Proc Indian Natn Sci Acad 82 No. 5 December 2016 pp. 1601-1618  Printed in India.

ACADEMY NEWS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, The Annual General Meeting of the Academy was Lucknow. held during October 17-18, 2016 at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. During the two day’s event, For his significant contributions about mechanistic following symposium and lectures were held: insights on host cell damage during hepatitis E viral infection, the most common cause of acute hepatitis. A symposium on Ecology and Biodiversity of North- Eastern India was convened by Professor R Sukumar, (b 16.11.1968), PhD, Scientist VI, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of National Brain Research Centre, Manesar. Sciences, Bengaluru at Community Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati on October 17, For his outstanding contributions about the role of 2016. neuroinflammation in pathogenesis of Japanese encephalitis in animal models of the disease. Two lectures were delivered by INSA Vice-Presidents on October 18, 2016: Suman Chakraborty (b 08.08.1973), PhD, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, a) Breaking Bonds to Order! : A Dream Come Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur. True? by Professor JP Mittal, FNA and b) Multi Drug Resistance : From Microbes to Man For his pathbreaking work on microfluidics and by Professor Rajendra Prasad, FNA. nanofluidics, ranging from fundamental insights to applications to medical diagnostics, drug delivery and The Council announced names of the awardees of chip cooling. Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Medal (2017). These were Professor V Ravindranath, FNA, Centre (b 16.09.1968), PhD, for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell Bengaluru and Professor Sankar K Pal, FNA, former Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Director, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata in biological sciences and physical sciences, For her original contributions in understanding respectively. -host interactions and the evasion mechanisms adopted by Salmonella, demonstrating The Council at its meeting on October 17, 2016 a blend of basic and translational research. approved the election of 30 Indian scientists as INSA Fellows, three overseas scientists as Foreign Fellows. Amitava Das (b 24.12.1959), PhD, Director, CSIR- It also decided to offer the INSA Teachers Award to Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute 13 outstanding teachers and INSA Young Historian (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar. of Science Award to two young scholars. These are For his immense contributions to molecular detailed below. recognition, supramolecular assemblies, photo- FELLOWS ELECTED 2016 (Effective from 01 induced process in donor-acceptor molecules for January 2017) addressing issues related to health care (diagnostic), stimuli responsive smart molecules/assemblies Rakesh Aggarwal (b 13.02.1961), MBBS, MD, DM, (molecular sensors, imaging reagents and enzymatic 1602 Academy News assay), and security (sensors for low intensity ophthalmic applications. explosives). Sambasivarao Kotha (b 10.10.1957), PhD, Chair Shankar Prasad Das (b 16.03.1959), PhD, Professor, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru of Technology Bombay, Mumbai. University, New Delhi. For developing a variety of new synthetic strategies For his significant research in the field of slow and reagents for non-natural amino acids and peptide- dynamics in supercooled liquids and glass transition, mimics. with important contributions to studies of atomic Bedangadas Mohanty (b 08.04.1973), PhD, correlations in supercooled liquids leading to glass Professor and Chairman, School of Physical Sciences transition using a microscopic theory of correlation and Dean Faculty Affairs, National Institute of functions. Science Education & Research, Bhubaneswar. Arindam Ghosh (b 09.07.1969), PhD, Associate For his influential contributions and leadership in the Professor, Department of , Indian Institute of international STAR collaboration on the phase Science, Bengaluru. diagram of strongly interacting nuclear matter and For his extensive experimental investigations into the for his collaborative work with theorists to help structural, electrical and magnetic properties of pinpoint the critical point of this phase diagram from various nanoscale systems, in a wide variety of experimental measurements of heavy ion collisions. materials. Govindasamy Mugesh (b 29.05.1970), PhD, Hirendra Nath Ghosh (b 16.08.1966), PhD, Professor, Department of Inorganic and Physical Scientific Officer (H+), Radiation and Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Photochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research For his significant contributions in developing small Centre, Mumbai. molecule selenium compounds and vanadium-based For his fundamental contributions to interfacial nanomaterials (nanozymes) as anti-oxidant electron transfer through synthesis of nano-structured glutathione peroxidase mimetics and development of materials and ultrafast spectroscopy leading to selenoenzymes for de-iodination of thyroid improved understanding of quantum-dot based solar hormones. cell and dye sensitized solar cell. Donihakalu Shankar Nagaraj (b 12.07.1958), PhD, Kota Harinarayana (b 14.05.1943), PhD, NEB 3/ Professor (H), The Institute of Mathematical 401, Shriram Spandana, Challaghatta, off Wind Sciences, Chennai. Tunnel Road, Bengaluru. For his fundamental work on several aspects of For leading the teams that designed and developed moduli theory of bundles and interesting results in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the first topics ranging from higher dimensional algebraic indigenous supersonic fourth generation plus fighter geometry to Iwasawa theory of multiple Zp aircraft to be successfully deployed and go into extensions of a local field. production. Saradha Natarajan (b 21.12.1954), PhD, Professor, Athipettah Jayakrishnan (b 25.04.1953), PhD, School of Mathematics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Research, Mumbai. Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of For her important contributions to the classical field Technology Madras, Chennai. of Diophantine Equations, and also to the theory of For his pioneering contributions in the development transcendental numbers. of novel polymeric materials and coatings for Academy News 1603

Maharaj Krishan Pandit (b 11.05.1958), PhD, (b 11.07.1960), PhD, Professor, National Dean, Faculty of Science, Professor & Head, Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Department of Environmental Studies & Director, Fundamental Research, Bengaluru. CISMHE, University of Delhi, Delhi. For his outstanding contributions, using theoretical For his outstanding achievements in ecogenomics and physics methods, to modeling cellular actin conservation of Himalayan biodiversity through cytoskeleton interaction with the membrane and its elucidation of the role of ploidy in plant invasion and proteins to mediate self-assembly of signaling rarity. complexes and to problems in metallurgical transformations. Manoj Prasad (b 16.12.1970), PhD, Staff Scientist V, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Susanta Roychoudhury (b 20.04.1955), PhD, Chief, Delhi. Basic Research, Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Kolkata. For his significant contributions in the area of crop genomics through generation of novel molecular For his studies on roles of spindle assembly markers, development of the first comprehensive checkpoint genes CDC20 and MAD1 in genomic database for millets and understanding the molecular instabilities in human cancer. mechanism of natural resistance in tomato against Neelam S Sangwan (b 02.01.1966), PhD, Professor, Tomato-Leaf-Curl New Delhi-Virus (ToLCNDV). CSIR-Academy of Scientific & Innovation Research, Madhavan Nair Rajeevan (b 27.07.1961), PhD, New Delhi and Scientist F, Metabolic and Structural Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Earth Biology, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Sciences, New Delhi and formerly Director, Indian Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow. Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. For her significant contributions in understanding For his outstanding contributions in understanding withanolide biosynthetic pathways, genes and tissue- physical mechanisms of Indian Summer Monsoon specific transcriptomics and for development of novel variability and seasonal predictions. chemotypically defined Ashwagandha varieties.

Ramasamy Ramaraj (b 08.03.1956) PhD, CSIR (b 23.06.1968), PhD, Staff Scientist Emeritus Scientist, former Head, Department of VI, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Madurai For his work on the roles of BLM helicase in Kamaraj University, Madurai. homologous recombination and chromosome For his original research on a variety of chemically instability in normal and cancer cells. modified electrodes using Nafion, zelolite, clay and Balasubramanian Senthilkumaran (b 14.07.1965), cellulose with a variety of metal phthalocyanines and PhD, Professor, Department of Animal Biology, porphyrines, and for designing supramolecular School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, cyclodextrin based devices for photo- Hyderabad. electrochemistry. For his significant contributions to the concept of Pundi Narasimhan Rangarajan (b 15.04.1963), “shift in steroidogenesis” during oogenesis in PhD, Professor, Department of , Indian teleostean fishes and the role of transcripts and Institute of Science, Bengaluru. products in gonads and brain in their sexual For developing novel hepatitis B DNA vaccine, dimorphism. marketed by 3 major companies and for studies on Dayananda Siddavattam (b 01.07.1957), PhD, nuclear noncoding RNA essential for the formation Professor, Department of Animal Biology, School of of nuclear paraspeckles. 1604 Academy News

Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad. FOREIGN FELLOWS ELECTED 2016 (Effective from 01 January 2017) For his contributions to mechanisms of microbial organophosphorus pesticide degradation (OPD), Firdausi Qadri (b.1951), Senior Director, Infectious demonstration of the horizontal gene transfer of OPD Diseases Division and Head, Mucosal Immunology catabolizing enzyme cluster through transposons and and Vaccinology Unit, ICDDR, b, 68, Shaheed for development of sensors and devices to detect and Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212. remediate environments polluted with nerve agents Dr Firdausi Qadri has made significant contributions and OP insecticides. in the field of enteric diseases and for developing Bidare Venkatasubbaiah Subbarayappa (b new strategies for mass immunisation against some 18.05.1925), PhD, Formerly Director (Academic), common infectious diseases in developing countries, Nehru Centre, Mumbai. particularly in Bangladesh. She has also developed a new technique to diagnose typhoid and paratyphoid For his researches on the Indus script and on science fever. in Indian inscriptions, his authoritative contributions to the history of science in India particularly as co- Alexei A Starobinsky (b. 1948), Physicist, Principal editor of A Concise History of Science in India, Research Scientist, Landau Institute for Theoretical publication of valuable source material in astronomy Physics, Moscow, Russia. and other subjects, and for his life-long dedication to Professor Starobinsky is a world leader in the field the promotion of the subject at international and of cosmology. His seminal discoveries lie in key areas national levels. like inflation, the cosmic microwave background and Soumya Swaminathan (b 02.05.1959), MBBS, MD, dark energy. Jointly with Indian scientists, he has Secretary, Department of Health Research and pioneered ‘the reconstruction program’ which Director General, Indian Council of Medical determines the properties of dark energy in a model Research, New Delhi. independent manner directly from observations. For her significant contributions on the role of Peter Guy Wolynes (b. 1953), DR Bullard-Welch nutrition in HIV induced pathology. Foundation Professor of Science, Rice University, Center for Theoretical Biological Physics-BRC, 6100 Panganamala Vijay Kumar (b 22.09.1955), PhD, Main Street, MS 654, Houston, TX 77005, USA. Professor, Department of Electrical Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Professor Wolynes is a world leader in theoretical chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical physics, For his significant contributions to coding theory, a highly cited author. He has made fundamental covering nonlinear codes, space-time codes, contributions to chemical dynamics in liquids, generation of low correlation sequences, low electron transfer processes, elementary biological complexity algebraic geometric codes, and codes for processes, protein folding, glass transition and distributed storage. development of new theoretical tools in the area of Shrirang Ramchandra Yadav (b 01.06.1954), PhD, statistical mechanics. Professor (Retd), UGC BSR Faculty Fellow, INSA Teachers Award 2016 Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Professor Venkateswara Rao Bekkam (b For his notable contributions to plant taxonomy (grass 27.05.1961), Centre for Water Resources, Jawaharlal systematic) and endangered plants, and discovery of Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. more than 50 new plant species, many of which have ornamental and medicinal values. For his valuable contributions to both teaching and research in geohydrology and water resources. He Academy News 1605 also contributed to the development of remote sensing mathematics. Her inspiring and motivational style of and computer simulation laboratories as a part of his teaching is greatly appreciated by her students. teaching programme in a university system. Professor Amitava Basu Mallick (b 15.03.1962), Professor Sunil Subhash Bhagwat (b 12.10.1963), Associate Dean (Academic Affairs), Department of Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Indian Chemical Technology, Mumbai. Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur. For his inspiring teaching and mentorship and for formulating and guiding research oriented student For his innovative teaching of engineering science projects in chemical engineering. with illustrations from the real world.

Professor Pradeep Kumar Burma (b 06.01.1961), Dr Nandita Narayanasamy (b 19.03.1966), Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Sri Campus, New Delhi. Venkateswara College, New Delhi. For being a role model for teachers and students alike. For inspiring generations of students with exemplary teaching and integrating research findings with Professor Nashreen S Islam (b 30.08.1961), laboratory practices. Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur. Professor G Santhanam (b 10.04.1963), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Indian Institute of For her excellent contributions as a very popular, Technology, Kanpur. highly dedicated and influential chemistry teacher. Apart from regular teaching, she inspired the students For his contributions to mathematics education, to master the subject, contribute to society and to be particularly his involvement in mathematics training a good human being. and talent search programme of the National Board for Higher Mathematics since its inception. Dr Joby Thomas Kakkassery (b 15.05.1965), Associate Professor and Head, Department of Professor Sheshshayee Madavalam Sreeman (b Chemistry, St. Thomas’ College (Autonomous), 20.02.1964), Department of Crop Physiology, Thrissur-Kerala. University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru.

For his innovative contributions to teaching physical For his creative and innovative teaching with organic chemistry with dedication and sincerity. He examples mixed with vibrant skills in connecting has been a passionate teacher who brought out the things in the field of crop physiology. best in every student in the class. Dr Devaki N Subraya Bhat (b 20.05.1963), Professor Sangeeta Narendra Kale (b 23.09.1967), Associate Professor and Course Coordinator, Head, Department of Applied Physics, Defence Department of , Yuvaraja’s Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune. College, Mysuru.

For having served as an enthusiastic teacher and an For her extraordinary teaching abilities in enthusing able researcher who has influenced a whole undergraduate students under less endowed generation of physics students. ambience. Professor CS Lalitha (b 12.06.1966), Department Professor Mahendra Kumar Verma (b of Mathematics, University of Delhi South Campus, 27.05.1966), Department of Physics, Indian Institute New Delhi. of Technology, Kanpur. For her dedication and sincerity as a teacher of For having mentored a large number of students by 1606 Academy News inspiring them to take up a research career and for The Chandrakala Hora Memorial Medal (2016): being an accomplished researcher in the field of Dr SK Gupta, Emeritus Scientist, JC Bose National turbulence and magneto hydrodynamics. Fellow, Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi INSA Young Historian of Science Award 2016 delivered The Chandrakala Hora Memorial Shri Naresh Keerthi (b 18.10.1985), MSc, Research Medal Lecture on Egg’s Extracellular Coat: Role in Scholar, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Fertilization and Candidate for Immunocontr- Bengaluru. aception at National Institute of Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai on October 17, 2016. For the excellent studies he has done in trying to remove some of the misconceptions in interpreting INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES the technical terms employed in Sanskrit literature, Nominations/Election of Indian scientists for and also shedding light on the traditional lexical various positions at International Council for corpora. Science (ICSU) and its different Unions Dr Anuj Misra (b 23.01.1983), PhD, Research l Professor , History of Science Associate, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. & Education, Zakir Hussain Centre for For his scholarly contributions towards the study of Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Goladhayaya of Siddhantasarvaraja, a seminal text Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi has on Mathematical Astronomy by Nityananda, a 17th been nominated for the position of first Vice- century astronomer in the court of Shah Jahan. President, International Union of History & Philosophy of Science/ Division of History of AWARD LECTURES Science & Technology (IUHPS /DHST). Sir JC Bose Memorial Lecture (2016): Professor l Professor K Ramasubramanian, Cell for Indian Kalyanmoy Deb, Department of Electrical and Science & Technology in Sanskrit, Department Computer Engineeering, Michigan State University, of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay, USA delivered Sir JC Bose Memorial Lecture on Mumbai has been nominated for the position Optimization via Nature: Principles, Performance of Ordinary Member (Accessor), International and Promises at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Union of History & Philosophy of Science/ on September 23, 2016. Division of History of Science & Technology (IUHPS/DHST) Executive Council. l Professor Jayaraman Srinivasan, Chairman, Divecha Centre for Climate Change & Professor, Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru has been nominated to participate as an expert in the Scoping Meeting for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).

Workshop/Symposia/Conference supported by the Academy l One day Symposium/Workshop on Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics was organized

Professor Kalyanmoy Deb delivering Sir JC Bose Memorial under the aegis of International Union of Lecture (2016) at ISI, Kolkata Microbiological Societies (IUMS) National Academy News 1607

Committee at Department of Zoology, Delhi As part of my acceptance of the honor of the University on September 22, 2016. This BP Pal Chair, I completed a brief scientific tour of workshop is a prelude to the preparation of a India from October 22 to November 4, 2016. report on Microbiology research in the country. Accompanied by Dr Siddhartha Dutta from Kolkata, we (my Research Analyst, Dr Lynnette Dirk and I) l The 8th International Geminivirus Symposium made our way to the National Institute of Technology- and 6th International ssDNA Comparative Durgapur. One of the many gracious hosts, Professor Virology Workshop was organized at Jawaharlal Sudip Chattopadhyay, Dean of Research & Nehru University and Hotel Vivanta by Taj, Consultancy and Acting Director, provided me with Dwarka, New Delhi under the aegis of the opportunity to deliver two lectures (Monday, International Union of Microbiological October 24; Tuesday, October 25) to the MTech Societies (IUMS) National Committee during (Biotechnology) class. The lectures (“The November 7-10, 2016. involvement of the proteasome in phytochrome signaling in Arabidopsis seed germination.” and “The l ‘The Scientific Committee on Solar & involvement of the proteasome in cryptochrome Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP)/ International signaling in cereal seed germination.”) focused on Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) International the involvement of light in the regulation of seed School on Space Science’ was organized at Smt. germination. The following day I presented a seminar Kasturbai Walchand College, Sangli to the NIT-Durgapur community on “Late (Maharashtra) during November 7-17, 2016. Embryogenesis Abundant Proteins (LEAs): A Protein l A two-day workshop on ‘Women in STEMM’ Protection Mechanism?’, which is one of the areas was organized jointly by DST, DBT, INSA in of ongoing investigations in my laboratory. partnership with the government of Australia Dr Dirk and I, while at NIT-Durgapur, discussed and the United Kingdom at hotel The Lalit, New avenues of collaboration with Professor Delhi during November 28-29, 2016. During the Chattopadhyay, attempted to locate future funding two days’ event, Dr Chandrima Shaha, Vice- opportunities, and have agreed to start a project of President INSA (International Affairs), mutual interest. An opportunity to apply for joint delivered a lecture on Defining Value in Equity funding was identified for the next fiscal year. We and diversity – India’s journey in Women in were fascinated with his student’s and scholar’s STEMM on November 28, 2016. descriptions of their research projects, as well as to hear of the programs of three of Professor Visit of Overseas Delegates to INSA Chattopadhyay’s colleagues. l INSA Chair Awardee To our delight, Professor Partha Gupta, Dean of Alumni, International Relations & Outreach, spoke Ø Dr BP Pal Chair Award (2016-17) to us about the possibility of working out a Dr Allan Bruce Downie, Department of Horticulture, “Memorandum of Understanding” between our two University of Kentucky, USA awardee of Dr BP Pal institutes to facilitate future exchange of students and Chair of INSA visited India during October 22- faculty visits. This has been forwarded to authorities November 3, 2016 as an outstanding middle level at the University of Kentucky for consideration. overseas scientist nominated by Professor Sudip Next, we travelled with a PhD student of Chattopadhyay, Department of Biotechnology, Dean Professor Chattopadhyay’s laboratory, Wasim Parvez, (Research and Consultancy), National Institute of to Santiniketan where our host, Professor Rup Kumar Technology, Durgapur and Dr , National Kar, Head of Botany at Visva-Bharati University (a Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New former visiting scientist in my lab), had arranged time Delhi. Dr Downie’s report on the visit is as below. on Friday, October 28 for colleagues and students to 1608 Academy News attend my seminar (Towards a molecular Punjab updated us on his diverse efforts for Understanding of Seed Longevity and Vigor). We met engineering increased tolerance to various plant briefly with Professor Swapan Kumar Datta, Pro- stresses. I was also happy to meet Dr Nasheeman Vice-Chancellor, who then kindly attended the Ashraf of CSIR’s Plant Biotechnology Division in seminar. Afterwards, we were enthralled with Jammu/Kashmir (IIIM Srinagar) and to hear about Professor Kar’s student’s and scholar’s accounts of her recent research into the pathway and regulation their research projects. of apocarotenoid metabolism in saffron. I thank INSA for this excellent opportunity and great honor. Dr Dutta accompanied us back to Kolkata and, along with Professor Chattopadhyay, arranged my l Dr Paul Shrivastava, Executive Director, Global talking with Dr Achintya Singha, Department of Secretariat, Future Earth visited INSA on Physics at the Bose Institute in Kolkata. His expertise November 8, 2016 and had a discussion meeting with Raman spectroscopy was sought to discuss the with Dr Chandrima Shaha, Vice-President feasibility of its use in research of orthodox seeds in (International Affairs) INSA, Professor SK the dehydrated state. This discussion has continued Satheesh, FNA, Executive Director, South Asia and includes Dr Manoj Majee at the National Institute Regional Office of Future Earth and Professor for Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi. K Krishnamoorthy, FNA, Chairman, Future Earth National Committee. On Monday, October 31, I visited, with Dr Supriya Chaudhury, the Bose Institute, Kolkata and l An 11 member delegation led by Mr Petr presented a seminar (Kill PIL: Arabidopsis CTG10 Baltrukovich, Deputy Chairman of the State is a kelch repeat containing F-box protein targeting Committee on Science and Technology, Belarus PIF1 and PIF3 for poly-ubiquitination and visited INSA on November 16, 2016 and had destruction), highlighting the work of Dr Majee, who discussion meeting with Dr Chandrima Shaha, was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Vice-President (International Affairs) and Kentucky in mid-2000’s. I presented another seminar Professor NR Jagannathan, (Vice President (Substrates of the Arabidopsis thaliana protein Elect), Head, Department of NMR & MRI isoaspartylmethyltransferase1 discovered using Facility, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, phage display affinity selection) the next day New Delhi to further strengthen the scientific highlighting some of the work performed by Dr collaboration between INSA and National Susmita Maitra Majee, Department of Plant Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, who was a post-doc in my lab in the mid-2000’s. After meeting Overseas Visits by INSA Delegations with Director, Dr Niranjan Chakraborty, we were discussed with Dr Majee’s student’s and scholar’s l Professor R Gadagkar, President and Dr about their projects at NIPGR, New Delhi. Chandrima Shaha, Vice-President (International Affairs) INSA visited France during September We were delighted that many other scientists 25-28, 2016 to participate in the 350th that I have had the good fortune of having in my lab Anniversary of the French Academy of Sciences as post-docs or visiting scientists, were able to meet - World Science Day held on September 27, with us at various times during the tour. At Durgapur, 2016 at Paris. Dr Nihar Ranjan Nayak, Senior Scientist at the Regional Plant Resource Centre, Odisha, discussed l Professor R Gadagakar, President INSA visited with us his efforts and struggles to conserve Korea on the invitation of Korean Academy of endangered orchids, among other projects. While at Science & Technology (KAST) to participate NIPGR, Professor Pratap Kumar Pati, Department in 2016 Inter Academy Seoul Science Forum of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, (IASSF) held during November 2-3, 2016. Academy News 1609

Support for Visiting Scientists during September- l The Inter Academy Exchange Committee at its November 2016 meeting held on October 24, 2016 selected 56 Indian scientists to visit abroad under the l 23 Indian scientists were supported by the various bilateral exchange programmes. Academy for attending various international conferences abroad. SCIENCE & SOCIETY PROGRAMME l 10 Indian and four foreign scientists visited l Professor SC Lakhotia, Vice-President, INSA abroad under INSA Bilateral Exchange delivered a webinar on December 5, 2016 from Programme. the INSA premises on Ayurveda in need of Modern Synthesis to members of the SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS DURING Ayurvedic Medical Association of Russia. This SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2016 was broadcast simultaneously to the members l Dr Pooja Gupta, Assistant Professor, at Moscow and Novisibirsk. Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute l Memorial Meeting of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Dr Surajit Bhattacharjee, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Tripura University, Tripura, participated as “Future Leader” at the 13th Annual Meeting of Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum held in Kyoto during October 1-4, 2016. In addition, they also attended a special event on “Dialogue between Nobel Laureates and Future Leaders” on October 1, 2016 at Kyoto, Japan. l On the invitation of Professor Koji Omi, Founder and Chairman, Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS), Japan, A memorial meeting in the memory of Professor Professor R Gadagkar, President INSA attended MGK Menon was organised jointly by the three the 13th Annual Meeting of STS Forum held in science academies viz. Indian National Science Kyoto, Japan during October 2-4, 2016. Academy, New Delhi, Indian Academy of Sciences, l A joint meeting of Research Council and Bengaluru and National Academy of Sciences, National Commission for History of Science Allahabad on December 7, 2016 at INSA. A large along with a seminar on History of Unani number of Fellows from all the three academies and Medicine in India was organized in Academy other special invitees were present. Rich tributes were premises on October 13, 2016. During the day- paid by the speakers to Professor Menon who was long seminar, papers on various aspects of remembered as a leading scientist, great institution Unani system of medicine like its Origin and builder and above all an excellent human being. Historical Evaluation; Basic Principles; UnÈnÏ The following resolution was adopted on behalf of Pharmacology (‘Ilmul Advia); Basic Principles three academies: of Unani Treatment; Physiology and Anatomy of the Patient as Considerations for Medication; The Fellows of, Indian National Science Academy, Unani (Greek) aspects of Social and Preventive National Academy of Sciences, Indian Academy of Medicine and Comparison of Unani with other Sciences, met to pay our homage to one of India’s Systems of Medicine were presented by most distinguished scientists – Professor MGK scholars invited from different parts of India. Menon – a colossus who became a legend in his life 1610 Academy News time. He selflessly served Indian Science and through OBITUARY it the country as a leader of a number of the existing National Science departments, organizations, Bharat Bhushan Chattoo institutions and catalysed the creation of many others. Bharat Bhushan Chattoo (b 25 He presided over the three science academies in the May 1949; d 15 November country as also the International Council of Science. 2016) obtained his PhD from His contributions as a Member of the Planning University of Delhi on the Commission, Minister of State for Science and genetics of Aspergillus Technology and as Scientific Advisor to the Defence nidulans and Thermoactino- myces vulgaris and thereafter Minister and the Prime Minister are greatly admired. worked as a post-doctoral In his passing away not only Indian but global science Fellow at the University of has lost a great savant. We share the grief of this Rochester, Medical Centre. On returning to India, he irreparable loss with his devoted wife and the family joined the Molecular Biology Section of Sarabhai and join them in prayers for peace to the departed Research Centre, Baroda as Senior Scientist and later soul. worked as Reader and Coordinator at the Centre of Biosciences, University of Roorkee. Subsequently, RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF THE ACADEMY he worked as a Scientist at CCMB, Hyderabad. He Proceedings of the Indian National Science then moved to Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basle, Academy Switzerland where he worked in the area of plant molecular biology. He was a Professor and Head of Volume 82, No. 4 (September 2016) issue of the Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology Proceedings has been published. This issue contains Centre, MS University (MSU) of Baroda. He an Opinion, a special lecture, a meeting report, four established the Centre for Genome Research at MS review articles, seven research papers and a book University where he initiated teaching and research review. programmes and consecutively served its Director. Volume 82, No. 5 (December 2016) issue of He was also the founder Vice-Chancellor of the Shri Proceedings has been published as a thematic issue Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu. on Nutrition with Professor MS Bamji, FNA being Professor Chattoo’s research lead to the the Guest editor. The issue contains 20 review articles development of a powerful two-way selection system on different factes of Nutrition, especially in the for a single locus in yeast, which has been widely Indian context. used subsequently for studies on gene expression and recombination in yeast. He successfully developed a Indian Journal of History of Science (IJHS) strain improvement and bioprocess development Volume 51, No. 3 (September 2016) issue of IJHS programme, and increased the yields of citric acid has been published. This issue includes main papers and alpha amylase and scaled up the process. He on Wall Paintings of Bhaja Caves; Role of carried out work on yeast genetics as well as DNA Experiments in the Progress of Science; A Lahore sequence data analysis. Astrolabe of 1587 at Moscow; Madras Lunatic Professor Chattoo received several fellowships Asylum; Nobel Laureate W.C. Roentgen and his X- including the Biotechnology Career Fellowship of Rays; Science Literacy and Communication; Rockefeller Foundation and STA Fellowship from Visibility of Agastya (Canopus) in India and NC Japan and Acharya JC Bose National Fellowship. He Rana: His Life and Works on Astrophysical Science. was also awarded with National Technology Award. He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of The issue has project reports and other usual features. Sciences, Allahabad and Academy of Sciences for Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics the Developing World (TWAS). (IJPAM) Professor Bharat Bhushan Chattoo was elected Volume 47, No. 3 (September 2016) issue of IJPAM to the Fellowship of the Indian National Science has been published. Academy in the year 2002. Academy News 1611

Gopinath Kallianpur Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon Gopinath Kallianpur (b 16 Mambillikalathil Govind April 1925; d 19 February Kumar Menon (b 28 August 2015) obtained his PhD from 1928; d 22 November 2016) the University of North obtained his PhD from Bristol Carolina, USA specialising in University, working on probability and stochastic . He joined the processes. He held faculty Tata Institute of Fundamental positions at University of Research (TIFR) as Reader California, Berkeley; Institute and subsequently became of Advanced Study, Princeton; Indian Statistical Associate Professor, Professor and Dean (Physics Institute, Kolkata; Michigan State University; Indiana Faculty), Senior Professor and Deputy Director University and at University of Minnesota till 1976. (Physics) in a span of 9 years. In January 1966, due He then returned to ISI as its Director (1976–78) and to the tragic death of Dr Bhabha in a plane crash, he working relentlessly contributed significantly to the was appointed as Director of TIFR. Later, he moved academic and administrative activities of the Institute. to Delhi to become Secretary to the Government of He founded the Bangalore centre of ISI. Later in 1979, India (Electronics, Science & Technology, Defence he was appointed Alumni Distinguished Professor at Research, Environment) (1971-82) and Chairman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ISRO; Director General of CSIR and DRDO; Member of the Planning Commission (1982-89); Chairman Professor Kallianpur’s researches were focused of the Science Advisory Committee to the Cabinet in four areas: (a) A new approach to nonlinear filtering (1982-85); Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and prediction theory, based on white noise calculus, (1986-89); Minister for Science & Technology in the developed in conjunction with R.L. Karandikar; (b) Government of India and Vice President, CSIR; Stochastic differential equations whose solutions take Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) (1990-96). values in duals of nuclear spaces; (c) Chaos expansions, stochastic integrals and infinite Professor Menon’s key research achievements dimensional calculus; (d) The time domain and are Nuclear emulsion techniques, particularly leading spectral theory of two parameter stationary random to the use of large stripped emulsion stacks of volumes fields, developed jointly with V. Mandrekar, with a upto 15 litres in 1954 (the largest at that time), and view to applications in texture analysis and image development of measurement techniques; elucidation processing. He also authored the book Stochastic of the properties of the strange particles that are

Filtering Theory (1980) and co-authored White Noise primarily responsible for establishing the Kµ2, Kµ3, Theory of Prediction, Filtering Smoothing (1988). and Ke3 decay modes of K-mesons; cosmic ray studies near the geomagnetic equator at high altitudes, Professor Kallianpur served as Editor of Applied particularly, development of the technique of flying Mathematics and Optimization and Sankhya; and as plastic balloons of several million cu. ft volume with an Associate Editor of Soochow Journal of level flights over 100,000 feet as a dependable facility Mathematics. He was elected Fellow of the Indian for high altitude research in India (today 30 m cu ft Academy of Sciences, Bangalore; Indian balloons are flown with one ton payloads up to heights Mathematical Society and Member, Indian Statistical of 120,000 ft); deep underground studies in India Institute. relating to muons, neutrinos, weak interactions and Professor Gopinath Kallianpur was elected to nucleon decay, establishing the feasibility of the Fellowship of the Indian National Science experiments on neutrino-induced interactions and Academy in the year 1979. related new phenomena at great depths underground, first observations and analysis of natural neutrino 1612 Academy News interactions and observations of Kolar events, and Viswanatha Ramamurti the first major dedicated experiment in the world to Viswanatha Ramamurti (b 18 look for nucleon decay with life times up to 1030 September 1938; d 19 years, etc. November 2016) obtained his Professor Menon was a recipient of SS PhD from IIT Madras. He Bhatnagar Award (1960); Padma Shri (1961); Padma joined as Faculty Member at Bhushan (1968); Padma Vibhushan (1985); CV IIT Madras and later became Raman Medal of INSA (1985); Blackett Memorial Professor of Applied Lecture of Royal Society (1987); Sir Asutosh Mechanics. He was a Senior Mukherjee Gold Medal by Indian Science Congress Associate at the NASA Lewis Association (1988); “Health for All” Medal of WHO; Research Centre, Cleveland. He also served as Abdus Salam Medal of the Academy of Sciences for Visiting Professor at Concordia University, Canada the Developing World (1997); Shatabdi Puraskar and Kuwait, University of Texas, Austin and at the (1999); Millenium Plaque (2001), INSA Medal for Nanyang Technical University. He was also a Retainer Promotion and Service to Science (2002), Sir CV Consultant to 11 leading industrial organizations Raman Medal (2003) by Indian Science Congress in Heavy Engineering, Power, Automobile and Association; Professor MN Saha Platinum Jubilee Process Sectors for the last 35 years. Honorary Lifetime Fellowship (2006-); and MN Saha Professor Ramamurti’s major research Award by the National Academy of Sciences. He was contributions relate to industrial research covering Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy stress analysis and vibration including both analytical of Arts and Sciences (1970); and Russian Academy and experimental investigations on practical units like of Sciences; Honorary Member IEEE; Member of fan impellers, fabricated gears, etc. Studies in the area the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Rome (1981); of static analysis addressed the complexities President of the Indian Science Congress Association associated with large size problems. Optimization of (1981-82), and President of ICSU (1988-93). He was bandwidth, efficient algorithms for solving large size an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, UK simultaneous equations and experimental (1997). He was a Fellow of all the three Science investigation at site to verify the findings of the units Academies in India and became President of each. investigated were his main areas of activity. The area He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, London of eigenvalue analysis addressed the problems (1970) and a Founding Fellow of TWAS, the associated with industrial units like fan blades, rocket Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. launchers, boiler frames, machine foundations and Professor Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar steam turbine shafts. Study of cyclic symmetric Menon was elected to the Fellowship of the Indian structures was also his major area of activity. The National Science Academy in the year 1970 and entire investigations can be grouped under three served as its Council Member (1972-74); Additional heads: static and steady state stress analysis subjected Member (1979-80; 1983-84), President (1981-82) and to axisymmetric loading, asymmetric loading, and CV Raman Research Professor of INSA (1986-91). eigenvalue problems. Professor Ramamurti received many awards including VASVIK Industrial Research Award in Mechanical Engineering, INSA Hussain Zaheer Medal and INSA Biren Roy Award. He was also the Editor of the INSA publication Biographical Memoirs. He was a Member of the Programme Committee of CCSTDS and a Life Member of the Association of Machines and Mechanisms. He was Academy News 1613 elected Fellow of the Indian National Academy of circadian clocks evolve as a result of periodic Engineering, Gurgaon. selection pressure imposed at time of adult emergence. Professor Viswanatha Ramamurti was elected to the Fellowship of the Indian National Science Professor Sharma was bestowed with several Academy in the year 1990 and served its Council as awards and honours including INSA Medal for Young Member during 1995-97. Scientist; Anil Kumar Bose Memorial Award of INSA; CNR Rao Oration Award by JNCASR, Vijay Kumar Sharma Bengaluru. He served as the Vice-President of Indian Vijay Kumar Sharma (b 29 Society for Chronobiology and Member of Project September 1967; d 24 October Advisory Committee on Animal Sciences, DST, New 2016) obtained his PhD from Delhi. He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy North Eastern Hill University, of Sciences, Bangalore. Shillong. He began his career Professor Vijay Kumar Sharma was elected to as post-doctoral fellow at the Fellowship of the Indian National Science Indian Institute of Sciences Academy in the year 2012. (IISc) and later at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Krishna Swarup Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru. He was a Guest Researcher at NTNU, Norway and also a Krishna Swarup (b 24 July Visiting Professor at New York University and 1927; d 25 January 2016) University of California. He then joined as Professor obtained his DPhil from in Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit of Allahabad University. He JNCASR, and subsequently became Chairman of the joined University of unit. Gorakhpur as Lecturer and subsequently worked as Professor Sharma’s studies, focused on Reader and later as Professor circadian rhythms of mice, fruit flies and ants and Head. Upon his contributed to (i) several aspects of circadian superannuation, he worked as CSIR Emeritus entertainment of clocks, (ii) association between Scientist at the National Academy of Sciences, clock precision, phase, and period, (iii) adaptive Allahabad. significance of circadian clocks, v0 role of circadian clocks in regulating developmental rates, (vi) Professor Swarup investigated various aspects circadian consequences of social interactions in fruit of biology of Hilsa ilisha and described that Hilsa flies and ants. His work also yielded the first ever fish found at Allahabad is a different race from that empirical evidence for the (a) evolution of circadian in the Hoogly river. He reported sexual dimorphism clocks, (b) instantaneous phase resetting of circadian in a number of freshwater teleosts which is an clocks, (c) role of circadian clocks in regulating important tool for experiments where segregation of developmental time, and (d) adaptive significance of sex is involved. He also worked on: breeding circadian clocks. His work was the first to show that behaviour and correlative changes in pituitary and the carpenter ants Camponotus show circadian gonadal cycle of large murrels; and effects of effluent plasticity and different castes of ants have separate of a fertilizer factory on the fauna and flora of Chiwa circadian organization. His research showed that Tal (Gorakhpur). After the discovery of the hormone Drosophila females lay eggs in a rhythmic manner calcitonin in 1962, his main thrust was on endocrine and that a novel circadian timing system which does regulation of calcium in various groups of vertebrates not involve some of the known clock genes and (several species from each group). Dose-dependent neurons may be involved in its regulation. This Vitamin D induced hypercalcemia in C. carpio 1614 Academy News revealed that in acalcic water, the fish draws calcium Theoretical Physics Group at TIFR and continued to simultaneously from scales, bones and muscles, with work there. scales being most labile. He contributed significantly He was the first President of the Indian Physics to: the hypothesis that calcitonin acts as an anti- Association (1971-73) and served as Editor of its hypercalcemic hormone in fish; hypocalcemic effect news letter Physics News. He served as Member of of calcitonin in fish (which was denied earlier by most the Commission on Particles and Fields of IUPAP. investigators) under diminished circulating levels of He also carried out graduate courses and the visiting calcitonin; the corpuscles of Stannius (present only students research programme in the School of Physics in holostei and teleostei) in non-mammalian at TIFR. He continued his association with the newly vertebrates; Vitamin D and its metabolites as inducers emerged Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in fishes (HBCSE) as its Chairman and nurtured it as a unique even at physiological doses emphatically denied by Center of Excellence. He was also the Chairman of earlier workers; hypercalcemic role of prolactin in the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences of the reptiles; and hypercalcemic effect of Vitamin D in Department of Atomic Energy and Atomic Energy reptiles. He published 130 research papers in reputed Education Society. He also served as Member, international journals and guided 14 students for PhD. ICSSR, UGC and Pugwash Council and its Executive. Professor Swarup established the prestigious Professor Udgaonkar made significant School of Comparative Endocrinology at the contributions in areas related to high energy physics University of Gorakhpur. He was the Chief Editor and atomic energy. He participated in experiments and Managing Editor of the Proceeding of National on neutron studies at the reactor when India’s first Academy of Sciences. nuclear reactor APSARA was built. He and his Professor Krishna Swarup was elected to the colleagues carried out detailed calculations on the Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy feasibility of a Be / Beo nuclear reactor. He also in the year 1985. worked in the planning process of the Zero Energy Reactor ZERLINA and the Canada-India reactor Bhalchandra Madhav Udgaonkar CIRUS. While at Berkeley, he published his work on Bhalchandra Madhav the behaviour of high energy total cross-sections, Udgaonkar (b 14 September which stimulated considerable theoretical and 1927; d 21 December 2014) experimental work during the next ten years. He after completing his master’s collaborated with Murray Gellmann on nucleon- degree, joined the Tata nucleus cross sections at high energies. He also Institute of Fundamental collaborated with Virendra Singh, then a graduate Research (TIFR), Mumbai as student at Berkeley and published several papers, in a research student with Homi particular on the Bootstrap approach to hadron J Bhabha. He wrote a couple dynamics. He is known for his pioneering work in of research papers on the theory of elementary phenomenology of high energy scattering based on particles and was sent to the Centre d’etude Nuclaire, the idea of Regge Poles and also for the work in the Saclay, France for training related to reactor physics. Bootstrap approach to hardon dynamics. He was the On returning from Saclay, he developed a small but Co-editor of the publication Nuclear-Weapon-Free strong nucleus in Nuclear Reactor Theory in the World: Desirable? Feasible? Atomic Energy Establishment (AEE), Trombay, now Professor Udgaonkar was conferred Hari Om Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). With Trust Award by UGC and Padma Bhushan both in Bhabha’s support and encouragement, he went to 1985. He was the President of the Maharashtra Berkeley, California to work with Geofrey Chew. Academy of Sciences; Indian Academy of Social Upon returning to India, he took charge of the Sciences; Marathi Vidnyan Parishad; Founder- Academy News 1615

President of All India Peoples’ Science Network. He collide with the current conceptual framework and was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of thereby lead to the emergence of a fundamentally new Sciences, Bangalore. perspective on the division of physical phenomena into macro-classical and micro-classical domains, and Professor Bhalchandra Madhav Udgaonkar was the emergence of a new class of quantum phenomena, elected to the Fellowship of the Indian National the macro-quantum dynamics. Science Academy in the year 1984. Professor Varma was the Founder President of Ram Kumar Varma the Plasma Science Society of India. He was elected Ram Kumar Varma (b 31 Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore March 1935; d 14 May 2014) and National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad. obtained his PhD from the Professor Ram Kumar Varma was elected to the University of California in Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy 1965. He worked as Resident in the year 1985. Research Associate at the NASA Langley Research Noshir Hormusjee Wadia Center after which he returned to TIFR. He later joined the Noshir Hormusjee Wadia (b Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad 20 January 1925; d 10 April where he initiated plasma physics activity and later 2016) obtained his MD from became its Director. He also served as Co-Director Grant Medical College, of Plasma Physics Colleges at ITCP, Trieste, Italy Mumbai, and MRCP from and Chairman of National Committee for Space London. He also received his Research. DSc from Banaras Hindu University. He worked as Professor Varma research focused on areas of Registrar, Neurology to Lord plasma physics, and quantum-classical relationships. Brain, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases and His most quoted work pertains to plasmas in the later at the London Hospital, where he was also Tutor ‘mirror machines’ with the equations given by him at the Medical School. After returning to India, he known as the “Varma equations” and the mode/branch was appointed to the JJ Group of Hospitals as predicted by them, was named as the Varma mode/ honorary assistant neurologist and lecturer in branch. Similarly, The Rosenbluth-Varma equation neurology in Grant Medical College. Upon his relating to the same problem was also predicted. His superannuation, he was appointed as Consultant for work on the tokamak plasma was referred to as Life at the Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital `Varma pinch’, while another work on dusty plasmas and concurrently served as Director of Neurology has led to the Varma kinetic equation. His most Department at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre. significant work pertains to the system of charged particle dynamics in a magnetic field through both Professor Wadia delved into the study of theoretical and experimental work. He postulated the tuberculosis of the brain and spinal cord, the existence of a ‘new quantum entity’, designated as neurological complications of manganese toxicity, the the `transition amplitude wave’ (TAW). This led to varied neurological manifestations of craniovertebral the predictions of some very unusual and unexpected anomalies, the nutritional disorders affecting the phenomena, the observations of one-dimensional nervous system, and the spectrum of presentations matter wave interference effects on the macro-scale of Wilson’s disease, to name some. His seminal and the observation of a curl-free vector potential on contributions were the description of two novel the macro-scale and in one dimension. Both these neurological entities from India: (a) ‘autosomal predictions having been experimentally substantiated, dominant cerebellar ataxia with slow eye movements’ 1616 Academy News which was later renamed as ‘spinocerebellar ataxia Association of British Neurologists, UK (Foreign type 2 (SCA2)’ caused by mutations in the ATXN2 Member) and President, Neurological Society of gene and (b) EV70 disease. He described a polio- India. He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy like illness in two of his patients following acute of Medical Sciences, Indian Academy of Sciences, haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, which he was Bangalore and Royal College of Physicians, London. convinced, was related to the conjunctivitis. When Professor Noshir Hormusjee Wadia was elected the enterovirus EV40 was isolated from Japanese to the Fellowship of the Indian National Science patients with conjunctivitis, he along with the Academy in the year 1986. Japanese team, injected the virus into the theca of monkeys and reproduced the hind limb paralysis, thus FOREIGN FELLOW confirming his clinical suspicion. He published over 100 research papers and book chapters, many of them Alan Roy Katrizky in journals such as Brain, The Lancet, British Medical Alan Roy Katrizky (b 18 Journal and Neurology. He authored the book August 1928; d 10 February ‘Neurological Practice: An Indian Perspective’, an 2014) obtained his DPhil from international resource book highlighting differential Oxford University and DSc prevalence of neurological diseases amongst Indians. degree from Cambridge He was also the Editorial Board member of four University. He worked as a journals. postdoctoral fellow and Professor Wadia established first Neurosciences college lecturer at Oxford Department collaborating with his colleagues at the University and then moved to JJ Hospital and organized another Department of Cambridge University for 5 years as a university Neurology at the Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre. lecturer. He was then appointed as Professor of He served as the Chairman of the Governing Body Chemistry and Dean of the School of Chemical and President of the Institute Body of the Sree Chitra Sciences at the newly established University of East Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Anglia, England. Later, he moved to the University Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram. He of Florida and began an extremely fruitful research also served on the Neurology Expert Committee of career as the Kenan Professor and Director of the ICMR and Scientific Advisory Board of ICMR. Center for Heterocyclic Chemistry at UF. Professor Wadia won many awards including Professor Katrizky is known for his outstanding the Certificate of Appreciation for Services to contributions to mechanistic & synthetic heterocyclic Neurology by World Federation of Neurology, First chemistry. His main research contributions are: 1. Rameshwardas Birla National Award for an Development of benzotriazole as a synthetic Outstanding Practising Clinician in Modern auxiliary, which can behave as a nucleofuge, stabilize Medicine, Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical carbanions or carbocations and can be used in a vast Excellence by Harvard Medical International and range of novel preparatory useful reactions, 2. Wockhardt Ltd for Pioneering and Immense Investigation of the tautomeric equilibria of Contributions in Speciality of Neurology, SS heteroaromatic compounds using physical methods, Bhatnagar Medal for Excellence in General Science 3. Application of principle component analysis for and Shree Dhanwantari Prize by INSA and quantitatively distinguishing between “Classical” & Dhanvantari Award by Dhanvantari Medical “Magnetic” aromaticity, 4. Discovery of a new & Foundation for Outstanding Contribution in novel reaiTangement widely known as Boulton- Medicine. He was also Honorary Member of the Katritzky reaiTangement, 5. Application of physical Sociedad Neurologica, Argentina; Sociedad Chilena methods for the conformational analysis of de Neurologica; American Neurological Association; heterocyclic systems, 6. Discovery of the Academy News 1617 phenomenon of mesostabilization (capto- especially those in the developing world, with the stabilization) in which radical center is stabilized opportunity to publish in the primary literature. when both the donor and acceptor groups are directly Professor Katrizky received many prestigious bound to it, 7. Transformations or organic compounds awards including the Tilden Medal of the Royal in sub- and super-critical water (aquathomolysis), 8. Society of Chemistry (1975), the Robert Robinson Introduction of a variety of protective techniques for Lectureship (2009) and the Cope Award of the use in lithiation reactions, 9. Investigated the American Chemical Society. He has been elected to synthesis, reactivities and mechanisms of several the fellowship of many academies including the novel heterocyclic systems and their application in Fellowship of the Royal Society, London and a Fellow medicinal chemistry and 10. Defined acidity of the American Society for the Advancement of functions and measured their variation with Science. He served as a consultant to 32 companies temperature. He published over 2170 research papers throughout Europe and North America. and authored / edited more than 200 books during his career. Professor Alan Roy Katrizky was elected to the Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy He was also the founder of a free online journal in the year 2004. “Arkivoc”, designed to offset journal costs and provide less well-endowed research workers, 1618 Academy News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INSA Visiting Scientist Programme-2017 Since 1991, the Academy is supporting scientists from less endowed institutions to conduct Research and Training in advanced research Institutions/Laboratories within India under the Visiting Scientist Programme. The main objective of the programme is to facilitate scientists to acquire advanced research capabilities, for undergoing training in specific techniques, or for utilizing facilities not available in their own institution. Scientists holding a regular position in a R&D Organization including Universities or Affiliated Colleges in India are eligible to apply under the programme. The Fellowship period varies from one month to six months depending upon the proposed work or purpose. Interested Scientists may download the prescribed application form from the INSA website www.insaindia.res.in or write to Programme Officer, Science Promotion Division, Indian National Science Academy, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 and submit the prescribed application before February 15, 2017.

INSA Young Historian of Science Award-2017

Nominations are invited for INSA Young Historian of Science Award-2017. Those born on or after January 1, 1982 are eligible for consideration in the year 2017. The awardee shall receive a certificate‚ a bronze medal, cash award of Rs. 25,000/- and a seed amount to initiate research project and further scope for overseas training for advancement of career. Proposals may be submitted by a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and other National Scientific Societies, Vice Chancellors of Universities and Heads of Research Institutions. The last date for receiving nominations for INSA Young Historian of Science Award is June 30, 2017. Nomination proforma can be downloaded from the website www.insaindia.res.in

Proposal for Lectures in the Remote/Rural Areas

The Academy has launched a programme under which INSA Fellows, Young Scientists & Teachers’ Awardees are encouraged to deliver Popular Lectures to young students and teachers of schools and colleges in remote/rural areas in India. Proposals are invited from Fellows, INSA young scientists and INSA teacher awardees with details like name and address of the school/college where they wish to deliver the lecture, title(s) of lecture(s), proposed dates and the quantum of required travel support. Proposals may be sent to Executive Director, INSA at [email protected] and to [email protected] at the earliest.

Nomination for Election of Fellows, Foreign Fellows and Pravasi Fellows Nominations are invited from the Fellows of INSA for election of Fellows, Foreign Fellows and Pravasi Fellows. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the INSA website www.insaindia.res.in.