94th INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS - Jan 3-7, 2007

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94th INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS - January 3-7, 2007 ******************************************************************** 1. 17-nation project to look for life in remote galaxies 2. India - US Nuke Deal not to impact our R & D: DAE

3. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C7 set to lift off on January 10 4. Knowledge panel again faces rough weather 5. Increase expenditure on science to 2% of GDP: Prime Minister 6. President Kalam seeks proper use of Budget funds 7. In The Financial Express, Editorial Page – January 8, 2007 A crucial crucible - An R & D boost will take more than money 8. Who would head CSIR? ............MORE in the Next Newsletter ---------- 17-nation project to look for life in remote galaxies http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150992 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online : Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN 6: In search of life 30,000-plus light years away from our solar system, scientists on earth have finalised plans to set up a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) housing 8,000 antennae and discs, occupying a surface area of 50,000 sq metres. This SKA would be a hundred times more powerful than the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) commissioned near Pune. The project, to take off after selecting the site in 2008 and to be completed by 2020, will be supported by 17 nations including India, at an investment of around $2 billion. “The antennae will help scientists tap bio-signatures existing in the universe outside our planet,” said the Govind Swarup, Fellow of the Royal Society and professor emeritus at the Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics. The proposed SKA will enable scientists to search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. Swarup is here in Chidambaram to participate in the 94th Indian Science Congress. Swarup said that according to the Drake Equation, there are about 10,000 planets in the universe where there can be a possibility of

existence of life. Swarup, who is actively associated with the project, has suggested that each of the 8,000 antennas should be of 12-metre diameter. He suggested that India can effectively make its contribution by developing software and antennas for the project, which would cover 15% of the total cost. He revealed that South Africa and Australia have been shortlisted for the site of the SKA project. “The decision on the site is likely to be taken in 2008 and thereafter the issue of fund-raising will be finalised by 2010,” he said. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Tata Consultancy Services and Persistent Vision have evinced interest in the project, said Swarup. “I am working to form a core group for software specialists based in Pune to work on the project,” he said.---- India - US Nuke Deal not to impact

our R & D: DAE http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150801 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online : Friday, January 5, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN 4: The Manmohan Singh government's negotiations with the Bush administration on the civilian nuclear deal will not come in the way of its indigenous nuclear R & D programmes. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 94th Indian Science Congress, Anil Kakodkar,

secretary in the department of atomic energy, said here on Thursday: “Our own nuclear R & D should go on as per our own design. The recent US-India civilian nuclear deal should not come in the way. If necessary, we should negotiate with US on this.” The domestic programme is independent of the deal and it will go on, he clarified. Replying to queries, he admitted there were concerns in the country that the nuclear deal could come in the way of India's R & D. He said any external help in meeting India's energy requirements was welcome. Kakodar, who is also the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, said that construction of the country's first advanced heavy water reactor (AHWR) using thorium as fuel would begin this year. He, however, declined to reveal the site of the 300 MW AHWR project. "The cost of setting up the reactor is being worked out," he said. He said the thorium-based AHWR was currently undergoing pre-licensing review by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. A brainchild of Kakodkar, the AHWR will be a technology demonstrator reactor, and take about five to six years to complete. "It is just the first step. There is need for more development. It may take several decades to exploit the full potential of thorium," he said. Earlier making a presentation at the energy security theme session at Science Congress, Kakodkar said India cannot afford to plan an economy on the basis of large scale import of energy sources and technology. He made a strong case for indigeneous development of technology based on domestic fuel resources. He said fast breeder reactors and thorium reactors are the key to meeting country’s energy needs. The reactor, which will cost between Rs five and six crore per mega watt, has a design life of 100 years and has several innovative safety measures. "We will have a three day grace period, and there will be no need for planning off-site emergency measures," he said. India has a four-phased roadmap for utilisation of

thorium resources which includes development of AHWRs, Compact High Temperature Reactor and an accelarator driven fast breeder reactors. India has thorium reserves to the tune of 2.25 lakh tonnes which have an electricity potential of 1.55 lakh Giga Watt Year (GWe-yr). ------- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) set to lift off on January 10 http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150799 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online : Friday, January 5, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN 4: A polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C7) will place in orbit advanced remote sensing satellite, CARTOSTAT-II on January 10, 2007 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. CARTOSAT-11 will have cartographical applications besides 56 kg Indonesian Satellite Lapan Tubstat and an Argentian micro satellite as light as 6 kg. The satellites would be placed in a 635-km polar sun-synchronous orbit. PSLV-C7 will also launch space capsule recovery experiment on January 10. “India seeks to demonstrate its capability to bring orbiting capsules back to earth with this launch and the experiment will be a precursor to developing a reusable satellite launch vehicle,” said BN Suresh, director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, at the 94th Indian Science Congress, on Thursday. The mission sequence for the space recovery experiment would be for about 10 to 12 days after which it would be brought back to earth station. “The reusability of launch vehicles will result in a significant reduction in satellite launching costs,” said Suresh. The reusable launch vehicle will look like a small aircraft. It is designed for retrieval of spacecraft for refurbishment and re-use and enable manned missions, he said. Simultaneously, ISRO is also developing SCRAMJET, an air-breathing jet propulsion system in which the rocket uses atmospheric oxygen for its propulsion. SCRAMJET will travel six times faster than the speed of sound.------------ Knowledge panel again faces rough weather http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150990 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online : Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN 6: Further troubles are in the offing for the National Knowledge Commission. Earlier, two of its members had resigned due to the differences over the government-piloted reservation Bill. Now new troubles are in the offing with its vice chairman, P M Bhargava alleging that he has been kept in the dark regarding many of the reports finalised by the body. The National Knowledge Commission was set up in June 2005 by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh to sharpen India’s “knowledge edge”. The panel is headed by the telecom czar, Sam Pitroda.

Bhargava, who is here for the 94th Indian Science Congress, complained that he had not been consulted or informed before the panel submitted its report on higher education to the Government. He said: “I have disagreements over several points in the report. For instance, I want universities to offer undergraduate courses and I am in favour of abolishing affiliated colleges. These points are not there in the report. One should learn to respect dissent.'' The Commission was constituted with the aim of forming working groups in each of its focus areas and for suggesting reform proposals through a series of White Papers. It originally comprised of 8 members of which Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andre Beteille, resigned as a signal of protest against the UPA government’s decision to implement reservation for backward classes in institutes of higher education. Bhargava said that his views had been sought for only in two reports submitted in January 2006, on e-governance and translation. “I have no knowledge about any reports prepared

after January 2006’, he said and added that the panel had failed to incorporate differences of opinion expressed by members “I have expressed my disapproval over the present state of affairs to the Prime Minister,” he said. He said that he has been invited for the next meeting slated on January 9. When asked about the prime minister’s response, he said: “the PM was concerned “At least four other reports have been submitted on vocational education, libraries, language and integration of knowledge systems. But, I was never consulted or informed'', he said. He also complained that the panel was not meeting on a regular basis, even though it was charged with a very important mandate. ``The Prime Minister is looking for revolutionary recommendations from the Commission. The panel can bring about a renaissance in the country. Even the National Security Advisory, which

consists of several eminent persons, including former chiefs of the three arms of the defence force, meets twice a month'', he said. -------- Increase expenditure on science to 2% of GDP: PM http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150701 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online : Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN 3: With barely two months left for the Union government to announce its Budget proposals, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicated raising the annual expenditure on science and technology to 2% of the GDP. Scientists were upbeat about this move after the Prime Minister’s statement. Though several expert panels had in the past few years suggested raising government’s investment in science and technology to this level, nothing materialized thereafter. Singh in his inaugural speech at the 94th Indian Science Congress here on Wednesday, admitted the need for setting up “world class institutions” in the country and assured the galaxy of scientists : “We are committed to increase the annual expenditure on science and technology from less than 1% of our GDP to 2% of the GDP in the next five years.” Singh also said he intended to effect a “reverse brain drain” by attracting best and the brightest scientists working abroad to return home and participate in “the adventure of building a knowledge-based economy here.” He added

that he had extended this invitation to the Indian diaspora in the previous year while speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the National Academy of Sciences. The Prime Minister proposed introduction of a system of international peer review in the the country’s research labs to help maintain and improve standards. He expressed concerns over the decline in the number of students enrolling in schools and colleges for basic sciences and suggested measures to attract young talents. Singh said the government

was examining all suggestions made for creation of new institutional infrastructure. Union science and technology minister Kapil Sibal spelled out the programme for setting up a National Technology Management Centre in Biotechnology with 10 regional technology transfer cells, a Biotechnology Industry and Development Assessment. The council will further facilitate interaction between academia, research and industry. The minister, however, said: “The environmental impact of biotechnology is yet to be evaluated and

many questions, in particular those related to bio-safety, remain unanswered….We need to seriously debate on this issue.” Sibal also assured that an Institute of Translational Research in Health would be set up to help dovetail outputs in genomics research to clinical trial stages. He said there was a need to set up agri-food clusters in collaboration with the industry, similar to the ones set in Punjab. CONCERNED OVER GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE : Expressing concerns over

the ongoing global climate change, India has cautioned the developed industrial economies to alter their consumption patterns which have heavily overexploited the planet's natural resources. Realising the gravity of the situation the United Nations have declared the triennium 2007-09 as the Internal Year of Planet Earth. Accordingly the 94th Indian Science Congress being held here too adopted the theme "Planet Earth" for its deliberations and discussions are

centred around sustainable use of earth's natural resources for human development. The prime minister, Manmohan Singh, while addressing the Science Congress sent a strong signal to the developed world saying that they "must realise that they too must alter their consumption patterns so that few do not draw upon so much of the Earth's resources. The developing world cannot accept a freeze in global inequity." One of the sectoral discussion in the Science Congress is devoted to global climate change and monsoon.

There is also a separate discussion on agriculture. The prime minister took this opportunity and asked the Indian scientists to "engage in exploring the links between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change." Further defining the task before the scientists he said "You must also examine its impact on our monsoons. There is urgent need to upgrade our weather forecasting systems, which could provide substantial benefits for crop production, instituting crop insurance system as well as making available rainfall data even up to the block level." The prime minister cautioned that the developing world cannot afford to ape the West in terms of its "environmentally wasteful lifestyle." At the same time he meant that the developing countries cannot wait, they need development. He said : "As people in developing countries improve their prospects per capita consumption in these countries is bound to grow. As incomes and consumption levels of the poor rise, we must find ways to meet the growing demand forr goods and services in an environmentally sustainable manner." He urged the scientists to to face the major development challenge and find alternative sources of energy supply like bio-fuel, solar energy, photo voltaic energy, nuclear energy and

other renewable sources of supply. Kalam seeks proper use of Budget funds http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150940 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online : Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN

5: President APJ Abdul Kalam has called for proper utilisation of budgetary allocations of different ministries dealing with various aspects of science and technology. Speaking at the 94th Indian Science Congress, here, on Friday, Kalam said raising of budgetary allocation for science and technology from the existing level of less than 1% of the GDP to 2%, as announced by the Prime Minister, would not be enough. There should be full utilisation of the allocated funds. Kalam said, he found approximately more than 20 % of funds have remained unutilized during 2005-2006. The total fund utilisation would work out to only 0.25% of the GDP.” The prime minister, Manmohan Singh inaugurating the Congress on Wednesday had announced increasing budgetary allocations to science and technology to 2% of the GDP within a span of 5 years. Kalam, who spoke at the Congress two days later remarked : “Ok now the commitment from the prime minister is very good news for the scientific community. There is no doubt about it. But when I studied the utilization of the profile of the budget allocations for ministries dealing with various aspects of science and technology, last night, I found

approximately more than 20 % of funds have remained unutilized during 2005-2006. The total fund utilization would work out to only 0.25% of the GDP.” After pulling up the ministries concerned for not utilizing the allocated funds, Kalam suggested constitution of a joint team from all scientific departments of the government for drawing up an action plan for utilization of the allocated funds. He said that this team should work out the growth plan for research, science education and training for a period of 5 years, keeping in view a 20-year science vision perspective. Kalam suggested that the budgetary allocation for science and technology should be raised to 1.2% of the GDP in 2007-08, to 1.4% of the GDP in 2008-09, to 1.6% of the GDP in 2009-10, to 1.8% of the GDP in 2010-11 and to 2% of the GDP in 2011-12. The president urged the scientists to find solutions to problems in the Indian context. He emphasized the need for achieving “energy independence” for the country through use of various alternative sources like use of carbon nano tube-based photo voltaic cells for harnessing solar

energy, increased use of bio-fuels, production of thorium-based nuclear fuel and research in wind energy ---The Financial Express, Editorial Page – January 8, 2007 A crucial crucible An R & D boost will take more than money http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=151024 Posted online : Monday, January 8, 2007 at 0000 hours IST Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent assurance on the government’s commitment to enhancing expenditure on science and technology to 2% of GDP over the next five years raises optimism about India’s prospects in the new knowledge economy. The announcement comes not a day too soon. India’s current expenditure on research and development (R & D) is only 0.8% of GDP, compared to China’s 1.2%, America’s 2.7% and Japan’s 3.1%. For a sharp jolt, though, take a look at R & D spending per head. India’s figure is about $4, only a third of China’s

$12, and a pitiable fraction of America’s $962, Japan’s $976 and Sweden’s $1,104. Clearly, India is nowhere near the big league, and low spending translates into low opportunities for scientific endeavour. While India has only 110 scientists per million people—China has 633, the US has 4,526, Japan, 5,085 and Sweden, 5,171—this is still a lot in absolute numbers looking for ways to apply their minds. Could an increase in funding be what they’re looking for? On the face of it, yes. India’s primary deficiency has been money. But there is good reason to believe that a simple reversal of this handicap may not be enough to spark the frenzy of innovation India yearns for. Several expert committees have indicated that poor scientific research is also a result of a decline in India’s university system. State-controlled as it is, the system retains a zest for

what Nehru termed a “scientific temper” only in a few rarefied enclaves of excellence that brook no ossification of knowledge, nor subordinate the domain of reasoned inquiry to any other consideration. Science as a professional pursuit, motivated all so often purely by a quest for unvarnished truth, has been losing its appeal amongst a youth sold on the imagery of the glory bestowed by technological success. According to one report, only 13.4% of Indian higher secondary students want to take up pure science disciplines at the graduate or post-graduate levels. The brightest are besotted with information technology, commerce and business economics. In itself, this is no bad thing. And there are some positive trends, too. The absolute number of scientific research papers in well-regarded journals has risen from 14,983 in 1980 to 19,448 in 2005, and the number of US patents granted to Indian inventors has gone up from 88 in 2000-01 to 229 in 2004-05. This is not bad. Still,

there’s no denying that India needs wider efforts at winning students back to the basics of science. Perhaps it will take a Nobel Prize-winning effort for such a breakthrough.---- Who would head CSIR? http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=150708 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online : Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 0000 hours IST CHIDAMBARAM, JAN 3 : Who is to head the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is still the big question before the government. The government is now in a fix as the director of the Council’s Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute, V.Prakash, who was selected to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of R.A.Mashelkar, has expressed his inability to join on medical grounds. Pushed to such a situation the Union science and technology minister, Kapil Sibal has asked the secretary in the department of biotechnology, M.K.Bhan, is to take additional charge as director general of CSIR, till a new person is selected to head the apex scientific agency. Sibal confirmed this saying “Bhan has been asked to take the additional charge as a stop gap arrangement till a new select committee is constituted and the panel selects the new incumbent.” --

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