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DREAMVIGYAN PRASAR

October 2019 l Vol. 22 l No. 1 l Rs. 5.00 INDUSTRY 4.0: THE FOURTH WAVE OF THE

5-8 NOVEMBER 2019 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION KOLKATA

INSIDE STORIES

l Editorial: Research, Innovation & Science Empowering the Nation

l European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN): Accelerating Science

l Interview with INDUSTRY 4.0 Prof. Robert S. Langer l Techniques to Improve Your Memory

l Recent Developments in Science and Technology

l VP News

36 Editorial Research, Innovation & Science Empowering the Nation

Welcome October. Festivities all- lovers through science writing workshops round the month. and competitions for students. Thus, Nakul Parashar It happens every year, but how is it science writers, editors, scientists, teachers, different this year? Besides Dussehra and researchers, science communicators, Diwali falling in October, this year October journalists, poets, drama writers and One of the major attractions at would witness several curtain-raisers related performers, and college students are invited previous IISFs have been the Students’ to the fifth edition of the International to register themselves as participants or Science Village, where a large number of Science Festival (IISF) which is slated for speakers in Vigyanika through online site of students from all over the country gather November 5– 8 2019 at Kolkata. The theme IISF 2019. A small book fair at Vigyanika and enjoy through a set of daily entertaining for this year’s IISF is RISEN – research, would also be organized at IISF 2019. activities. Divided into eight different innovation & science empowering the Where there’s literature, how can houses, each of them named after our nation. cinema be left behind. IISF 2019 will witness scientific luminaires, these scientists-in- IISF, every year has become bigger than India International Science Film Festival as making go through a different experience all its predecessor and IISF 2019 is no exception. well. Organisers are expecting the best of together during the science festival. This year, several new programmes have the science films from around the globe to A huge S&T expo, on the lines of been planned at IISF. Vigyanika, Science be screened for registered participants and a what was there at other IISFs, shall be there Literature Festival is one such programme panel of eminent jury members. Satyajit Ray as well – again at Science City. By the side of that IISF shall witness for the first time. Film & Television Institute is a well-known the mega S&T expo, the visitors are expected Science through drama, poetry, songs and film & television institute of the country, to witness technology advancements folk art would be one subset of Vigyanika where this film festival would be organised being made for making things simpler for at the fair. This part of Vigyanika has been during the IISF 2019. our divyangjan. planned as ‘Vigyan Manchan’. Similarly, In line with scientific literature, Students in huge numbers get a chance book reading, a book fair, book releases, and films, it is relevant that our science & to meet scientists of international repute to and meet-the-author would fall under technology-related media industry is also respond to their queries in a programme another part of Vigyanika and that’s been activated to shoulder the responsibility of called ‘face-to-face with scientists’. named as ‘Vigyan Prakashan’. Besides, science communication, popularisation, and A lot, lot more at IISF 2019. So, please subject matter experts and experienced extension. IISF 2019, will have a conclave come and enjoy meeting scientists and see science communicators promoting science of S&T Media to discuss with subject several exhibits from within and beyond the popularisation through various genre would matter experts about various issues related national boundaries. discuss and deliberate on various related to science communication. A new event Wishing you and near ones a very topics through another part of Vigyanika, for IISF, this event would be a two-day happy Durga puja, Dussehra and Diwali. titled as ‘Vigyan Manthan’. Vigyanika opportunity to meet and discuss with S&T has still a lot more than these. ‘Vigyan media personalities and hear about their Email: nakul.parashar@ Spandan’ would encourage young science experiences. vigyanprasar.gov.in n

Editor : Nakul Parashar Vigyan Prasar is not responsible for the statements/opinions expressed and photographs used by the authors in their articles/write-ups published in Associate editor : Rintu Nath “Dream 2047” Production : Manish Mohan Gore and Pradeep Kumar Articles, excerpts from articles published in “Dream 2047” may be freely Expert member : Biman Basu reproduced with due acknowledgement/credit, provided periodicals in Address for Vigyan Prasar, C-24, which they are reproduced are distributed free. correspondence : Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110 016 Published and Printed by Dr. Nakul Parashar on behalf of Vigyan Prasar, Tel : 011-26967532; Fax : 0120-2404437 C-24, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016 and Printed at e-mail : [email protected] Chandu Press, 469, Patparganj Industrial Estate, Delhi 110 092 Telefax: : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in 22424396, 22526936.

35 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN): Accelerating Science Jyoti Sharma and Sanjeev Kumar Varshney

A joint venture of the Department of Science India’s vision and understanding that no The Large Hadron and Technology (DST), Department of single country is capable to fund, executes Atomic Energy and National Council of and bear the risk of the uncertain outcome (LHC) is the Science Museums, Vigyan Samagam is a of these mega projects. world’s largest and unique travelling, multi-venue, mega-science ‘Vigyan Samagam’ will open a new exhibition to showcase India’s Science Gateway that will satisfy the most powerful particle in the world’s most ambitious science curiosity of millions of visitors who will visit accelerator ever built projects, which was launched in Mumbai this year-long exhibition. This is a kind of on 8 May 2019. It features live working travelling roadshow, which will provide a that pushes or models of seven-breakthrough science unique science communication platform projects, namely European Organisation for the global scientific community and the to near the speed of for Nuclear Research (CERN), Facility common man. This exhibition will take light. The core mission of for and Research (FAIR), common citizens through the fascinating India-based Observatory (INO), world to probe hitherto unexplored CERN is fundamental International Thermonuclear Experimental phenomena such as the formation of black research in particle Reactor (ITER), Laser Interferometer holes, exploding universe, neutron stars and Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), galaxies, the birth of our universe and so on. physics, but CERN’s Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and the The exhibition also shows how fundamental Thirty Meter Telescope. The main aim of research often leads to technological advances basic tools – particle this exhibition is to highlight the value and that we take for granted in our daily life. accelerators and detectors impact of fundamental research to a broad Out of seven breakthrough mega- cross-section of the audience to bring cross- science projects, ‘Accelerating Science’ – a and electronic particle border science and technology cooperation flagship 300-square-metre exhibition of the detection techniques – also one-step closer to society. European Organisation for Nuclear Research The Indian government is committed (CERN) – will display its activities through support the frontiers of to facilitating Indian scientists, provide them animations, videos and interactive media an opportunity to lead at the global level and to inspire the general public, particularly technology, addressing support academic-industry partnership for high-school and college students. Its main global societal challenges. the development of cutting-edge indigenous themes are cosmology, and technologies through participation in mega CERN’s key research activities. This CERN Indian scientists have projects. The Science, Technology and exhibit is expected to attract anyone curious significantly contributed Innovation (STI) 2013 policy of India, about the origins of the universe, the nature released by DST also advocates India’s of particles we are made of and fundamental towards major discoveries participation in mega-science projects. science. Experiments on display include Active participation and billion-dollar the ‘Big Bang’, the building blocks of life, reported from the LHC investment in mega-science projects depict mysteries of the universe, and a series of

Jyoti Sharma is a Senior Scientist and Sanjeev Kumar Varshney is the Head & Advisor, International Bilateral Cooperation Division (IBCD), Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. Email: [email protected]; skvdst@ nic.in Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 34 fundamental breakthroughs in modern be published or otherwise made generally technology, beginning in the early science, including the Large Hadron available’. It was agreed upon and signed through a software project called ENQUIRE, Collider (LHC), which helped hunt for the by the 12 Member States. The foundation written in 1980 by the British scientist Tim ‘God particle’, another name of the ‘Higgs stone was laid in July 1955 to establish Berners-Lee, which was the predecessor to ’. new milestones in fundamental research the . Based on the concept and stretch the limits of imaginations and of , the project was intended to Origin of the European innovations. allow an ever increasing number of scientists Organisation for Nuclear to share automated information. After the Research (CERN) Member countries activation of the first website in 1991, it was announced by CERN on 30 April 1993, A handful of visionary scientists in The organisation is based in a northwest that the World Wide Web would be free to and North America conceptualised an idea suburb of on the Franco-Swiss anyone. Later, CERN made it available in to establish a world-class physics research border and officially has 23 member states: the public domain with an open licence to facility. Their vision was both to stop the , , , , maximise its dissemination. Another equally brain drain to America that had begun , , , , , revolutionary concept is the Grid, which during the Second World War and to , , , , , harnesses the power of computers around provide a force for unity in post-war Europe. , , , , , the world. It has been developed at CERN to process the vast amounts of data collected by the LHC experiments.

The Large The (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful ever built that pushes protons or ions to near the . It is located between France and and is housed in a tunnel of 27 km circumference, 100 m below ground, with a number of accelerating structures to boost the energy of the particles. It is used for colliding protons and lead ions at centre-of-mass energies of 13 TeV and 5.7 TeV respectively, creating CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research, Switzerland controlled physical conditions that would have existed soon after the Big Bang. The first official proposal for the creation , , Switzerland and the United The beams inside the LHC are of a European laboratory was proposed Kingdom till date. After the discovery of the made to collide at four locations around by the French physicist , India also became one of the the accelerator ring, corresponding to the at the European Cultural Conference on Associate Members. , , positions of four particle detectors – ATLAS, 9 December 1949. This resulted in the , and are other Associate CMS, ALICE and LHCb. The whole process adoption of the first resolution concerning Members while and are the needs a high level of precision as the particles the establishment of a European Council for Associate Member States in the pre-stage to are so tiny. Nuclear Research (in French Conseil Européen Membership. The European Union, Japan, pour la Recherche Nucléaire, or CERN) at an JINR, the Russian Federation, UNESCO Higgs boson – the God particle intergovernmental meeting of UNESCO in and the United States of America currently 4 July 2012 was a historic day in particle Paris in December 1951. Two months later, have Observer status. Funding agencies physics, when a team of scientists of 12 countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, from both Member and the Non-Member the ATLAS and the Compact Muon the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, States are responsible for the financing, Solenoid (CMS) experiments at CERN›s Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, construction, and operation of the LHC announced they had each observed a Switzerland, the , and experiments on which they collaborate. new particle in the mass region around 125 ) signed an agreement establishing GeV. This is about 125 times the mass of the provisional council and the CERN was CERN’s key achievements a , the positively charged particle born. found in the . It was the In June 1953, the final draft of ‘Higgs boson’, one of the final puzzle pieces the CERN Convention stated that ‘The World Wide Web required for a complete understanding Organisation shall have no concern with work In today’s world, life without the of the of particle physics. for military requirements and the results of and the web seems unthinkable. CERN This was the first time the elusive particle its experimental and theoretical work shall had pioneered the introduction of internet was detected although its existence had

33 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 been predicted in 1964. The lack of an for health applications. CERN effort from conception to commissioning. accelerator of sufficient energy came in the has a partnership with a variety of players in Indian scientists have been involved in the way of its detection till the LHC became aerospace sectors and shared technologies, design and have manufactured the Hadron available. Higgs boson is a unique boson facilities, and expertise in the flight and Barrel Outer Calorimeter, silicon strip-based which imparts mass to other particles. ground segments of many space missions. pre-shower detector and RPC detectors, part of the CMS experiment. CMC is one of the India’s position in CERN two experiments that led to the discovery Antimatter is produced in many experiments The Department of Atomic Energy entered of the Higgs boson. It involved 40 Indian at CERN. In collisions at the Large Hadron into a co-operation agreement with CERN scientists out of a total 4,000. Collider the that are produced on 28 March 1991, followed by a protocol Experiments at CERN produce colossal cannot be trapped because of their very for collaboration in LHC on 29 March amounts of data (roughly 30 petabytes high energy; they annihilate harmlessly in 1996. CERN invited India to participate a year), which are processed using Grid the detectors. The in the construction and commissioning computing, enabling sharing of resources at CERN produces much among computer centres located slower that can be around the world. India has trapped. These antiprotons can established and is running two then be studied to explore the tier-2 centres in nature of antiparticles. the country for the LHC data analysis. Theorists from India High-Luminosity are constantly working at the Large Hadron data generated and making it Collider (HL-LHC) available to advance knowledge Luminosity is proportional in the field. to the number of collisions The Raja Ramanna that occur in a given amount Centre for Advanced Technology of time and an important (RRCAT), Indore served indicator of the performance as a nodal institute for this of an accelerator. Luminosity collaboration. Later, the finding LHC project was stated to The Large Hadron Collider has been aided by researchers produce at least 15 million from Delhi University, Bhabha Higgs per year, compared to around of Advanced Accelerators under Novel Atomic Research Centre, Panjab University, three million from the LHC in 2017. It Accelerator Technology (NAT) Protocol in Tata Institute of Fundamental Research should be operational around 2026. The 2006. India’s participation and contribution (TIFR) in Mumbai, Saha Institute of Nuclear accelerator will be built with support of an became stronger when India became an Physics (SINP) in Kolkata and many other international collaboration of 29 institutions Associate Member of CERN in 2017. Indian research institutions, universities and in 13 countries, including the United States, Indian scientists have significantly industries. Japan and Canada. contributed towards major discoveries reported from the LHC, viz., the discovery Science through CERN Societal applications of the Higgs boson in 2012 and formation The core mission of CERN is fundamental of Plasma (QGP), a confined A programme which was started in Europe, research in particle physics, but CERN’s state of and in strongly now unites scientists from around the world basic tools – particle accelerators and interacting matter at extreme temperatures. in the pursuit of knowledge, overcoming detectors and electronic particle detection Indian scientists and engineers political barriers. Scientists worked together techniques – also support the frontiers have participated in the construction, even during the cold world war and many of technology, addressing global societal commissioning and operation of the two Eastern European countries joined CERN challenges. The technologies and scientific large experiments at LHC, viz., A Large Ion soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall. As advances at CERN have contributed to Collider Experiments (ALICE) and Compact of 2017, more than 17,500 people from medical science, biotechnology, aerospace Muon Solenoid (CMS). The ALICE around the world were working together to applications, cultural heritage through art experiment, which is a dedicated experiment push the limits of knowledge. restoration and emerging technologies and for the study of Quark Gluon Plasma and CERN provides a large platform are expected to have a significant impact in to get a glimpse of how matter behaved and an opportunity for students in applied the future. Apart from CERN’s contribution within a few microseconds after the birth physics, engineering and computing to learn to early studies on Emission of our universe. The Photon Multiplicity on the job at CERN and for technicians Tomography (PET) devices, CERN’s unique Detector (PMD), the Muon Spectrometer, to train in fields at the cutting-edge of expertise and technologies are being used the MANAS chip, and silicon pad detectors technology. CERN’s training and education in areas related to medical diagnostics and are the main hardware contributions to the programs cover all ages from high-school imaging, therapy as well as computing and ALICE in which the PMD is a fully Indian students to particle physics professionals.

Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 32 Technology Industry 4.0: The Fourth Wave of the Industrial Revolution

Dr. Prashant R. Nair

Introduction Industry 4.0 ICT technologies under Rapid technology advances and dynamic One of the recent buzz words being widely the ambit of Industry 4.0 market forces have altered the business spoken about is Industry 4.0, which is also landscape as also fundamentally altered popularly referred to as the fourth industrial transform the supply chain existing business models. Information revolution. The first three waves of the to a value chain. ICT and Communication Technology (ICT) industrial revolution were led by the steam usage and deployment has opened the engine, assembly line and mass production, adoption and deployment doors for companies to compete in any and automation facilitated through across various processes and marketplace. Even companies, which have computers, respectively. been benefiting from protectionist policies Industry 4.0 is the latest disruptive links in the supply chain by governments, are now exposed to the trend of automation led by cyber-physical has become a determinant perils of increased competition due to system (CPS). It includes cutting-edge ICT liberalisation, privatisation, pricing pressures tools and technologies such as autonomous of competitive advantage and globalisation. This challenging and robotics, business analytics, Industrial for enterprises. ICT dynamic business environment is popularly Internet of Things (IIoT), , referred to as VUCA short for Volatility, cloud computing, cyber security, additive tools are great enablers, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. manufacturing, horizontal and vertical system enhancers, levellers and Information superhighway has further integration and (AR). muddled the competitive waters by providing Industry 4.0 has realised the manufacturer’s facilitators of enterprise round-the-clock access and dissemination dream of a “smart factory”. Within these operations. Deployment of of information. The following examples modular structured smart factories, cyber- illustrate the power of ICT, Internet and physical systems monitor physical processes, these tools in supply chain world-wide web: create a virtual copy of the physical world and planning and execution l The largest transportation company make decentralised decisions. Interestingly, in the world is Uber, but interestingly these systems are fuelled not by gasoline or oil processes have resulted Uber does not own any car. or electricity but by ‘data’ and the capabilities in better transparency, l The largest media company in the to leverage and mine this data using world is Facebook, but interestingly machine learning and artificial intelligence. visibility, resilience, Facebook does not create any content. Manufacturing and production become adaptability, dialogue, l The largest retailer in the world is adaptive, agile, autonomous, automated, Alibaba, but interestingly, Alibaba collaborative, coordinated, connected, adaptability and decision- does not own any store or retail decentralised, fast, flexible and intelligent, making for enterprises. establishment. resulting in greater operational efficiencies and lesser costs for enterprises.

Dr. Prashant R. Nair is working as Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman of department of Computer Science & Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Deemed-to-be-University), Coimbatore. Email: [email protected]

31 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 usages are retailers using business analytics to predict consumer behaviour and buying patterns; understanding of citizen needs for government to provide better delivery of services; and banks and financial institutions to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions or categorise their customers based on their credit history. Business analytics was estimated to be an industry worth $ 50 billion in 2016. Corporate data generated and managed by enterprises today amounts to billions of gigabytes of data and this data is primarily unstructured and raw. The Over the Internet of Things (IoT), Operating System (OS) for the Industrial explosion of information is now dubbed as i.e., connectivity of physical assets, the CPSs Internet, is powering digital enterprise and its analytics can point towards communicate and cooperate with each other businesses that drive the global economy. actionable intelligence to help enterprises and with humans in real-time and both By connecting manufacturing equipment, tweak their strategy. internal and cross-organisational services are analysing data, and delivering real-time Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): offered and utilised by participants of the insights, Predix-based apps are unleashing Industrial IoT establishes inter-connections value chain. CPS consists of collaborating new levels of performance for General across all industrial devices, equipment computational elements controlling physical Electric (GE). and humans using Internet technologies. objects, whose processes are seamlessly Industrial IoT enables networking, monitored, coordinated, controlled and Industry 4.0 Building Blocks collaboration and communication between integrated. The resultant value chain all internal and external stakeholders in the thereby becomes more agile, collaborative, Autonomous Robotics: Advanced and manufacturing environment, which includes visible and responsive. An example would autonomous industrial robots are designed factory machinery, production shop floor, be a totally connected and retooled supply to collaborate with humans in real- assembly line and their operators such as chain, which can reconfigure itself on time. They have embedded electronic workers, shop floor supervisors and managers receipt of any new data point. If a weather software, integrated sensors, actuators and as well as the suppliers and customers. delay ties up a shipment, a connected system standardised interfaces that enable them Real-time communication and interaction can proactively adjust itself and modify to wirelessly connect with the internet and between all connected stakeholders using manufacturing priorities bringing about interact in real-time with other equipment as results in fast, adaptive and real-time perfect alignment between supply chain well as humans. The cost of these robots will decision-making and responses. planning and execution. Simulation: Simulation To put it simply, methodologies are modelling processes and devices become tools that are used to predict inseparable in Industry 4.0. The and evaluate the potential of origins of these technologies complex systems and give unique for manufacturing collectively empowerment and autonomy being referred to as Industry to workers, equipment and 4.0 stems from the famed processes. Simulations create German engineering. The digital twins of physical processes German Government as also like manufacturing or inventory. leading industrial powerhouses The real-time access to the data as like Robert Bosch and Siemens also its interactions with workers, unveiled the basic concepts equipment and processes facilitate and recommendations in the Hannover Fair progressively decrease, and their capabilities better decision-making, operational to be adopted by industry worldwide. and competencies will improve. efficiency and speed. The German manufacturing Business Analytics: Business analytics Cloud Computing and Virtualisation: powerhouse Siemens is implementing aims at building fresh perspectives and new Cloud computing and associated an Industry 4.0 solution in medical insights into business performance using technologies like virtualisation; Software engineering. For years, artificial knee and data, statistical methods, quantitative analysis as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service hip joints were standardised products, with and predictive modelling. At a lower level, (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) engineers needing several days to customise there is business intelligence that is standard are touted as the ‘big’ thing and game them for patients. Now, new software and measures for comparing past performance changer for enterprises. The market research steering solutions enable Siemens to produce for future improvement based on enterprise company Forrester Research projects that an implant within 3 to 4 hours. Predix, the data and statistical analysis. Some common the global cloud computing industry will

Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 30 grow from $40.7 billion in 2010 to employees to Bring Your Own more than $241 billion by 2020. Device (BYOD). Cloud reduces the total cost of ownership for enterprises. Cloud A Research problem computing is a form of utility for Industry 4.0 computing, where hardware, software, storage and platform is ICT technologies under the ambit made available as per need and on of Industry 4.0 transform the a subscription basis. In this service supply chain to a value chain. model, clients can access the ICT adoption and deployment cloud-based application through across various processes and links an Internet browser. The data in the supply chain has become can be resident at a remote place a determinant of competitive also. Complementing the cloud advantage for enterprises. ICT is the usage of server farms and tools are great enablers, enhancers, data centres where all applications levellers and facilitators of enterprise and data can be stored, shared operations. Deployment of these and accessed on demand using tools in supply chain planning and virtualisation. Cloud is a ‘green’ execution processes have resulted technology as it eliminates the in better transparency, visibility, need for enterprises to procure and maintain environment. This is enlarged and improved resilience, adaptability, dialogue, adaptability large servers and associated space and by computer-generated interpretation and decision-making for enterprises. This is infrastructure. of required information to aid decision- not only within the enterprise intranet but Cyber Security: ‘Data’ being the making. AR is now possible across sensory also within the extranet consisting of their new ‘Oil’ means that its security becomes perceptions, including auditory, visual, partners and suppliers. paramount. Ensuring secure operations touch, smell, heat/cold and pressure. While most researchers and industry within connected networks and open systems Potential applications include customer co- practitioners are unanimous about the fact is a challenging requirement of connected creation, remote maintenance, predictive that ICT positively impacts supply chain enterprises and their supply chain processes. maintenance, virtually guided self-service, management (SCM) performance and Industrial systems and manufacturing and remote monitoring and control. improves supply chain capabilities, there processes have to be protected from cyber SMAC: Complementary to Industry an identified gap in terms of assessment security threats. This entails secure and 4.0, is the integration of disruptive and and measurement of these ICT benefits reliable communication as also secure access game-changing technologies in the form of and capabilities in SCM. This is despite the controls and identity management for both the SMAC − Social, Mobile, Analytics and fact that there are several SCM performance machines and human users. Cloud stack, which promises to be the next measurement frameworks. An interesting 3D Printing: This is a form of additive wave in enterprise computing. By 2020, research is underway to develop an empirical manufacturing which can be used for International Data Corporation (IDC) model and assessment framework of the rapid prototyping and produce individual estimates that ICT spending worldwide benefits of ICT deployment in SCM and its components. The focus is to produce could touch US$5 trillion mark with dovetailing into Supply Chain Operations customized modules which are easy to use fourth-fifths of this driven by the SMAC Reference (SCOR) model of APICS, the and minimise transportation and inventory. stack, which is the seamless intersection association for supply chain management. Horizontal and Vertical system of the SMAC technologies. Technologies Validation of this assessment framework has integration: Horizontal integration is a within SMAC complement each other and the potential to open new vistas on selection modular system that connects the information combined they deliver a force-multiplier of appropriate ICT tool after measurement across entire value chain. Vertical integration effect to transform supply chains into value of its impact on the supply chain paradigm pulls together information from across all chains. The resultant value chain would and understanding success factors and verticals and levels of the organisation and boast of the advantages of robustness, agility, operational challenges for adoption of these seamlessly exchanges this across all levels of responsiveness, scalability, transparency and tools. This can translate into immense the organisation. As a result, management visibility. Mobile technologies and cloud potential and savings for Indian industry, functions such as production, HR, finance computing can easily integrate diverse both large and Micro, Small and Medium as well as departments, branches and hardware and storage devices. Social media Enterprises (MSME) standing to gain, capabilities are interconnected and cohesive can facilitate instant dialogue collaboration. considering that global supply chain losses as also interrelated with stakeholders such as Business Analytics provide dashboards after amount to over $100 billion annually. suppliers, partners and customers. mining the enterprise Big Data available Measuring this impact by providing a Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual through several sources. SMAC technologies benchmark provides them with strategic Reality (VR): These technologies provide can be easily accessed by all with the recent choices for their investment in ICT as also interactive representation of the real-world trend of enterprises encouraging their choice of ICT tool.

29 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 Interview Interview with Prof. Robert S. Langer Dr. Meher Wan

Robert S. Langer is an American chemical MW: You are an amateur magician and engineer, scientist, entrepreneur, inventor enjoy performing it for students and in parties. and one of the 10 Institute Professors at RSL: I’ve always been fascinated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology magic. I also think a lot of science is magical (MIT). Dr. Langer has written over 1,400 too. articles. He also has nearly 1,300 patents MW: What made you curious about worldwide. Dr. Langer’s patents have chemical engineering? When did you realise been licensed or sublicensed to over 350 that science-tech is the field you would dedicate pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology the life for? and medical device companies. RSL: I liked chemistry from playing Meher Wan: Thanks a lot, Prof. with my chemistry set as a child. I guess that Langer for accepting my request and investing was the start. But I also have come to realise your precious time for this interview. You have that chemistry and chemical engineering can contributed enormously to life sciences and Prof. Robert S. Langer change the world. become a scientific celebrity. You are one of the my neighbourhood, of several great teachers, MW: You mention as most cited individuals and most cited engineer and of playing with chemistry, microscope, your role model in science! How important in human history. You are a scientist who has and erector sets. is a mentor in the scientific journey of an saved the lives of many. MW: Many people usually complain individual according to you? Let me start with the question, how do that basic education is becoming boring and RSL: Very important. It enables you you manage such great scientific output? unproductive for students. What was the state to see what might be possible at a stage in Prof. Robert S. Langer: I’m very of basic education in your times? your life when you might feel insecure about lucky to have wonderful, brilliant and highly RSL: It really depended on the teacher. what you can accomplish. motivated students and postdocs who are Some were very caring or very dynamic. MW: Science is much more responsible for the output. Others were boring or didn’t care. interdisciplinary now. You struggled a lot for MW: What is your process and method MW: You have a keen interest in basic getting a job during 1970s. or motivation for doing such terrific work? education. You started an alternative high RSL: I struggled a lot finding a good RSL: I like to think that that students school in Cambridge. What was the motivation faculty position. I was a chemical engineer are motivated by the questions we are asking behind that? doing some fairly basic biology and medicine, in the lab; questions that, if answered, can RSL: In the 1970s, the city of and chemical engineering departments at have a big impact on the world. Cambridge (where Harvard and MIT are that time didn’t believe in that, so I ended MW: How do you remember your located) had the highest high school dropout up in a nutrition department. childhood, school days, teachers and rate of any city its size in the United States. I MW: How do you feel when you see environment in Albany? had done a lot of math and science tutoring that working in an interdisciplinary field RSL: I grew up in a small house with to high school students, so when several is a luxury now? You left a faculty job in two very nice parents who gave me a lot of teachers in Cambridge wanted to create the nutrition department and wanted to do freedom and told me I should do those things a private high school for poor working- chemical engineering. that made me happy. I have fond memories class students, they asked if I would help, RSL: I’m glad it worked out the way it of playing different games with friends in particularly in the math and science areas. did. I learned a lot and I hope the work we’ve

Dr. Meher Wan is a researcher currently working at IIT Kharagpur. He has a keen interest in understanding the interaction of science and society and their effects on each other. E-mail: [email protected] Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 28 done has helped create a portion of what the He said that if I could get written affidavits the future. biomedical aspects of chemical engineering from each of the five scientists that they MW: What are the most important are today. really said that, that he would allow the unsolved challenges in the field of life sciences MW: In your early days in science, you patent. So, I wrote to all of them and each for this century? started working on the structure of polymers for confirmed they wrote it and the patent was RSL: There are many. Understanding possible drug delivery. You are considered as one allowed. That was my first patent. how to create new tissues and organs, of the pioneers of the field; It took around ten MW: What was the turning point in developing and delivering genetic molecules years for contemporary scientists to understand your scientific life? to the right cells, and better understanding the importance of your research. All your nine RSL: Being a postdoc with Judah the immune system and how to treat proposals for funding were rejected at that time. Folkman at Harvard and Boston’s Children’s autoimmune diseases and brain diseases like How do you remember your struggle of the time? Hospital. I was the only engineer in the Alzheimer’s are just a few. RSL: I was very depressed and sad. hospital. And it gave me a unique perspective MW: Cancer is still a big challenge. MW: Please, tell us any interesting story on how I could use chemical engineering to RSL: It is. We are doing a lot of work from your scientific life. solve medical problems. applying nanotechnology to new cancer RSL: When I first started my research MW: How satisfied do you feel now after treatments in our lab. on controlling the release of large molecules such a long and fruitful journey in science? MW: You have been awarded numerous from polymers, many people told me it RSL: I’m very happy. I feel we’ve highly prestigious international awards, was impossible. Yet, when we succeeded, trained nearly a thousand students and made honorary doctorates from Harvard and Yale. we filed a patent, but the patent examiner some discoveries and inventions that I hope You are a scientific celebrity whose posters are didn’t understand it and rejected the patent are making the world a better place. at the gates of international airports. What type five straight times. Everyone told me to quit MW: Do you get ‘Eureka’ moments for of responsibility or feeling you have now? trying to convince him and give up on the your discoveries? RSL: I want to help young scientists patent. But I don’t give up easily. However, RSL: Sure. Research is still very and engineers, and to help people in the I could see scientific explanations were not exciting. And I love working with the developing world. working. So I wondered if anyone had ever students in our lab and seeing them get so MW: Any message to young researchers? written down the fact that they thought excited about what they do. Especially, the young minds of developing what I was doing was impossible. So I did a MW: Which scientific goal you still country like India. literature search and I discovered a scientific want to achieve? RSL: I think being a scientist or journal article written by five famous RSL: There is not a single goal. My engineer is a wonderful career. You can scientists saying that. They even used the goal is to have our lab make more discoveries discover and invent things, and you can word “surprising” referring to our work. So and inventions, to translate these into make the world a better place. It’s an we showed that to the patent examiner and products that can improve and save lives, and incredibly fulfilling career and life. he said he had no idea people had said that. to train the leading biomedical engineers of

27 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 Health Techniques to Improve Your Memory

Jyotsna Devi

It just happens sometimes that we misplace between the brain cells decrease and become Forgetfulness is a common the objects of everyday use. At times, we less efficient. cannot remember the name of the last book complaint among people we read or the restaurant we visited or the of all ages. Children often name of a person we have met before. While Causes of memory loss shopping, we keep forgetting to buy some Our lifestyle, general health and environment complain that although items. Sometimes, we walk into a room around us can all contribute to memory they study hard, they to get something and then realise that we problems. Many a times, memory loss can cannot remember why we went in there in be caused by treatable conditions. forget their lessons during the first place! All these lead us to feel that Depression: Depression may show the examination. The problem we are constantly forgetting things, and signs of memory loss, making it hard for us memory lapses might have occurred. While to concentrate, stay organised, remember is more acute in elderly it seems like we are destined to tolerate these things and get stuff done. daily annoyances, researchers have found Deficiency of vitamin B12: Vitamin people. However, memory that we can learn to improve our memory. B12 protects neurons and is vital to healthy loss is not inevitable. Many scientists are now working on boosting brain functioning. A lack of B12 can cause memory power. permanent damage to the brain. Treatment Whatever the age, there are No matter which stage of life we for vitamin B12 deficiency can reverse the many ways by which we are in, memory lapses will be a cause of associated memory problems. consternation. For the young, it will affect Thyroid problems: Our metabolism can improve our cognitive their studies; for professionals, it will mean is controlled by the thyroid gland. Thyroid poor performance and for the elderly the fear problem leading to too fast or too slow skills and keep our brain that it may signal Alzheimer’s or dementia. metabolism can cause memory problems active.Eating well, having All our physical and mental functions such as forgetfulness and difficulty in and activities are controlled by a super concentrating. Medication can reverse these good social connection, computer called the brain, housed safely in symptoms. managing stress, getting the skull. Memory starts in the brain with Smoking and alcohol abuse: Alcohol encoding of data. The brain scans inputs is toxic to brain cells. Therefore, alcohol enough sleep, giving up much like a computer and files it away for abuse leads to memory loss which over time retrieval at a later time. This process requires increases the risk of dementia. Smoking alcohol and smoking and chemical reactions in the brain involving elevates the risk of vascular disorders and doing regular exercise enzymes, vitamins and essential minerals. constricts arteries that deliver oxygen to the It is the neurons or the nerve cells in the brain. can go a long way in brain that help us remember things. When Medication side-effects: Many keeping the brain fit. these nerve cells are in short supply, memory prescribed drugs or a combination of drugs lapses occur. As we age, the connections can cause memory loss as side-effect. This is

Dr. Jyotsna Devi is a Professor at the Assam Agricultural University, Assam. She writes popular articles on science, agriculture, orchids, health, travel etc. in leading English and Assamese magazines and newspapers. Email:[email protected]

Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 26 especially common in older adults because may help keep them mentally fit. This Exercising regularly: Exercise seems they break down and absorb medication is because activated vitamin D receptors to be good for the human brain, with more slowly. Common medications increase nerve growth in the brain. Older many recent studies suggesting that regular that affect memory and brain function adults are particularly susceptible to exercise improves memory and thinking include sleeping pills, antihistamines, dehydration. Severe dehydration can cause skills. Exercise improves blood flow to the blood pressure and arthritis medication, confusion, drowsiness, memory loss and brain. This in turn stimulates the nerve muscle relaxants, anticholinergic drugs for other symptoms that look like dementia. cells of the brain to multiply, strengthen urinary incontinence and gastrointestinal Therefore, it is important to stay hydrated, their interconnections and protect them discomfort, antidepressants, anti-anxiety especially if one suffers from diabetes, high from damage. During exercise, nerve cells medicines, and painkillers. blood sugar or diarrhoea. release substances known as neurotrophic Stress: The stress hormone cortisol factors that are responsible for the growth of damages the brain over time and can lead Ways to improve memory developing neurons. Thus exercise directly to memory problems. Thus, we are likely to benefits cognitive functions including suffer memory lapse when we are stressed or We can increase our memory by regularly learning. An easy way to fight memory loss anxious. engaging in the right activities. Here are is briskly walking for 20-25 minutes several some techniques to help us to keep our mind times a week – a dose of exercise achievable Memory and aging active. by almost all of us. Walking also prevents Eating the right food: The diet should brain shrinkage. Exercise also reduces the Forgetfulness is common among be healthy, with less oil, fat processed flour risk for disorders such as diabetes and older adults. They may find it difficult to and sugar. It should include antioxidant- cardiovascular disease that lead to memory remember names of persons, familiar streets, rich, colourful fruits and vegetables like loss. It also helps in managing stress and books, movies or other things. As we grow curry leaves, celery, broccoli, beans, peas, alleviating anxiety and depression- all of older, we experience physiological changes cauliflower, etc., which can protect the brain which leads to a healthier brain. that can cause minor malfunctioning of from harmful free radicals and prevent cell Avoiding multitasking: Multitasking is brain. That is why, it takes longer to recall damage and even stimulate the production the human attempt to do simultaneously as information and to learn new things. This of new brain cells. Consumption of fish rich many things as quickly as possible. Research slowing of mental process is often mistaken in omega-3 fatty acids helps. Drinking green shows that a person needs about eight for true memory loss. But in most cases, if tea helps since it contains antioxidants. seconds to commit a piece of information we give ourselves time, the information will Eating some nuts every day is advisable. In to his or her memory. So, if one is talking come to mind. Many mental abilities are addition, it is better to avoid aluminium as on the phone and carrying in groceries and largely unaffected by normal aging, such as far as possible in the form of aluminium- at the same time also putting down one’s our wisdom, knowledge, common sense, our containing liquid antacids and cooking in ATM card, money, car keys, etc., then one is ability to form reasonable judgement and aluminium vessels. unlikely to remember where these were kept. our capacity to do the things we have always Getting sun exposure: Appropriate sun Ultimately, multitasking may actually slow done. exposure is all it takes to keep our vitamin D us down, make us prone to errors as well as level where they need to be for healthy brain make us forgetful. Therefore, it is better to Causes of age-related function. try to complete the tasks one by one which memory loss Getting proper sleep: It is believed that would be mindful and achieve undistracted the brain shifts memories from temporary to focus. The hippocampus, a region of the brain longer term storage during a long and deep Managing stress: We all experience involved in the formation and retrieval sleep. Sleep deprivation hampers the growth stress to some degree in our daily life. But of memories, often deteriorates with age. of new neurons, concentration and decision- while a limited amount of stress is normal, Hormones and proteins that protect and making. Sleeping for at least seven hours a continuous or severe stress can be very repair brain cells and stimulate neural night is necessary to improve performance harmful to our physical and mental health. growth also decline with age. Moreover, of challenging skills. In fact, a single night Cortisol, a steroid hormone is released in older people are less efficient at absorbing of sleeping only four to six hours can impact response to stress. High level of the hormone brain-enhancing nutrients. our ability to think clearly the next day. for extended periods of time can lead to Hypertension usually sets in during Learning a new skill: The unused areas memory loss. When we are stressed out or middle age and if untreated it makes the of the brain tend to atrophy. Engagement anxious, we are likely to suffer memory lapses blood vessels thicker and less pliable. in purposeful and meaningful activities and have trouble learning or concentrating. The blood supply to the brain is then stimulates the neurological system. So, it The harmful effects of stress can be reduced affected. Otherwise also, older people is better to try to engage in a new task that by exercising daily, but the exercise should often experience decreased blood flow to is mentally stimulating and gives us great be appealing and shouldn’t be considered the brain. This can impair memory and satisfaction. It should be an activity to look a tiresome chore. Beside exercise, deep lead to cognitive decline. In older adults, forward to doing, such as playing a musical breathing, yoga and meditation are good low vitamin D levels are associated with instrument, dancing, gardening, crafting, stress busters. Better to try them. poorer brain function and increasing levels cooking class, learning a new language, etc. Keeping good general health:

25 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 Certain health conditions that can hasten Compensating for memory loss they forget their lessons during examination brain degeneration include diabetes, high and score less marks. The problem is more As we age, the brain cells begin to shrink in blood pressure, sleep apnoea, depression, acute in elderly people. It is a fact that our size, especially in the hippocampus and the hypothyroidism and high LDL (bad) health deteriorates as we age and along with prefrontal cortex. The connections between cholesterol. If there is any of these health it our cognitive skills. Memory lapse in older the cells become weak. These changes make issues, it is better to follow the doctor’s adults are not always a cause for concern; us ‘slow down’, with decline in cognitive advice and keep them under control. just that it takes longer to learn and recall skills. Even if we are experiencing some level Staying social: People who have strong information. Our lifestyle, health habits and of memory lapse, there are several ways by social ties with family and friends are at lower daily activities have a huge impact on the which we can remember things. risk for memory lapse than people who don’t health of our brain. l Writing down important dates, have social contact. Social interaction helps However, memory loss is not appointments, phone numbers/other brain function better as it often involves inevitable. Whatever the age, there are many contact information and tasks that activities that challenge the mind and it also ways by which we can improve our cognitive need to be done in a diary/notebook helps ward off stress and depression. So, skills and keep our brain active. Eating well, or phone. better to reconnect with old friends, joining having good social connection, managing l If names are a problem, repeating a some club or visiting the local senior centre. stress, getting enough sleep, giving up person’s name several times in the Playing brain games: Just as physical alcohol and smoking and doing regular head when being introduced can help. exercise can make and keep the body exercise can go a long way in keeping the l Reading a book helps develop strong, mental exercise can make the brain brain fit. Regular exercise seems to halt the concentration. work better and lower the risk of mental mental and physical decline that comes with l Putting things of daily use (keys, decline. As we grow older (especially after aging, thus improving memory and thinking glasses, purse, watch, important retirement), we tend to use less of our brain. skills. documents, ATM card, etc.) in the The areas responsible for swift decision Even younger people could benefit same spot when not using them is making and mathematical calculation begin from these tips. Strengthening memory is important. to degenerate as they are not actively used. an important component in lessening the l To learn new information, it is Brain degeneration can be countered by odds of developing Alzheimer disease and important to listen closely when challenging the brain. One way to challenge dementia. Memory lapses can be frustrating someone talks to us. Then repeat back the brain is via ‘brain games’. Crosswords and but if you are serious about improving your the information. jig-jaw puzzles or number puzzles such as memory and your cognitive function, you l It is important to focus on one thing Sudoku stimulate the brain, thus improving can do it easily by observing the tips stated at a time. memory and delaying brain decline. Most above. l Mnemonic devices are basically newspapers regularly feature puzzles. Mind memory tools to help us remember games like chess, scrabble and cards also words, names, information or help. Video games and computer games are VP website concepts. They help us organise good for older people (not good for children information into an easy-to-remember though) as they help to develop strategy and format. For example, there could speed up reaction time. Memorising poetry be an acronym (BEM for ‘buy eggs and parts from religious or other books, and milk’); a visualisation (such as learning new words and engaging in spelling imagining a lab coat/stethoscope to exercises are excellent ways to stimulate remember a doctor’s appointment); the brain. Researchers are of opinion that or a rhyme (if we have to remember playing brain games activates the memory name of an acquaintance, for instance, areas and help boost brain power. think “Rani Jain dances in the rain”). Prof. Robertson, a neuropsychologist Chunking, which is breaking up a who was a professor of psychology at Trinity large amount of information into College, Dublin, had said that it is possible smaller “chunks”, is another option. Join Vigyan Prasar digital library to to boost and improve our mental functions Suppose we have to memorise this read online publications. You may also at any age. He had developed puzzles from number 6617738919. It’s much easier join the discussion forum to ask science memory jogs to Sudoku, to crosswords, to and technology related questions and to remember as a phone number: 661- number games that have been especially also answer fellow participants’ queries. 773-8919. formulated to improve each and every part We also have streaming science videos, of the brain, from visual-spatial ability to science radio serials, online science quiz, perception, attention, memory, numerical Conclusion hand-on activities, and many more agility, problem-solving and language. features and programmes related to Forgetfulness is a common complaint science and technology. Log-on to www. However, it is necessary to play the games among people of all ages. Children often vigyanprasar.gov.in every day, forever, to keep up the benefits. complain that although they study hard,

Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 24 new horizons Recent Developments in Science and Technology

Biman Basu

four to 20 times as massive as the Sun and New studies show the up to 100,000 times as bright. Because of Pomegranate is a fairly Milky Way is warped their large masses these stars live fast and The Milky Way is not shaped like a flat die young, burning through their nuclear common fruit which is disc with a bulge in the middle, as was fuel very quickly and live for only a few known to be nutritious believed till now. New studies have shown million years. They show day- to month- that its shape is warped or twisted at the long pulsations, which are observed as – rich in vitamin C, edges like a “misshapen potato chip”. The changes in their brightness. Astronomers results of the first study to find this out was can derive the distance of Cepheids reliably potassium, and fibre. reported by a team of astronomers led by Dr. from a Cepheid’s observed brightness and The fruit has also been Chen Xiaodian of National Astronomical its pulsation period. The researchers found Observatories (NAOC) of Chinese Academy that “in the Milky Way’s outer regions, the claimed to have anti- of Sciences (Nature Astronomy, 4 February S-like stellar disk is warped in a progressively 2019 | doi:10.1038/s41550-018-0686-7). twisted spiral pattern”. aging properties, but The researchers measured the distances of In August, another study by a team up to now, scientific a special class of stars known as Cepheid led by astronomer Dorota Skowron of the variables to develop the first accurate three- Astronomical Observatory of the University proof has been fairly dimensional picture of the Milky Way out of Warsaw in Poland corroborated the to its far outer regions. According to them, study published in February and produced weak. Now, scientists the pull of gravity have discovered that becomes weaker far away from the urolithin A (UA), Milky Way’s inner regions and in the a metabolite of galaxy’s far outer biomolecules found in disk, the hydrogen making up pomegranates formed most of the Milky Way’s gas disk are by microbes in the gut, no longer confined enables muscle cells to a thin plane, but they give the disk to protect themselves an S-like warped appearance. against one of the Cepheid major causes of aging. variables are young Bent out of shape. A new view of the Milky Way: Warped stars that are some and twisted. (Credit: OGLE/Warsaw University)

The author is a former editor of the popular science monthly Science Reporter, published by CSIR, He is a winner of the 1994 ‘NCSTC National Award for Science Popularisation’. He is the author of more than 45 popular science books. Email: [email protected]

23 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 the most complete map of robots need to have a sense our galaxy to date (Science, 1 of touch in order to interact August 2019 | doi:10.1126/ better with humans. But at science.aay9675). These present, prosthetic devices researchers didn’t try to plot all used in humans and robots its hundreds of billions of stars. lack this ability. Rather, they set their sights on Artificial skin with the “something a bit more subtle – ability to feel has been a major the Milky Way’s bends, bulges, research goal for engineers and bunches”, using distances working on improving between Cepheid variable prosthetic technology. stars as markers. Skowron Researchers in the past and colleagues made new have created materials with observations of Cepheids as part sensors spread over a few of the Optical Gravitational square centimetres, but Lensing Experiment, or OGLE, these had several limitations. a telescope and astronomical Now, a team of researchers project that, so far, has more at the National University than doubled the number The National University of Singapore has developed the Asynchronous of Singapore (NUS) led of known Cepheids in the Coded Electronic Skin, an artificial nervous system that could give robots by Assistant Professor galaxy – akin to improving the an exceptional sense of touch. (Credit: National University of Singapore) Benjamin Tee has developed resolution on a digital image. the Asynchronous Coded The Polish astronomers scoured the we’re living in. In turn, that will help us Electronic Skin (ACES), an artificial nervous southern skies using a 1.3-metre telescope to investigate the universe at large – the system that may endow robots and prosthetic at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, location of dark matter, our neighbouring devices with a sense of touch equivalent to, snapping hundreds of thousands of photos galaxies, and more. or better than, the human skin. Tee has been and monitoring the regular dimming and working on electronic skin technologies for brightening that would betray a Cepheid’s over a decade in hope of giving robots and position. In the end, combining their haul New electronic skin can sense prosthetic devices a better sense of touch. with Cepheids known from previous surveys, touch like human skin The unique sensor system of the the team was able to plot the exact locations Humans use their sense of touch to new e-skin developed by Tee and his team of 2,431 stars on a 3D galactic map. accomplish almost every daily task, such responds 1,000 times faster than the human The team also used the Cepheids’ as picking up a cup of coffee or making a sense of touch, the fastest ever achieved for an regular brightness variations to estimate the handshake. Without it, we will even lose our e-skin. Apart from ultra-high responsiveness, stars’ ages. From the collected data, using sense of balance when walking. Similarly, the new electronic skin system is robust to computer simulations, the damage and can be paired researchers found that younger with any kind of sensor skin Cepheids aligned with the layers to function effectively Milky Way’s four main spiral as an electronic skin (Science arms, while the older stars Robotics, 18 July 2019 | were more scattered, a result DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics. of their dispersal over time as aax2198). the galaxy rotates. They were Taking a cue from able to roughly reproduce the human sensory nervous the stars’ actual distributions system, Tee and his team by simulating stars forming at NUS spent a year and in the galaxy’s arms and a half developing a sensor spreading out over time, system that could potentially helping scientists understand perform better that the how the galaxy came to have existing systems. To do its current structure. this they used a different According to the approach. While the ACES astronomers, as more electronic nervous system observations are made, and detects signals like the more data gets collected, it’ll Electronic skin lets any prosthesis feel touch and pain. The skin human sensor nervous be possible to get a better is made of a combination of fabric and rubber, into which the system, it is made up idea of the shape of the galaxy electronic sensors are embedded. (Credit: img.newatlas.com) of a network of sensors

Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 22 connected via a single electrical conductor, capable of differentiating physical contacts often take it for granted. It is also very robust unlike the existing electronic skins which between different sensors in less than 60 to damage. Our sense of touch, for example, have interlinked wiring systems that can nanoseconds – the fastest ever achieved for does not get affected when we suffer a cut. make them prone to damage and difficult an electronic skin technology – even with If we can mimic how our biological system to scale up. The use of a single electrical large numbers of sensors. Moreover, ACES- works and make it even better, we can bring conductor allows ACES-enabled electronic enabled e-skin can also accurately identify about tremendous advancements in the skins to continue functioning as long as there the shape, texture and hardness of objects field of robotics where electronic skins are is one connection between the sensor and within 10 milliseconds, ten times faster than predominantly applied”. the conductor, making them less vulnerable the blinking of an eye. This is enabled by the According to Tee, the ACES-enabled to damage. For example, if a corner of the high fidelity and capture speed of the ACES e-skin can be commercialised for robots ACES electronic nervous system tears, the system. The newly developed e-skin could within a year or two, but it will take five to rest of the skin continues to have sensation, soon enable users of prosthetic limbs to feel 10 years for prosthetics that sense touch to just like human skin, the researchers said. sensation on them. reach patients, to allow for clinical trials. The According to the researchers, the ACES Speaking of the inspiration that led team will work with prosthetics researchers electronic nervous system can detect touches him to this work, Tee said, “The human abroad to conduct a clinical trial of the more than 1,000 times faster than the human sensory nervous system is extremely efficient, e-skin with a patient using an artificial hand. sensory nervous system. For example, it is and it works all the time to the extent that we

Book Review

Community Radio: More relevant in Seven Scientific Adventures of Shaurya & Maya contemporary times and society It is said that children are India is witnessing a community scientist by birth and it is so radio revolution, not only because they have great curiosity. in the nation's progress but If you listen the conversation and also in meeting international planning of children, you will development goals. Several feel innovation and uniqueness attempts have been made at in them. If these traits od every various levels, resulting in child could be nourished, they community radio getting its due may attain heights in all walks recognition. In the eight chapters of life including scientific of the book Community Radio exploration. Eminent scientists in India, the authors explain like CV Raman, Einstein, APJ the history, evolution, different Abdul Kalam and Yash Pal had formats and the reach of the been emphasized to nurture community radio in India. A these virtues among children. separate chapter is dedicated Raman always said to observe nature and then go to laboratory to the information about setting up a community radio station for research. Nature is the biggest lab to experiment with. in India. The same chapter deals with its financial aspects. The In the book titled "Seven Scientific Adventures of Shaurya & practical challenges related to the content and human resource Maya", author Shri Dinesh Srivastava has told the whole plot of management, financial structure and operations are discussed in seven chapters through two imaginary characters namely Shaurya another chapter. The book published by Aakar Books ends with and Maya. Both are telling all the stories in a dialogue format. five annexures with relevant information for readers. The stories are based on mathematics, space science, geology, life Dr. R. Sridhar, one of the authors, has a long experience sciences and anthropology. with the electronic media (TV and radio) and community radio. The price of this book is Rs. 100 which is very cost Pooja Murada also specialises in the subject of community radio. effective. Gutenberg Publishing house, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh The price offers value for money. It is hoped that the book will has published this wonderful book which is equally worth reading prove useful for the practitioners, enthusiasts as well as researchers to children and parents. in the field of the community radio. — Book reviewed by Dr. Manish Mohan Gore

21 Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 125th Birthday of eminent naturalist and science writer Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya Celebrated

Bangiya Bijnan Parishad, Vigyan Prasar and Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya Bijnan Prasar Samiti jointly organised a one-day seminar to celebrate the 125th Birthday of Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya on 1 August 2019 at Bangiya Bijnan Parishad, Kolkata. The seminar was organised in collaboration with Bose Institute. One hundred sixty distinguished guests were present at the seminar. The programme started with a song by Mrs. Karabi Chowdhury followed by felicitation of the dignitaries by mementos and saplings. Dr. Tapan Saha, Secretary Bangiya Bijnan Parishad delivered the welcome address. Prof. Goutam Basu, Senior Professor of Bose Institute, in his A book on Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya is being released. (From left): inaugural address explained the importance of life Dr. Tapan Saha,Dr. Nakul Parashar, Prof. Satyabrata Dasgupta, Prof. and works of Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya. Chief Gautam Basu, Mrs Mala Chakraborty, Prof. Sumitra Chaudhuri Guest Dr. Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar Ex-Professor, Dept. of Physics, City College and Ex- delivered the keynote address. Dr. Parashar emphasised Secretary, Indian Physics Teachers’ Association chaired that students should be encouraged to know more the session. Prof. Aparajita Basu, Editor, Jnan O Bijnan about Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya and his popular and eminent science write Prof. Ranatosh Chakraborty writings. Prof. Satyabrata Dasgupta, President, Bangiya were the speakers. Bijnan Parishad delivered a speech on Gopal Chandra Technical Session II was on Biodiversity – Bhattacharya. Mrs. Mala Chakraborty, Secretary, Gopal Observation, and Conservation. The Session was Chandra Bhattacharya Bijnan Prasar Samiti delivered chaired by Prof. Bhabani Shankar Joardar, Ex-Professor, the vote of thanks. The programme was presided over Dept. of Zoology, Ashutosh College and Ex-Member, by Prof. Sumitra Chaudhuri, President, Gopal Chandra West Bengal Biodiversity Board. Prof. Dinedranath Bhattacharya Bijnan Prasar Samiti. A Bengali book on Roychaudhury, Ex-Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Calcutta Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya written by Dr. Ranotosh University, and Prof. Shilanjan Bhattacharya, Dept. of Chakrabarty was released in the seminar. (1 August 1895 - Zoology, West Bengal State University were the speakers. Technical Session I was on life and works of Gopal 8 April 1981) Technical Session III was on Science Literature, Chandra Bhattacharya. Prof. Bhupati Chakraborty, Magazines and Gopal Chandra Bhattacharyya. The session was chaired by Dr. Pradip Parekh, former professor of Bose Institute. Prof. Shyamal Chakraborty, Dept. of Chemistry, Calcutta University, and Dr. Manaspratim Das, Programme Officer, Akashvani, Prasar Bharati were the speakers. Technical Session IV was on Science Communication in Bengali: Road Ahead. Shri Rintu Nath, Scientist F, Vigyan Prasar chaired the session. Speakers were Sri Joydev Dey from Kanchrapara Bijnan Darabar; Prof. Siddhartha Naryan Joardar from Peoples’ Association for Science and Environment; and Sri Milan Gayen, Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha. A section of the participants at the seminar Dream 2047, October 2019, Vol. 22 No. 1 20 Symposium Report: Science communication and writing: Challenges and concerns The Vigyan Prasar collaborated scientific institutions in science with the Prayagraj-based communication’; ‘Scientific Vigyan Parishad to organise cartoons – SciToons’; ‘The role a symposium on the topic of the science communication ‘Science communication in achieving the Sustainable and writing: challenges and Development Goals (SDG)’; concerns’. The 2-day seminar ‘Importance of scientific was held on 31 May-01 June terminology’; ‘Scientific research 2019 at Prayagraj’s National and human rights’; and ‘Science Science Academy. fiction and fantasy’. Dr. Shiv Gopal Mishra, In the third technical General Secretary of Vigyan session on 1 June 2019. Shri Parishad welcomed the guests Dr. Nakul Parashar sharing his thoughts at the symposium Shashank Dwivedi, Shri Nimish and introduced them in the opening session. Trust (NBT), spokeon the topic ‘science in Kapoor, Dr. Manish Mohan Gore, Dr. Zakir The convener of the seminar Dr. B.K. Tyagi the print and electronic media’ while Dr. Ali ‘Rajneesh’, Dr. Dhananjay Chopra and (Scientist, Vigyan Prasar) presented the Manoj Kumar Patairiya spoke about the Dr. Neeraj Kumar were the main speakers. outline of the programme. role of science communicators and writers The topics covered included ‘The criteria Addressing the seminar, the chief in science communication. Dr. Shiv Gopal for science communication’; ‘Science guest Dr. Manoj Kumar Patairiya, Mishra chaired this session. communication: What, why and how’; Director, CSIR-NISCAIR highlighted The second technical session was ‘Science communication on social media’; the objectives and importance of science convened underthe chairmanship of the ‘Effective science communication and communication and factual writing on noted science communicator Dr. Chandra scientific thinking’. The Director, Vigyan science subjects. He emphasised the need Mohan Nautiyal. Among the speakers were Prasar, Dr. Nakul Parashar presided over this for science communication based on public Dr. Deena Nath Singh, (scientist at BARC), session. need. Dr. Patairiya exhorted the science Dr. Pradeep Kumar Srivastava (former The ICMR advisor Dr. K.N. Pandey communicators to fulfil their responsibility scientist, CDRI), Shri Dilip Kumar Jha (In- was the chairman of the fourth technical of providing accurate and balanced charge of Science Section of Akashvani), session. Dr Raag Tailang, Shri M.L. Mudgal, information to the masses on issues like Shri Deepak Kumar (Assistant Director, The Dr. Kumar Bharat Bhushan, Dr. Rajendra pollution and climate change. Commission for Scientific and Technical Prasad Mishra and Dr. S.K. Singh were the The opening session was presided Terminology), Dr. Dinesh Mani (Principal, speakers in this session. over by Dr. Deena Nath Dr. Nakul Parashar Tiwari, Convener of was the chief guest at the Vigyan Parishad. Dr. concluding session. He Tiwari expounded on delved in great detail over the challenges involved the possibilities of science in popularising science communication and in his speech. Discussing writing. He also discussed contemporary issues, he recommendations and the stressed on the need to adopt future roadmap that came new technologies in energy out of the seminar. Dr. and water conservation Shiv Gopal Mishra was the sectors in the country. The chairman of this session. opening session concluded Dr. B.K. Tyagi thanked with a vote of thanks by Dr. all the guests, specialists A glance of the participants persent in the symposium Manish Mohan Gore. and participants in the The first technical end. The programme was session on 31 May was marked by Dr. Allahabad University), Dr. Nagendra Singh conducted by the Executive Secretary of B.K. Tyagi’s lecture on the state of science Mehta (Editor, Harit Vasundhra) and Dr. Vigyan Parishad, Shri Devvrat Dwivedi. communication in India. Shri Pankaj Arvind Dubey (science fiction writer). (Report: Dr. Vikas Mishra) Chaturvedi, Editor of the National Book Among thetopics covered were: ‘The role of (Translation: Shri Deepak Sharma)

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