instrument Technology are the key endemism, rare or possibly extinct components in almost all engineering applications of manufacturing species via recollecting areas listed on label data (conservation biology, sector and CSIO by virtue of its strength can meet the targets,” environmental impact statements, remarked Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science & Technology and endangered species, etc.). He pointed Earth Sciences, and Vice President, CSIR, while addressing the out that herbarium could be used to distinguished gathering on the occasion of 49th Foundation Day of detect evolutionary changes in the time the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh. and space by DNA extraction and Shri Sibal stressed the need of cloning more CSIO’s to cater to the fingerprinting methods. needs of the Agro-based Sector and emphasized that more attention Dr R.D. Gaur, former Head, should be given to the development of technologies, which change Department of Botany and Dean, the quality of life of 800 million people. He said that science & Faculty of Science, H.N. Bahuguna technology are the two sides of a coin and they have to work hand in University, Srinagar, Garhwal, hand with complete synergy. He complemented Dr Pawan Kapur, described the role of herbaria in the Director, CSIO, for the efforts and dedicated work done on Head study of ethnobotany. He pointed out Up Display which has placed India in the forefront of technologies that the scrutiny of passport data pertaining to the strategic sector. written on herbarium labels is one of Earlier, welcoming the Chief Guest, Dr Pawan Kapur, Director, the recognized methods for the study CSIO, informed about the various on-going programmes of his of ethnobotany. institute and its achievements of the past year. He also mentioned A field trip for collection of plant specimens was made in and around about the new programmes on Agrionics and Biomedical Buddha Jayanti Park area of New Delhi instrumentation in a network mode, and the proposal for advanced Ridge. A visit to the “Botanical Garden courses on Agrionics and Lightwave Engineering. of Indian Republics (BGIR)”, NOIDA, A workshop on Avionics Display and Optical Metrology (ADOM- was also organized. 2008) was also inaugurated by the Minister. This workshop was The technical lecture session organized by CSIO jointly with Regional Centre for Military concluded with a lecture by Dr H.B. Airworthiness (RCMA), Chandigarh; Bharat Electronics Limited Singh, Coordinator of the workshop, on (BEL), Panchkula; and Aeronautical Society of India (Chandigarh ‘Management of Herbaria”. A CD on Branch) on 30-31 October 2008. The workshop aimed at providing a Herbarium Techniques, prepared by common platform to scientists, engineers, researchers and Raw Materials Herbarium & Museum industrialists to discuss and deliberate on the various important (RHMD) of NISCAIR, was also played. issues related to the emerging technologies of Cockpit Display In their feedback, the participants Instrumentation and Optical Metrology. expressed that the workshop was very Shri Sibal also released the Annual Report of CSIO and the informative, well planned and rich in souvenir of the ADOM-2008. content. Certificates and CDs on Later during the video conferencing, CSIR Director General Herbarium Techniques were given to th the participants by Shri S.K. Rastogi, Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari congratulated CSIO on its 49 the then Acting Director, NISCAIR. He Foundation Day and HUD achievement. Prof. Brahmachari said also released a book entitled “Field that there are many more miles to cover so that the dream of every Manual on Herbarium Techniques”. aircraft having CSIO HUD could be realized. The workshop ended with a vote of The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Shri thanks proposed by Dr H. B. Singh. A.K. Dimri, Scientist, CSIO.

30 JANUARY 2009 29 CPYLS

CPYLS at CSIO he Central Scientific temper. The participants had an etc. still there is lot more to know in TInstruments Organisation opportunity to see some science this direction. Advances are being (CSIO), Chandigarh, organized the models and get information about made almost every day, he two-day CSIR Programme on Youth CSIO programmes while mentioned. He talked about some Leadership in Science (CPYLS) on interacting, with the Scientists/ areas on the scientific horizon like 5-6 November 2008. About 70 Technologists, during visit to various energy, alternative sources of energy persons comprising students and CSIO labs, including the Indo-Swiss for organic photo-voltaic for tapping their parents/teachers, from Training Centre (ISTC). solar energy, MEMs and their use different schools of Haryana, During the valedictory session, in aircraft, automobiles, clinical and participated in the programme. Prof. K.R. Sarma, Advisor, biotechnology research, etc. He also During the programme, the Technology, SAMTEL Group of discussed the development of participants were apprised of the Industries and former Director of instruments to find ground water scenario of Science & Technology in CSIO, was the Chief Guest. level depletion. He mentioned that the country and the various Addressing the students, Prof. the journey of science is full of activities undertaken at CSIO. Sarma mentioned that science is an challenges but very exciting and Popular science lectures by CSIO exciting journey and it makes us satisfying. He exhorted the students scientists, multimedia science quiz learn about the unknown. Although to join the science stream to unravel competition and creativity session a lot of efforts have been made by these mysteries and to gain were organized to inspire and man to unravel the mysteries of knowledge so as to reduce our motivate them to develop a scientific nature, environment, planet earth, ignorance. The participants were awarded the certificates, medals and mementos. Director, CSIO, while wel- coming the Chief Guest said that CSIO enjoyed in- teracting with the young students in the last two days and advised the students to be in touch with CSIO CPYLS at CSIO, seen clockwise (from top left): for any further Prof. K.R. Sarma interacting with participants; Shri V.P.S. Kalsi (T.O.) (left), Dr Pawan Kapur, Director, guidance. CSIO, and Shri R.C. Arora, Co-ordinator CPYLS, Shri R.C. evaluating the entries of Creativity Competition, and one Arora, Co- of the participants giving her feedback ordinator of this programme presented the highlights of this event and

30 CSIR NEWS CPYLS

mentioned the salient features of the programme. They expressed that think beyond books also. CPYLS scheme. The participants this programme has helped them in Shri M.R. Masan, Controller of assured to make the optimum use broadening their outlook and now Administration, proposed the vote of the knowledge gained through this they have the courage to look and of thanks.

CPYLS at NEIST

he North East Institute of Science & Technology T(NEIST), Jorhat, organized a two-day CSIR Programme for Youth Leadership in Science (CPYLS) on 5 and 6 November 2008. Thirty-three students along with their escorts and parents from different schools of north east states participated in the programme. Dr W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO, New Delhi, was the Chief Guest and Dr R.B. Srivastava, Director, DRL, Tezpur and Dr B.V. Rao, Director, IIT Academy, Kota, were the Guests of Honour. Dr P.G. Rao, Director, NEIST, in his welcome address briefly spoke about the programme and appealed to the young students to imbibe scientific spirit in them. Delivering his speech on ‘Science Dr W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO, delivering his speech at the inauguration of CPYLS. Others seated on the dais (from left) are: Profession— A Learning, Earning and Serving Career’ Dr R.B. Srivastava, Director, DRL, Tezpur and Dr Selvamurthy mentioned that the new discoveries Dr P.G. Rao, Director, NEIST in chemical and biological sciences, engineering sciences, aeronautical sciences, drug development, medical sciences, etc. could make India one of the IJMS selected as a major economic powers in the world. He particularly highlighted the achievements of the nation in Air Force Companion Journal of weapons, missiles, tanks, naval aircraft carriers, atomic weapons, etc. He also spoke on weaponisation, ISIUS-2009 biomedical facilities, automobile development, space missions, acclimatization programmes for soldiers in he Indian Journal of Marine Sciences (IJMS) high altitude snowline areas, etc. He also mentioned Tpublished at the National Institute of Science the career opportunities in Indian Armed Force, Naval Communication and Information Resources Force and Air Force and various research activities (NISCAIR), New Delhi, has been selected as going on in DRDO. Dr Srivastava exhorted the Companion Journal of the International Symposium students to treat science with passion and take up on Intelligent Unmanned System 2009. This symposium Science and Technology as a career. will be held at Juju, South Korea, during 3-5 June 2009. The programme comprised popular science The other companion journals are Chinese Science lectures by eminent scientists, interactions with Bulletin and Journal of Bionic Engineering. scientists, visit to NEIST laboratories, cultural The organizing committee has also invited the programme, semi-extempore speech competition and Editor, IJMS, Dr J. Sundaresan Pillai, to give a keynote practical training. Eleven students were selected on speech at the symposium. merit basis and given the opportunity to visit two CSIR labs of their choice in future.

30 JANUARY 2009 31 Honours & Awards

Dr R.K. Chadha of Prof S.K. Brahmachari awarded NGRI conferred 2008 Jagadis Chandra Bose Medal (2007) Decennial Award of IGU rof. Samir Kumar Brahmachari, Director PGeneral, CSIR, has been awarded The Jagadis Chandra Bose Medal of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, for the year 2007. The award has been given to him for establishing leadership in functional genomics effectively integrating experimental and computational approaches. Established in 1976 by INSA, this award is given once in three years for outstanding contributions in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology and related areas impact of which has been felt for a considerable length of time. r R.K. Chadha, Scientist F, The award was presented to Prof. Brahmachari, after the Award- National Geophysical D lecture on 11 January 2009 at INSA, New Delhi. Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, has been conferred the 2008 Decennial Award of the results were published in Nature holding several prestigious Indian Geophysical Union (IGU) at in 2007. Another major contribution international positions e.g. he is the 45th Convention of the IGU at by him is the first estimates of President of the International Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Tsunami Run-ups heights, which Natural Hazard Society. Recently he on 5 November 2008. he provided immediately after has been re-elected as the Secretary- Dr Chadha has been given this the December 2004 tsunami. These General of the Asian Seismological award for his outstanding results have led to the development Commission for four years (2008- contributions to the area of of thousand of scenarios for 2012). The elections were held in broadband seismology. His inundation of Indian coastal Japan during the 7th General initiative to understand the Indian areas for different earthquake Assembly of the Asian Seismological shield seismicity and structure has sources along the Andaman Commission and the Seismological broken new ground in constraining & Nicobar island and Sunda Society of Japan during 25-27 the Lithospheric-Asthenospheric trench. November 2008. Boundary (LAB) below the Indian Dr Chadha has earlier received Dr Chadha is presently heading Plate. This has resulted in providing the National Mineral Award in the Seismology Group at NGRI. He a convincing explanation to a global Geophysics in 2003 and became has published over 52 research geodynamical problem of the rapid Fellow of the Andhra Pradesh papers in the international and drift of Indian Tectonic plate vis-à- Academy of Sciences in 2008 and national SCI Journals and has been vis the Australian and African plates, the Fellow of the Indian Geophysical a Guest Editor for four professional during Cretaceous times. These Union in 2007. He is presently scientific journals.

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