4.6.2016:
Dr. J Amalorpavanathan: Director of dept. of vascular surgery at Madras Medical College. Specializes in organ transplant. Says he was a dull student early in his school days. Getting into a medical school was a distant dream. But a passionate physics teacher kindled his interest in science amd that helped him score well in science and maths starting around 8th standard. Was intrigued on seeing a beating heart during a visit to MMC (medical "exhibition" - school visit to medical college's anatomy lab). During his pre-UG 1-year course at Loyola college, a chemistry professor further kindled Amalorpavanathan's interest in science. On the question of ethical issues surrounding organ transplant, says French scientists in 1970s did some study on coma and identified that there are atleast 2 categories - one where the comatose person's life could not be saved at all and another where the person could be maintained in comatose state with a chance of recovery. Later an American research paper by "Mohandas & Chu" (neither of whom the interviewee knows about) claimed that if brain stem had died or has been irreversibly damaged, then the comatose person could never be brought back to normal condition - this is considered true brain death.Asked about Eureka moment:
1. TN govt passed the cadaver organ transplant law in 2008 and he being made the head or advisor of the council overseeing this programme and ensuring highest standard of ethics in organ transplants.
2. A leading and reputed British medical journal wrote an article about TN's organ transplant - a peer-reviewed journal praising the programme.
3. PM hailing TN's cadaver organ transplant programme as the best in India.
On his teaching principles as a professor at MMC: Students should grasp the issues of the country. Stresses the importance of critical thinking, especially for surgeons - question everything and take in only what passes the test of science.
Message to young students: "You must suspect the obvious" - a quote from Sherlock Holmes. Try to put ethics in work.
11.6.2016:
Dr. Ajit K Kembhavi:
Astrophysicist. VP, International Astronomical Union. Founding member of IUCAA, Pune. Was an avid reader during his school days and used to read books at municipal libraries. This despite his not being able to understand full many of the concepts that he read, like calculus. Didi PhD under Prof. J.V.Narlikar at Tata Institute. Worked with distinguished people at Cambridge during post-doctoral studies. Subsequently worked with Prof. Narlikar to set up IUCAA in Pune, as Narlikar wanted to create an institute that would allow aspiring students who did not have early exposure to astronomy to pursue research in astronomy and astrophysics.Public libraries an asset. Reading hard copy books gives pleasure, something that cannot be matched by reading on ipad or computers. Also says that his parents had no idea about research studies or astrophysics and would have wante dhim to become an engineer or a doctor, but gave him the freedom to pursue him interest.
Wanted to work on gravitational waves. Pursued x-ray astronomy at Cambridge university. Actively worked on research on quasars. Quasars accrete matter around and produce energy. He co-authored a well-known book on astronomy, published by Cambridge University press.
Started observing galaxies. Image processing techniques used to study galaxies. Currently working on "big data" astronomy. Says astronomers were the first use of "big data". Worked with Persistent Systems co. on big data for Virtual Observatory alliance which he headed for some time.
India heading towards becoming a major contributor to major international collaborative projects on astronomy. India part of the 30-metre telescope project.
On research projects on pure science, one should not do a cost-benefit analysis right away. That doesn't mean that a country like India should spend indefinitely on research projects; there should be checks and balances on government funding to research to ensure funding produces good quality research work. Symbiosis needed between institutes and universities. Says Homi Jehangir Bhabha wanted unaffiliated institutes to be gradually absorbed into universities.
Message to the young generation: Young people should follow their passion, what excites them most. The current generation should be happy as there couldn't have been a better time to do research in astronomy.
18.6.2016:
Dr. A.S.Kiran Kumar:
ISRO chairman and distinguished space scientist. (NOTE: Already interviewed in 2015; 2nd time interview). Interview starts with talk of ISRO's recent experiment with RLV (reusable launch vehicle). Says RLV is necessary to reduce cost of access to space. TVV asks whether reusability really provides cost savings as 70% to 80% of weight of space launch vehicles is fuel and payload. Dr. Kiran Kumar says though fuel constitutes higher proportion of weight, cost of system is usually higher than fuel cost. Wing body, sensors and navigation systems developed indigenously used in RLV.ISRO set to launch 20 satellites in one rocket. Restarting capability of the 4th stage engine helps in placing multiple satellites in different orbits. Putting many satellites in one launch requires high precision and lots of simulation on dynamics; centre of gravity changes after each satellite is launched; need to ensure the satellites are placed such that they don't collide with others.
GSLV-Mark 3 will help put satellites in geostationary orbits. This vehicle is planned to be launched in Dec 2016 on its 1st mission. GSLV-Mark3 has higher payload capacity. Experimenting with electric propulsion system as against a pure chemical propulsion system. Electric propulsion system can use solar energy to emit ions and propel the vehicle.
Aditya-L1, India's 1st space mission to study the sun. The satellite will be stationary relative to sun. Project timeframe 2018-2019. Success of Mars Orbiter Mission gave confidence for Aditya-L1 mission. The satellite will help study coronal mass ejection, magnetic phenomenon of sun etc.
Human rated vehicles needed to carry humans to space. Working on developing a capsule that can carry 3 astronauts. Wisely adds that the country must take a decision on whether launching humans to space is really priority as compared to other space technology projects. On INRES, says DGCA (civil aviation dept.) has given approval to use GAGAN (?) data.
Interesting question from TVV who says many people ask him this question: Indian govt. organizations are known to be lethargic. How does ISRO, which too is a govt. organization, manage to be an efficient and successful one? Dr. Kiran Kumar says the reason goes back to ISRO's roots. Vikram Sarabhai helped shape Indian space technology sector. India has contributed maximum to space technology.
25.Jun.2016:
Dr.Firdous A Nehvi:
Chief Scientist, Saffron Research Station, SKUAST-Kashmir. Agro-scientist who has represented India at several international conferences and has won several awards. Interview at the "saffron bowl of India", Pampore. Roughly 160000 saffron flowers need to be collected to get 1gm of saffron! Saffron is one of the costliest spices and is very labour-intensive. Dr.Firdous had a passion for plants rightsince childhood. PhD in plant breeding genetics. Was a meritorious university student due to which he got an opportunity to do research.Saffron cultivation main source of income for many in Pampore. But the farming system practiced turned out to be not very remunerative and there was a slump in production. National Saffron mission/policy introduced in 2010 by Indian govt. to encourage farmers. Dr.Firdous did pioneering work in drafting this policy. Govt. created around 100 deep bore wells as a part of this mission.
Traditional production system impacts the quality of saffron despite the saffron flowers of Kashmir being of very high quality. Saffron needs a lot of time to dry and during the prolonged drying process, many of the flavonoids are lost. Developed a new technology that allows drying to complete within 10 hours and in this process, 100% of the flavonoids are retained. Vacuum drying and electrical/solar drying techniques developed for large and small farmers.
Iran, a major saffron producer, has a very different system of production due to industrial backing, something similar to private industry-backed tea cultivation in India. Industrial support will benefit saffron cultivation in India.
A very commonly asked question according to both TVV and Dr.Firdous. Why can't saffron be grown in other parts of India? Saffron needs sub-zero temperatures during its vegetative phase and Pampore's climate suits this. 80% of saffron in India is from Pampore.
TVV: Is Kashmiri saffron truly the best in the world, even though Iran, Morocco and some Europena countries produce saffron? Are we being proud just because we cultivate it? Dr.Firdous says this is not a myth and that Kashmiri saffron is unique in many ways. Chromosome length of Kashmiri saffron is 3 times longer than that of other saffrons. pampore has won heritage site recognition from FAO. Geographical Indicator for Kashmiri saffron likely.
