SAMPARK S Vol. 1 No. 1 NEWSLETTER OF THE TIFR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION December 2002 CONTENTS 1 From the Patron 2 From the President 3 Constitution 5 Outreach 6 Narlikar’s Lecture 7 Exec. Committee 7 Raghunathan’s Lecture 8 TAA membership List 11 Welcome to the New Director 11 Excellence in Teaching Award 12 Alumni in Pictures FROM THE FOUNDER PATRON I am very happy to note that the TIFR Alumni Association has decided to publish a regular Newsletter for the benefit of its own members and others in the TIFR family. I hope it will become an important vehicle of networking for everyone concerned with the future progress in the academic activities of the Institute. The Institute is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in scientific research that enhances knowledge of nature, and to the training and nurturing of young scientists, mathematicians and engineers, particularly those showing exceptional promise. With the formal establishment of the TIFR Alumni Association on April 29, 2000, the Institute has already received crucial support from its members towards fulfilling our main objectives. It has become one of the most important driving forces for our TIFR Endowment Fund. In years to come, the natural bond between the Institute and its alumni is expected to be further strengthened. We will remain highly indebted to our alumni for their continued commitment towards our objectives and our mission of learning, research and teaching. Let me conclude by congratulating all concerned who have worked very hard to bring the Alumni Association to the present level and have been able to start the publication of this Newsletter. Dr. S.S. Jha is the Founder Patron of the TIFR Alumni Association. He can be contacted at [email protected] FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK carry a cash prize, a citation and a medal. These Awards are called a) TAA – Geeta Udgaonkar Memorial award in Physics, b) TAA – Harish The TIFR Alumni Association was germinated by a few of Chandra Memorial award in Mathematics and its present members in a meeting held on December 24, Computer Science and Technology, and c) TAA – 1999. It was realized that students and researchers who had Zita Lobo Memorial award in biological and spent some of their formative years in TIFR are now chemical sciences". The awards have been instituted spread across India and the globe in further pursuit of jointly with Donors. knowledge and contributing to the cause of science and technology for the benefit of society in various capacities. • Organised to collect 31 Lakhs for the TIFR Some of them have continued to research actively to push Endowment Fund to be utilised as “Career the boundaries of science to newer horizons, some have Development Fund" to assist the Ph.D students in dedicated themselves to the cause of institution building; TIFR for their growth, purchase of books, attend many have taken a leading role in the formation and conferences in India and abroad, etc. It is expected implementation of India's Science and Technology that these incentives will drive the research student Policies whereas others have shaped into to achieve newer heights in their quest for leading Educationists, Techno-entrepreneurs, Technocrats, knowledge and contribute to build up the scientific etc. temper in India. It was thought that with the formation of the TIFR Alumni • Organised a "Public Lecture Series"; till date three Association one would be in a position to create an lectures have been delivered by the TIFR Alumni integrated resource of different experts and people whose Professor J. V. Narlikar, Professor M. S. services could be suitably tapped when required. It was Raghunathan and Professor Yash Pal. TAA has also also considered necessary to bring into the Alumni Net the decided to celebrate Bharat Ratna JRD Tata's present researchers in TIFR as they would not only Birthday every year with a Public Lecture. provide their intellectual might to the Association but would act as a conduit to link the past to the present and We have a long way ahead and a lot needs to be create a continuum to the future TIFRites. done. The Association will continue to strive to achieve what it has already committed and chart A constitution was drafted by an ad-hoc committee on newer paths as is envisioned by its members. This March 18, 2000, and the TIFR Alumni Association came newsletter hopes to link us one and all in this into a formal existence on April 29, 2000 after a endeavor. We look forward to your contribution to membership drive. An interim executive committee took the activities of the TIFR Alumni Association and charge on November 18, 2000 after a general body work towards furthering the goals of TIFR in its meeting. An executive committee was elected on efforts to provide a spring board for scientific November 25, 2001 for a two year term as specified in the thought and action now and for ever. constitution. Dr. Prabuddha (Ramu) With its humble beginnings the Alumni Association now Ganguli is the President has a membership of 200 [up from 90 on November 25, of TAA. He can be 2001]. We need to tap all the potential members to get into contacted at this network and participate in the noble efforts of the [email protected] Association. The Association now has established chapters in Bangalore, Delhi, and USA. Thank you Karamjit Arya We are grateful to Karamjit Arya who has donated Rs In the past one and a half years, the Association has 50,000 to the TIFR Alumni Association for bringing out this focused on how to enhance the scientific vibrancy in TIFR, newsletter on a regular basis. contribute to human resource building, to spread the Upcoming Events message of curiosity, fun of doing science and converting 4th Public Lecture by Dr. Subhendu Guha on December 20, 2002 some of the findings into fruitful results for use in society. 5th Public Lecture by Prof B.M. Udgaonkar on National Science Day, February 28, 2003 The Association has: 6th Public Lecture by Prof Obaid Siddiqi, FRS, on J.R.D. Tata’s • Instituted 3 Annual "Best Thesis Awards” in TIFR Birthday, July 29, 2003 in the fields of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science. The Awards 2 TIFR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Any person satisfying Article 4 will be eligible to be a CONSTITUTION member and shall become a member on payment of membership fee. There shall be a one-time Life 1.Name and Office: Membership fee of Rs.1000/-, or an annual membership The Association shall be called the "TIFR ALUMNI of Rs. 250/-, which may be changed by the General ASSOCIATION" (hereinafter referred to as "THE Body from time to time. ASSOCIATION"), of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, hereafter referred to as the Institute, and its 6. Management of the Association: Office shall be located at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Homi Bhabha Road, The Management of the Association shall be vested in Colaba, Mumbai 400 005. an Executive Committee. It shall consist of not less than 11 and not more than 15 members and shall be 2. Aims and Objectives: constituted as follows: The aims and objectives for which the Association is a)The President of the Association, to be elected at established are: the Biennial or Special General Meeting called for (a) To provide a forum for members of the the purpose; Association for interaction and to sustain a sense b) Director of the Institute and another member of the of belonging amongst the members of the Institute to be nominated by the Director as ex-officio Association with TIFR through mutually members (this member need not be a member of the beneficial contacts . association); (b) To provide avenues for drawing upon the c) Eight members to be elected at the Biennial or knowledge and expertise of the alumni for Special General Meeting called for the purpose; furthering the cause of the Institute as a leading d) The Executive Committee may co-opt upto 4 Center of excellence. members. (c) To foster linkages amongst the alumni and to e) The President and at least half of the rest of the promote personal and friendly relations through members of the Executive Committee shall not be meetings and get-togethers among members of the current members of TIFR. Association. (d) To collect, publish and distribute such 6.1 The mandate of the Executive will be for a period information as may be useful to members of the of two years. It will be responsible for running the Association. Association for fulfilling the objectives stated in (e) To undertake all such activities as are Article 2 and other programs of benefit to the incidental or conducive to the attainment of the organization. It will be authorized to accept above aims and objectives. donations, gifts and bequests for the furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Association. No 3. Financial Year: The Financial year of the member of the Association shall enter into any Association shall be from April 1st to March 31st. dealings on behalf of the Association, unless the Executive Committee has previously authorized 4. Membership: him or her. Eligibility: Membership of the Association shall be open to: 6.2 Any casual vacancy occurring in the Executive i)Anyone who has acquired a Post-graduate degree Committee, except that of President, may be filled of M. Sc./ M. Tech. / Ph. D. through the Institute by the Executive Committee by co-option from OR time to time without changing the basic structure of ii) Any ex-member who has worked at the Institute the Executive Committee as prescribed in Article 6 for at least 2 years as a member of academic staff or a) to e).