Dr. Samir K. Bramhachari Announces Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award 2013
Dr. Samir K. Bramhachari, Director General Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
today announced the prestigious Shantri Swarup Bhatnagar Awards for the Year 2013. The awards
were announced during the CSIR’s 71stFoundation day Celebrations held here in New
Delhi. According to it, eight (08) scientists have been selected forShanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
for Science and Technology for the year 2013. They are as under:
Biological Science
Dr Sathees Chukkurumbal Raghavan
Department of Biochemistry
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Bangalore 560 012
Chemical Sciences
Dr Yamuna Krishnan
National Centre for Biological Sciences
(TIFR) UAS-GKVK, Bellary Road
Bangalore 560 065
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean & Planetary Sciences
No Award
Engineering Sciences
Dr Bikramjit Basu
Materials Research Centre
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Bangalore 560012
Mathematical Sciences
Dr Eknath Prabhakar Ghate
School of Mathematical Sciences
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(TIFR) Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba
Mumbai 400 005
Medical Sciences
Dr Pushkar Sharma
National Institute of Immunology (NII)
Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067
Dr Suman Chakraborty
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology (IITKgp)
Kharagpur 721302
Physical Sciences
Dr Amol Dighe
Department of Theoretical Physics
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba
Mumbai 400 005
Dr Vijay Balakrishna Shenoy
Department of Physics
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Bangalore 560 012
These Awards will be presented by the Prime Minister for which the date will be fixed later on.
The Shanti SwarupBhatnagar Prize is the most coveted national recognition for young
scientists and engineers for their R&D work done in India. The Prize was instituted in 1957 in the
honour of late Dr. (Sir) ShantiSwarupBhatnagar, an eminent scientist, founder Director and
principal architect of CSIR. Over 450 scientists and technologists have been so far conferred upon
this Prize in various disciplines of science for their outstanding R&D contribution. Each Prize
carries a citation, cash prize, a plaque and an honorarium till superannuation.
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Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize for Science and Technology
Weblink: http://csirhrdg.nic.in/ssbb.htm
Preamble
The award is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR),
the late Dr (Sir) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and is known as the ‘Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize for
Science and Technology’. The Prize is given each year for outstanding contributions to science and
technology.
Some statistics:
o
Instituted in 1957 in the honour of late Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, who was an eminent scientist and
founder Director of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research).
o
It is declared every year on 26th September, the foundation day of CSIR
o
Over 450 scientists and technologists have so far been given this award in various science disciplines.
Nature of the Prize
SSB Prizes, each of the value of 5,00,000 Indian Rupees (equivalent to 10,000 USD or 6000 GBP), are
awarded annually for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in the following disciplines:
(1) Biological, (2) Chemical, (3) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary, (4) Engineering, (5)
Mathematical, (6) Medical and (7) Physical Sciences. The awardees also get Rs. 15,000 per month up to the
age of 65 years.
Eligibility
Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years
as reckoned on 31st December of the year preceding the year of the Prize. Overseas citizen of India (OCI)
and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India are also eligible. The Prize is bestowed on a person
who, in the opinion of CSIR, has made conspicuously important and outstanding contributions to human
knowledge and progress – fundamental and applied – in the particular field of endeavour, which is his/her
specialization. The Prize is awarded on the basis of contributions made through work done primarily in India
during the five years preceding the year of the Prize (‘primarily’ meaning ‘for the most part’).
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardees in Engineering Sciences
(Metallurgy / Materials Science specialisation)
[The following information is compiled from CSIR database (http://www.csir.res.in/external/Heads/career/awards.htm) or other
reliable sources and more information on an individual can be found from Wikipedia links/weblinks]
Year of
award
1963
1967
1979
1980
1985
1987
Awardee - details
Age Important positions
when
held in career
awarded
51
Director,
Vikram
Brahm, Prakash
Sarabhai
Space
Sp: Mineral chemistry and extractive metallurgy
Centre
(VSSC),
Citation Dr Prakash has been specially concerned with
Trivandrum
development of the fabrication technology for nuclear fuel
elements for research and power reactors. The fuel Element
Fabrication Plant at Trombay, designed and built under his
direction, provides fuel elements to meet the full requirements of
the natural uranium reactors, CIRUS at Trombay.
40
Director, Institute of
Anantharaman, Tanjore Ramachandra
Technology (BHU)
Sp: Physical metallurgy
Varanasi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanjore_Ramachandra_Anantharaman
Citation Prof. Anantharaman has made important contributions
to the theory of plastic deformation, to the understanding of
precipitation stages in supersaturated solid solutions, and to the
use of refined low-angle X-ray scattering techniques.
42
Director,
Defence
Rama Rao, Palle
Metallurgical
Sp: Physical metallurgy
Research Laboratory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palle_Rama_Rao
(DMRL), Hyderabad
Citation Prof. Rama Rao has done significant work in physical
&
metallurgy, notably structural imperfections and mechanical
Secretary,Department
behaviour. His contributions on X-ray diffraction broadening in
of
Science
&
deformed metals are well recognized. His work on stacking faults
Technology
has been used in the development of alloy theories. His work
provides the scientific base for the design of alloys with
improved mechanical properties.
45
Defence
Scientific
Arunachalam, Vallampadugai Srinivasaraghavan
Advisor,
Government
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._S._R._Arunachalam
of India
Citation Dr Arunachalam has done valuable applied and
fundamental work on ordered alloys, creep behaviour and
mechanism of pore closure. Under his leadership, the country has
become self-reliant in respect of certain strategic materials.
43
Director,
National
Rao, Patcha Ramachandra
Metallurgical
Sp: Physical metallurgy;
Laboratory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patcha_Ramachandra_Rao
and
Citation Prof. Rao has made significant theoretical and
Vice
Chancellor,
experimental contributions in the field of rapid solidification of
Banaras
Hindu
metals. He developed a number of innovative techniques for the
University
preparation, characterisation and modelling of metastable
products, including the first ever quasicrystalline alloy.
44
Rector,
Banaras
Lele, Shrikant
Hindu University
Sp: Phase transformations; Rapid solidifications; Quasicrystals.
Citation Prof. Lele has done notable original work on the
calculation of X-ray diffraction effects from faulted close-packed
crystals, the understanding of solid state transformations,
martensitic transformations and spinodal decomposition in alloys
and the analysis of electron diffraction from quasicrystals.
1989
Banerjee, Srikumar
43
Chairman,
Atomic
Energy Commission
of India (2010-2012)
41
Director,
Defence
Metallurgical
Research Laboratory
(DMRL), Hyderabad
41
Director,
Hyderabad
45
Divisional Chairman,
Mechanical Sciences,
IISc, Bangalore
Sp: Physical metallurgy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srikumar_Banerjee
Citation Dr Banerjee has made significant contributions to
devitrification in zirconium base glasses have been highly
creative. His work on irradiation-induced order-disorder
transformation and phase separation in nickel-molybdenum
alloys is highly original.
1993
Banerjee, Dipankar
Sp: Physical Metallurgy
(http://materials.iisc.ernet.in/~dbanerjee)
Citation Dr Banerjee’s work on the physical metallurgy of
newer generation titanium aluminides has laid the basis for
significant improvements in this alloy system for applications in
gas turbine engines.
1994
Sundararajan G.
Sp: Surface engineering, High temperature deformation
http://www.arci.res.in/our-director.html
Citation Dr Sundararajan has made outstanding contributions to
experimental and theoretical aspects of materials engineering,
with special emphasis on tribological behaviour, high strain rate
and high temperature deformation/fracture, impact dynamics.
1995
Chattopadhyay, Kamanio
Sp: Physical Metallurgy
(http://materials.iisc.ernet.in/~kamanio)
Citation Dr Chattopadhyay has made pioneering contributions
towards synthesis and characterization of new classes materials
including quasicrystals and namocomposites through his
sustained experimental and theoretical investigations.
2003
Chokshi, Atul H.
45
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Citation: Dr Chokshi has made seminal contribution in the field
of nanocrystalline materials, cavitation failure and superplastic
ceramics. His current research activities include colloidal
processing, densification techniques and high temperature creep.
2007
2011
2012
2013
Murty, Budaraju Srinivasa; Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Citation: Dr. Murty has made original contributions in synthesizing
nano materials by mechanical alloying and in the synthesis and
nanocrystallization of bulk metallic glasses
Ramamurty, Upadrasta; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Citation: Dr. Ramamurty made breakthrough contributions in
understanding deformation behavior of complex and novel materials,
including amorphous alloys and metallic foams, explaining the
phenomena at multiple length scales
Ravishankar, N.; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Citation: Dr. Ravishankar developed novel methods for the synthesis
of molecular scale, single crystallineAu nanowires in the solution
phase. This has led to the first time demonstration of insulating
behaviour in these metallic wires in such dimensions.
Basu, Bikramjit; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Citation: Outstanding contributions, encompassing theory and
experiments to significantly expand our understanding of the in vitro
cell functionality modulation on engineered biomaterials using electric
field stimulation approach.
43
44
42
40
ARCI,
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardees in Engineering Sciences
(Partial list starting who have had a significant influence on Indian Science)
[Information compiled from CSIR database (http://www.csir.res.in/external/Heads/career/awards.htm) and other
reliable sources. More information can be found from Wikipedia links/website.]
Year of
Awardee – details
Notable positions held or other
award
awards in career
Infosys
Prize
in Engineering and
2002
Sharma, Ashutosh
Citation: Dr. Ashutosh Sharma has made original pioneering Computer Science, Infosys Science
contributions to the understanding of the behaviour of thin Foundation (2010).
films and other highly confined nanoscale systems. He has
explained the instability and evolution of morphology of thin TWAS Prize in Engineering Sciences, The
films on homogeneous substrates by 3D nonlinear stability Academy of Sciences for the Developing
theory and experiments. He has proposed a new theory for World, Trieste, Italy (2008).
dewetting of thin films on heterogeneous and patterned
and many others..
substrates leading to a novel method for the small scale
patterning of polymer films by templating.
TWAS Prize in Engineering Sciences,
2005
Deb, Kalyanmoy
Citation: Dr Deb has made fundamental contributions to the 2012;
development of multi-objective evolution algorithms and their Infosys Prize, Infosys Science Foundation,
India, 2011
applications to a number of complex engineering problems.
and many others..
1974
Narasimha, Roddam
Sp: Fluid mechanics; Aerospace engineering;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddam_Narasimha
Citation Dr Narasimha who has had a distinguished academic
career has made significant contributions in the broad field of
fluid mechanics. In particular, his studies relating to
turbulence, boundary layers and rarefied gas dynamics have
opened new horizons and helped in obtaining a better
understanding of these phenomena. His main forte is to extract
simple physical models from complex engineering problems
and apply sophisticated mathematical tools to obtain a better
understanding of them.
1975
Rao, Udipi Ramachandra
Sp: Space science & technology; Avionics;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udipi_Ramachandra_Rao
Citation Prof. Rao’s major contributions have been in the area
of satellite technology. To him goes the credit for systems
engineering from conception to design, fabrication and
operational phase of satellite systems. He was the chief
architect behind India’s first satellite ‘Aryabhatta’. The
technological spin-offs of this system will enable the
development of more sophisticated spacecraft systems for
national development in the coming decades.
1982
Director, National Aerospace
Laboratory
Chairman, Indian Space Research
Organisation
Director, National Chemical
Laboratory
Sp: Non-Newtonian fluid mechanics.
&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghunath_Anant_Mashelkar
Citation Dr Mashelkar has done significant work in several Director-General, Council of
areas of polymer science and engineering. He has done original Scientific & Industrial Research
and pioneering work on transport phenomena in
macromolecular media. His work in reaction engineering,
particularly for polycondensation reactors, is novel and has
been applied in an imaginative way in industry.
Mashelkar, Raghunath Anant
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardees in Chemical Sciences
(Partial list mentioning a few names who have had a significant influence on Indian Science)
[information compiled from CSIR database ( http://www.csir.res.in/external/Heads/career/awards.htm) and more information
can be found from Wikipedia links]
Year of
Awardee’s name
Age when Important positions held in
award
awarded
career
1968
1986
1961
1993
34
Rao, Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra
Citation Prof. Rao’s research work is related to the application
of spectroscopic methods for the study of chemical compounds,
the main emphasis being of UV and IR spectra. His recent
research work relates to solid state chemistry and constitutes a
valuable contribution to this important field.
37
Balaram, Padmanabhan
Citation Prof. Balaram has done significant work on
transmembrane peptide channels. He has employed NMR
spectroscopy and other modern techniques for studying
conformations of a variety of novel peptides. The work carried
out by him is of value not only in peptide chemistry but also
has considerable biological significance.
44
Chatterjee, Asima, University of Calcutta, West Bengal
Sp: Chemistry of natural products; Development of drugs from
natural sources.
Citation Dr (Mrs) Chatterjee has built up an active school of
advanced study and research in the chemistry of natural
products, especially in the chemistry of alkaloids and
coumarins, including furanolactones isolated from medicinal
plants indigenous to India. These researches are characterized
by novel techniques for the isolation of organic compounds
from plant sources, elucidation of their molecular architecture
and stereochemistry by classical and modern methods,
including spectroscopy, their synthesis, biogenesis and
chemotaxonomy.
Director, Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore
&
President, Jawaharlal Nehru
Center
for
Advanced
Scientific Research
Director, Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore (Present)
45
Ramasami, Thirumalachari
Citation Dr Ramasami has made important contributions to
the understanding of the structure and reaction mechanisms of
electron transfer and substitution reactions of chromium
complexes.
Secretary, Department of
Science & Technology,
Government
of
India
(Present)
First woman winner of SSB
award in any discipline
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardees in Biological Sciences
(partial list mentioning a few names who have had a significant influence on Indian Science)
[information compiled from CSIR database ( http://www.csir.res.in/external/Heads/career/awards.htm) and more
information can be found from Wikipedia links]
Year of
Awardee’s name
Age Important positions held in
award
when
career
awarded
43
Founder
Director,
TIFR
1975
Siddiqi, Obaid ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obaid_Siddiqi)
1990
Citation Prof. Siddiqi has done significant work in molecular
biology with special reference to transfer and recombination of DNA
in micro-organisms and genetic regulation of protein synthesis. His
studies have helped in clarifying the relationship between DNA
replication and recombination.
Brahmachari, Samir Kumar
National Centre for Biological
Sciences, Bangalore
38
Director-General, Council of
Scientific
&
Industrial
Research (Present)
44
Director,
TIFR National
Centre for Biological Sciences
&
Secretary,
Department
of
Biotechnology, Government of
India (Present)
45
Director, Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samir_K._Brahmachari)
1998
Sp: Biophysical chemistry; Molecular biology.
Citation Dr Brahmachari has made contributions in regard to
functional interactions of DNA. His work has helped to elucidate the
sequence dependence of the conformation of Z-DNA. He and his
associates have shown that the action of certain restriction
endonucleases is sensitive to local conformational alterations and the
Z-conformation blocks the action of Escherichia coli DNA
polymerase-1.
Vijay Raghavan, Krishnaswamy
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._VijayRaghavan)
1983
Citation Dr Vijayraghavan has made outstanding contributions to
the understanding of the role of homeotic genes in muscle
development. His work on Drosophila flight muscle has been
extremely incisive and makes a major contribution to our
understanding of myogenesis.
Padmanaban, Govindarajan
Citation Prof. Padmanaban has to his credit significant work on
haemoprotein biosynthesis. His work has helped in gaining
understanding of the regulation of the biosynthesis of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome oxidase. His work is of importance in
elucidating the molecular basis of drug metabolism.
Today's Paper » NATIONAL » KARNATAKA
2013
Bangalore, September 28,
Bhatnagar awardees elated
Special Correspondent
“As to any scientist, it means much to me, and encourages me to live up to the
higher standards now expected of me,” said Vijay B. Shenoy, Associate Professor,
Department of Physics, IISc. Dr. Shenoy is one of the four scientists from
Bangalore’s research institutes who are among eight awardees of this year’s Shanti
Swarup Bhatnagar Awards.
Two other scientists from the IISc. Sathees C Raghavan (Biological Sciences) and
Bikramjit Basu (Engineering Sciences) and Yamuna Krishnan from the
NCBS(Chemical Sciences) from the city, will be conferred the award by the Prime
Minister.
Dr. Shenoy works on the theoretical aspect of condensed matter physics, which he
says, offers “challenging problems such as understanding and developing systems
with high (room) temperature superconductivity.” Bikramjit Basu’s team looks at
“implantable biomaterials” particularly for bone-replacement, and investigates into
how biological cells interact with implanted materials.
Yamuna Krishnan says this recognition to her field of expertise which falls
“exactly at the interface between chemistry and biology,” reflects “great maturity
on the part of the chemistry community” that has recognised work that blurs the
boundaries and pulls chemical biology into the mainstream of chemistry.
Understanding the origins of genetic abnormalities associated with the genesis of
lymphoma and leukemia, forms the research core for Sathees C. Raghavan.
Recently, his group identified a new molecule that could potentially aid cancer
therapy.
Updated 11:01 IST | September 30, 2013
Updated 11:01 IST | September 30, 2013
In Association With
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Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/engineering-sciences-bikramjit-basu-synthetic-bone-shanti-swarup-bhatnagaraward/1/312074.html
Engineer wins Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for
creating synthetic bone
DAMAYANTI DATTA BANGALORE, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 | UPDATED 19:01 IST
There is a new bone in contention only it is a synthetic one.
This synthetic bone is the work of Bikramjit Basu, a 40-year-old scientist who studied metallurgy (now called materials science)
and is one of the eight recipients of India's very own Nobel Prize for young scientists-the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards,
2013.
He has won the award in 'engineering sciences' but his research promises to take care of the common man's health woes. In a
country where 50 per cent of the population faces risk of some sort of bone disease, Basu has come up with a lab-grown bone.
That's the way of 21st century science, where cutting-edge research
in biosciences is happening through engineers, physicists and
chemists. "That's because, we ask different questions and pursue
different methods, that biologists do not ask or are not interested
in," says Basu, associate professor of materials research center at
the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
New research in the medical sciences is also marked by a materials
rush. Biomaterials, from nature or grown in the lab, are substances
that are being 'mashed' with biological systems, supplementing or
replacing natural functions. The 50-year-old science has grown so
much that the materials are now being used every day in surgical
procedures and drug delivery.
"Natural bone consists of collagen and something called
hydroxyapatite," says Basu. Collagen is a protein that gives bone its
resilience, while hydroxyapatite-the source of bone calciumprovides strength and rigidity. For the last four-five years, Basu and
his team-first at IIT-Kanpur and then at IISc-has been working on
developing an 'implantable biomaterial' that would regenerate
bones. "We needed to create something that would have electrical
property, biological compatibility, strength and toughness to resist
fractures."
Bikramjit Basu is a 40-year-old scientist who studied metallurgy
His engineering skills came into play: measuring a material's ability to conduct electric current is essentially an
engineer's approach. But the problem in hand was fundamentally biological: "Cells in the body communicate with
each other by sending and receiving signals," he adds. Signals, from outside the body or from other cells, are passed
on though electrical impulse. In a unique experiment in his lab Basu showed that when electrical current was sent in,
his bone implants allowed cells to "crosstalk" and grow.
The science has enormous healthcare implications. It simply means better treatment and healing for bone injuries: it can be
fixed onto bones, be shaped to fit voids or chips, be absorbed by the body eventually to re-grow new bones.
Question is: when will it reach the common man? "For lab-grown systems to work in the body, there are many more steps that
need to be taken, including clinical trials," he says. For that clinicians and engineers need to work very closely. "But in our
country such work rarely takes place. Everybody works in isolation. And scientific research does not get translated into
application." This is where the West beats the developing world. During his research at University of Leuven in Belgium as
well as University of California, Santa Barbara, US, this is what he saw: "Most top universities have a hospital and a host of
research labs work in collaboration with it. The work gets translated seamlessly, from lab bench-side to hospital bedside."
For now, such awards bring visibility to the field and to our world-class researchers. For Basu's father, who could never pursue
his academic dreams and worked in the railways to hold his family together in the wake of Partition, this is a dream come true.
The nation, however, has to walk many more miles before the synergy of science and clinical application can join hands to
reach the common man.
Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/engineering-sciences-bikramjit-basu-synthetic-bone-shanti-swarup-bhatnagaraward/1/312074.html
IISc scientists get their Bhatnagar desserts
TNN Oct 1, 2013, 06.03AM IST
BANGALORE: Three IISc professors have added more feathers to the institute's cap. Whether for unearthing
synthetic bones and cardiovascular patches or providing a breakthrough in cancer treatment, Bikramjit Basu, Dr
Sathees Chukkurumbal Raghavan and Vijay Balakrishna Shenoy are among eight eminent scientists who've
bagged the Swarup Bhatnagar Award for the year 2013.
Dr Sathees Chukkurumbal Raghavan (Biological Science)
Over 20 years of hard work finally paid off for this associate professor in the department of bio-chemistry at
IISc. Dr Sathees received the honour for discovering a cancer therapeutic agent and the cause of cancer in
human cells.
"I got the award for discovering SCR7. It's a chemical compound that blocks DNA repair in cancer cells. This
accumulates DNA damage inside the cell, causing its death," explained Dr Sathees, who's been working on two
types of cancer, leukaemia and lymphoma, and the modalities of how cancer cells are generated.
"The basic cause of cancer is chromosomal abnormality and translocation. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
break the DNA inside the cancer cells, causing their death. Our research says if SCR7 is used alongside
radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the rate of recovery can be doubled and doses of radiation cut to half." Said Dr
Sathees. Tests have been done only on animals, and human trials could take at least a decade.
Bikramjit Basu (Engineering Sciences)
This engineer bagged the honour for his work in the field of medicine. Research by Bikramjit Basu, 40,
associate professor at Materials Research Centre, concerns the heart, nerves and bone disease. Basu has come
up with lab-grown synthetic bone, cardiovascular patches and bio-material for damaged nerves and orthopaedic
surgeries. "My work highlights the interface of material science and biological science. The outcome of the
research helps in orthopaedic surgeries, neural tissue engineering like nerve repair and cardiovascular
implantation, and also expanded our understanding of cell functionalities," said Basu. "The polymeric and
ceramic materials (bio-material) are non-living patches that can be used in case heart or nerve tissue gets
damaged. A part of my research is also based on 'socket acetabular', which can be called an advancement in the
field of hip replacement surgery," said Basu.
Vijay Balakrishna Shenoy (physical science)
The era of super computers could end, and quantum computers may be a reality soon. "Many technological
marvels -- from supercomputers to phablets - are based on condensed matter physics. I work on its theoretical
aspects. There are many open and challenging problems in this area such as understanding systems with high
temperature superconductivity, a state where electrical resistance goes to zero! One example can be quantum
computers which can solve more difficult problems in a much shorter time as compared to computers of this
generation," says Shenoy. In the past decade, a traditionally different branch of physics -- atomic-molecularoptical physics -- has provided new opportunities to simulate condensed matter systems with atoms. This area is
called "cold atom quantum emulation".
Recognition for Kolkata scientists
Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey, TNN | Oct 2, 2013, 06.29 AM IST
KOLKATA: It's time for Bengal to feel proud. Two of its boys have won the Shanti Swarup
Bhatnagar Prize for engineering sciences this year - the highest award for science in the
country.
One of these boys - Bikramjit Basu - has unfortunately chosen to leave the state to live his
professional life in Bangalore. Suman Chakraborty, the other recipient, however, continues to
live and teach here. Interestingly, the duo has jointly won the prize for using nanotechnology
for the benefit of human health. While Chakraborty is a faculty member of IIT Kharagpur's
mechanical engineering department, Bikramjit Basu teaches at IISc Bangalore.
Chakraborty has won the award for being a pioneer in the field of microfluidics (flow of fluids
through tiny channels). In layman's term, his scientific discovery, christened microfluidics,
proves that under certain conditions rough surfaces of tiny channels can help in transmitting
fluid instead of creating resistance. The application areas on which Chakraborty is working at
present range from cooling of electronic chips and energy conversion by nanotechnology on
one side and developing low-cost diagnostic and therapeutic tools for medical applications on
the other. With the aid of his fundamental scientific discoveries, he has designed painless
microneedles for blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery. The jury was further impressed
by his contributions to low-cost medical diagnostics that is expected to revolutionize rapid,
portable, accurate and inexpensive medical diagnostics. "The fact that healthcare in this
country is beyond the means of a large number of people is one of our worst problems. So I
have been working for years to make diagnostics affordable to my people, which is the first step
to healthcare revolution. Apart from cancer, other diseases that I concentrate on as part of my
continuous research are dengue and malaria, which despite not being as dreaded as cancer,
take a lot of lives throughout the country every year," Chakraborty said.
Basu, on the other hand, has researched extensively on vitro cell functionality modulation on
engineered biomaterials using electric field stimulation approach.