Lectures, competitions mark CSIR’s 73rd foundation day

Chandigarh, September 26

The 73rd foundation day of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was observed in the city with CSIR establishments organising guest lectures by scientists and opening up their laboratories to the general public.

At the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Prof Ajoy Ghatak, former Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, highlighted the importance of research in the area of fiber optics.

In addition to their phenomenal use in communications, he also talked about several experiments in fiber optics such as fiber laser and super continuum generation due to non-linear effects, which find important applications in the scientific field.

He said Prof Kao, an Indian, had been awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009 for “groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication”.

Giving an overview of the ongoing projects and future plans of the laboratory, CSIO Director Prof RK Sinha highlighted the aims and goals of the CSIR and its contribution to the field of science and technology. He talked about various incentives and award schemes of the CSIR for young scientists and schoolchildren. Speaking on “Science, Medicine and Respectful Insolence” at the Institute of Microbial Technology, Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Director Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, said two key areas that had been dramatically transformed in the world were death due to infectious diseases and infant mortality. However, similar success of science in medicine had not been accomplished in complex chronic diseases and humanity continues to suffer from variety of ailments.

Scientists and staff of both institutes who were retiring or had completed 25 years of service were honoured. Competitive events for children of staff members were also organised. — TNS