7.5.2016:
Prof. Santosh Kapuri: Director, CSIR-SERC. Specializes in solid mechanics and has 25 years of experience in structural engineering. Born in a small town called Nabadwip in WB. Had a fun-filled childhood; learnt swimming in Ganges, near an ISKON temple and once even got lost after going for a swim; was found after a day. Got 11th rank in state higher secondary (12th std) exams. Talks about how he learnt good value system from his father and therefore became a role model for him; father ensured his family got healthy food, adequate clothing and good education. Thanks his teachers for having given them free tuition.Went to Stanford Univ in 2010 on a Fulbright scholarship. His guide (Prof. Charles Steele) at Stanford asked him to perform research on how cochlea in the ear of animals helps differentiate between different frequencies to validate some theory. His experimental results (on Gerbil, a type of rodent) were very different from expected results. Was initially unable to explain this and told Prof. Steele about this. Prof. Steele simply took Santosh to a restaurant and told his to think over the problem for more time. After 2 more weeks, Santosh was able to come up with an explanation. Eureka moment was Prof. Charles Steele's appreciation of his presentation of his findings which led to a revision of a Nobel laureate's theory.
Worked with GAIL to design an improved way to bury pipelines. Narrates how he rejected a particular pipeline layout proposal as its design assumed equal pressure on all sides of gas pipes, which isn't the case. Proved that a different burying design is what would work best for the type of gas pipes that had be procured already.
Tells that unfortunately many students who take up engineering studies do not do so due to real interest in that field. Says there is a need to attract true talent into engineering. Pay package a problem - need to give better incentives to get talented people into research. While he acknowledges that research doesn't always produce quick tangible results unlike industrial work, importance of research should not be overlooked and hence the need to attract talented people to research.
Message to students: Understand that the country needs you. Too many people going abroad for career; while it is understandable, such people should be made to know that opportunities are emerging in India.
Need to install health assessment and monitoring policy for construction and infrasturcture projects, in the context of the recent flyover collapse in Calcutta.
14.5.2016:
Dr. Sudhanshu Vrati: Dean, Indian Institute of Translational Health Sciences and Technology (THSTI). Current reasearch interests include study of viral replication and vaccine development. Hails from a small town in western U.P. which had just 1 science college. Studied in kerosene lamp light at nights due to lack of electricity in his town and had to deal with insect bites too :)During his school days, his father would spend a long time him teaching science to Sudhanshu, paving the way for Sudhanshu to become a scientist. His father was a businessman (owned a printing press that published several books, usually related to homeopathy), not a teacher,and yet was passionate about science.
During his post-graduation days (late 1970s) he decided to become a medical researcher. Did his post-graduation in microbiology which was rare in India at that time; there were many colleges offering masters degree in biochemistry but microbiology was rare. Got very excited about study of viruses (which, unlike bacteria, couldn't be seen using microscopes) which are the smallest microorganisms and are special for being a disease-causing organism that was not a full-fledged living beings. Applied for scholarship an got admission in Australia.
Says "Eureka moments are rare for scientists despite working hard". Considers fortunate to have been involved in the development of a rotavirus vaccine and mentions some interesting speculation in the research team when they about to open an envelope that contained results of their vaccine trial - result turned out to be better than he had anticipated. Rotavirus kills ~1lakh kids a year in India. When asked about phases of clinical trials, says several rounds are carried out to establish safety of vaccines. They cannot be tested on infants right away - must first establish safety in adults, then among relatively younger people, and only at last on small kids.
"Translational biological science", which became a buzzword 8 years ago, means translating the research knowledge of academic microbiologists, into novel diagnostics or medicines. Says many researchers working on pure biology-related in often
Interest in science dwindling in India, more so for biological science. Students increaisngly going towards engineering and commerce/management. Says he hears about schools closing down biology stream due to lack of takers for that stream. Students feel it takes too long to establish themselves in medical/biosciences field and return on investment is low.
Message: Science can be rewarding both at intellectual level and at financial level (pay) if one stays focused on research and on getting the research results translated to useful applications.
21.5.2016:
Dr. Satheesh Chandra Shenoi: Director, NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology). Grew up in a small village in Kerala (b. 1958). His village lacked basic amenities. His village being close to the ocean and his walking along the beach daily to go to school was a reason that may have made his take up ocean studies. Was fascinated by the physics behind ocean currents etc; not too interested in biology. Wanted to pursue masters in physics. But on noticing an advertisement about a course on masters in oceanography, which was largely to do with physics behind oceanic phenomenon, decided to choose that as both he felt that would satisfy his interest in both physics and oceanic phenomenon. Joined National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, early in 1980s. Undertook Arabian sea experiment that helped discover more details about the south-west monsoon. The experiment revealed that the part of ocean between Kerala and Lakshadweep becomes the warmest oceanic region in the world well ahead of the annual onset of monsoon. Kelvin waves and Rossby waves transfer energy and water between Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. Rossby waves transfers relatively fresh water from Bay of Bengal to Arabian sea; without this, Arabian sea would become more saline ad Bay of Bengal could become less saline, more like a giant lake. The experiment revealed the dynamics of south-eastern part of Arabian sea that are crucial to monsoons.Another study he has undertaken is to understand why south Arabian sea doesn't see many cyclones unlike Bay of Bengal, despite both lying in the same latitude region and receiving almost equal sunshine. Says one reason is Arabian sea being more saline due to less rivers feeding into it and it getting less rainfall compared to Bay of Bengal. Arabian sea has stronger winds and the entire water in Arabian sea can be mixed within a day by this energy, causing the warm water on the top to mix with colder water below, bringing down the average surface temperature of Arabian sea. On the contrary, Bay of Bengal doesn't have such strong winds to mix its water and hence its surface temperature remains comparatively higher.
Opines that being unable to predict the monsoons with high precision is a failure and to make better predictions, more studies on oceanic systems needed. More studies needed on climate change as well. Oceans store 93% of the excess heat from global warming is stored by oceans. Of this large portion, over 70% gets accumulated in the Indian Ocean. Currently bulk of this excess is stored in the deeper regions of the ocean but this cannot continue for long. This will have an impact on monsoons and other climatic phenomenon.
Message to students: Need to find ways to extract freshwater from ocean water. A desalination plant in in Minicoy/Lakshadweep now produces around 1 lakh litres of freshwater per day from sea water. Great possibility for further applications based on ocean studies (mentions something about methane store capable of meeting needs for hundred thousand years?)
28.5.2016:
Prof. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi: Vice-chancellor, Kashmir University. Specialized in bio-informatics. Born and grew up in Srinagar. Family had a legacy of producing educated people - education was imperative for his family. On being asked about role models, says he didn't have a role model during his early days. Life was simple but a lot was happening. Says he virtually grew up on streets and was exposed to everyday science. Inspiration for science came from everyday routine. Though he had other inclinations, took biochemistry for higher studies based on advice of others. Got to realize that it was one of the best possible decisions as his interest in the subject increased during his masters degree. Gold medalist in his masters program. Got CSIR scholarship from PGI Chandigarh. PhD on signalling translational mechanism in cells. Post-doc research at Tufts University - research on human cell response to growth factors and protein signaling related to tumour cells. Post doctoral abroad exposed him to several Nobel laureates and the best thing he learnt was humility - these Nobel laureates never boasted about their achievements and yet carried out inspiring work. Wrong hormonal signals can lead to abnormal cell divisions.On returning to Kashmir Univ, faced challenges as the univ was small and was struggling to come up. However, he was never put off by these and always tried his best. Started the bioinformatics (?) department at Kashmir Univ. When TVV mentions his Facebook acquaintances who have done research abroad asking him about their willingness to come back to India but being unable to do it due to not knowing how to deal with Indian conditions or lack of clarity on opportunities, Prof. Andrabi send out a strong message - when coming back to India, come back as an Indian, not as a foreigner. Says he came back to India without expectations. Be prepared to face challenges. Says his department is now on par with international standards and over 20 students/researchers who have worked in the US have come to work/research at Kashmir Univ.
Says vibrancy is a hallmark of any good univ when TVV mentions that he noticed several students in Kashmir Univ coming to labs/libraries over an extended weekend and that he was impressed by the neatness and the ambience of the labs. Says inspiration comes from the top, not the bottom - professors and lecturers have the onus of inspiring students. So highest standards in recruiting lecturers. Propagation of basic research is of utmost importance - for example, be it bioinformatincs, cell biology or any other specialized field, biology and research on it is fundamental.
Laments about policy-makers of higher education knowing little or nothing about higher education and taking too long to take decisions.
Message: Be Indians. Work on developing domestic technologies. Indians abroad do a great job on innovation and research. Why can't Indians demonstrate the same innovative spirit in India.
