Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Academy : a review

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Academy : A Review
The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and the Symposium on ‘Excitement of Science’ were inaugurated by the President of India, Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, amidst the august gathering of educationists, scientists and scholars at Multi-Purpose Hall of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), Allahabad on Thursday, October 6, 2005.


His Excellency Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India delivering his Inaugural Address.
Hon'ble Shri T.V. Rajeswar, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Hon'ble Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Hon'ble Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Chairman, Advisory Committee, Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and Past President of the Academy, Hon'ble Prof. Murli Manohar Joshi, Honorary Fellow of the Academy, Shri Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Industries Ltd., Past Presidents, Fellows and Members of the Academy and other distinguished guests were also present on this historic occasion.

The Academy made a new beginning of having closer interaction with the Industry for which it invited Shri Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Ltd.

His Excellency Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India being felicitated by Prof. V.P. Kamboj, President of the Academy.

 His Excellency Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India felicitating Hon’ble Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Past President and Chairman of the Platinum Jubilee Advisory Committee

 Hon’ble Shri T.V. Rajeswar, Governor of U.P. and a Guest of Honour delivering his address

 Hon’ble Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister of U.P. and a Guest of Honour delivering his address

Hon’ble Prof. Murli Manohar Joshi addressing the audience. Prof. P.K. Seth, General Secretary (HQ), Shri Mukesh Ambani, CMD, Reliance Industries Ltd., and Hon’ble Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister of U.P. are also seen on the dais.

Shri Mukesh Ambani, CMD, Reliance Industries Ltd., addressing the audience.

 

 Prof. V.P. Kamboj, President of the Academy addressing the audience.
On this auspicious occasion a Special Cover on the National Academy of Sciences, India and several publications were brought out. Ms. Vijayalakshmi Seth, Chief Post Master General, Uttar Pradesh presented a Special Cover on The National Academy of Sciences, India to Rashtrapati ji. The following publications of the Academy were also presented to Rashtrapati ji–
 1. History of the Academy entitled "The Journey of NASI (1930-2005)" by Prof. B.N. Dhawan, Chief Editor, Proceedings of the Academy (Biological Sciences).

2. Souvenir by Prof. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma, Past President of the Academy,

3. A Profile of the Academy by Prof. H.Y. Mohan Ram, a senior Fellow of the Academy,

4. Special Issue on "Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals and Zoonoses in India" by Prof. Veena Tandon, Editor of the Issue and Council Member of the Academy,

5. 'A Book on Safe Water, Health for Success' by Prof. V.P. Sharma, Past President of the Academy.

 Prof. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma presenting the Souvenir of the Academy to His Excellency Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India.
On this historical occasion Prof. V.P. Kamboj, President of the Academy honoured Rashtrapati ji Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam by presenting a memento and shawl. He also honoured the Governor, Chief Minister, Prof. Joshi and Shri Ambani by presenting mementos to them.


Prof. V.P. Sharma presenting the book on 'Safe Water Health for Success'  to His Excellency Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India.
Rashtrapati ji honoured the Past Presidents of the Academy present on the occasion – Prof. S.Z. Qasim, Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Prof. A.P. Mitra, Prof. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma, Prof. P.N. Tandon, Prof. V.P. Sharma, Prof. S.K. Joshi and Prof. Jai Pal Mittal. He also honoured the Present President, Prof. V.P. Kamboj on this occasion.



His Excellency Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India with the Past Presidents of the Academy present on the occasion.
The inauguration was followed by a Symposium on “Excitement of Science” held at the Auditorium of the Academy. During the symposium nine scientific sessions were held where lectures were delivered by eminent scientists. Titles of their lectures are given in the table :

Speaker	Title of the Lecture
Prof. A.P. Mitra	Global Change : Challenges of a Changing Environment
Prof. P.N. Tandon	Stem Cells
Prof. R.A. Mashelkar	Making High Technology Work for the Poor
Prof. Anil Kakodkar	The Excitement of Mission Oriented R & D
Prof. S.K. Joshi	Strong Interacting Electrons : Puzzles and Challenges
Prof. Jai Pal Mittal	Excitement in Chemistry
Prof. G. Padmanaban	Genomic Sciences and Medical Biotechnology
Prof. Harsh K. Gupta	Tsunamis
Prof. D. Balasubramanian	The History and Development of the Field of Genetics
Prof. Akhilesh K. Tyagi	Rice Genome and Beyond
Prof. R. Gadagkar	Cooperation and Altruism in Insect Societies
Prof. Sushanta Dattagupta	Memory in Magnetic Nano-particle
Prof. Mahtab Bamji	Diet, Nutrition and Health - Challenges and Opportunities
Prof. Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath	Use it or Lose it - How the Human Brain Works
Prof. Amit Ghosh	Ethical Issues in the Frontier Areas of Science : Some Considerations for Biotechnology
Prof. A.K. Sood	Can you say No to NANO?
Shri Mukesh Ambani	Science and Technology in building the 21^st Century India

Prof. A.P. Mitra (left) and Prof. P.N. Tandon (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"


Prof. R.A. Mashelkar (left) and Prof. Anil Kakodkar (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"

 Prof. S.K. Joshi (left) and Prof. Jai Pal Mittal (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science

 Prof. G. Padmanaban (left) and Prof. Harsh K. Gupta (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"

Prof. D. Balasubramanian (left) and Prof. Akhilesh K. Tyagi (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"


Prof. R. Gadagkar (left) and Prof. Sushanta Dattagupta (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"

 Prof. Mahtab Bamji (left) and Prof. (Ms.) Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"


Prof. Amit Ghosh (left) and Prof. A.K. Sood (right) delivering lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"
 
 Shri Mukesh Ambani delivering lecture during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"

 Prof. V.L. Chopra (left) and Prof. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma (right) Chairing lectures during the Symposium on 'Excitement of Science"

These exciting lectures were delivered in a simple manner which could be understood by the audience. The students attending the lectures interacted with the speakers, after the lecture. The symposium was a great scientific feast for the participants.

Satellite Symposia – The first Satellite Symposium of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Academy was organized during the 7^th International Symposium on ‘Vector Borne Diseases’ at Patiala, on 18^th February, 2005. It was inaugurated by Prof. V.P. Kamboj, President of the Academy, who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion. The Keynote Address was delivered by Prof. V.P. Sharma. The list of other Satellite Symposia held under the auspices of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Academy is given below –

S. No.	Title	Venue	Date
1.	Nanotechnology	IIT Bombay	September 8-9,2005
2.	Perspectives in Mathematics	Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai	Sept. 23-24, 2005
3.	String Theory-Basic Notions and Recent Developments	H.R.I. Allahabad	Oct. 1-2,2005
4.	Stem Cell Research : Potential and Therapeutics	Modern College, Pune	October 16, 2005
5.	Vector Borne Parasitic Diseases	RMRC, NE Region, Duibrugarh	Oct. 24-26, 2005
6.	Toxicology, Environment and Occupational Health	ITRC, Lucknow	Nov. 7-10, 2005
7.	Macromolecular Crystallography	CDFD, Gandipet, Hyderabad	Nov. 15-16, 2005
8.	Technology and Innovation in Math Education	IIT Bombay	Dec 4-6, 2005
9.	Bio-diversity, Agriculture and Nutritional Security (Dedicated to Late Dr. T.N. Khoshoo)	M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.	Dec. 6, 2005
10.	Brain Research	NIMHANS, Bangalore	Dec. 11-14, 2005
11.	Gene to Genome : Environment and Chemical Interaction	ITRC, Lucknow	Jan 18-20, 2006
12.	Drinking Water and Community Health – Standards, Surveillance and Management	INSA, New Delhi	Feb.10-11, 2006
13.	Advances in Product Development 2006	MNNIT, Allahabad	Feb 17-18, 2006
14.	Orchids : Why and How	Panjab University, Chandigarh	March 18-20, 2006
15.	Himalayan Biodiversity – Issues and Options for Priority Research	G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Almora	March 27-28, 2006

Children Science Awareness Programme – Children Science Awareness Programme were organized in the colleges of Dehradun, Nainital and Hardwar under the Convenorship of Prof. V.P. Sharma.

NASI - Platinum Jubilee Lectures Series – During the Platinum Jubilee year of the Academy some of its Senior Fellows delivered Platinum Jubilee Lectures. These Speakers were designated as the NASI-Platinum Jubilee Speakers by the Academy.
Prof. M.G.K. Menon delivered several lectures on Cosmic Rays and Elementary Particle Physics and Medicine etc. at different places.
Prof. V.P. Sharma delivered lectures on Fighting Malaria in India; Personal Protection from mosquito nuisance and diseases; Excitement of Science;  Role of Entomology in Malaria; Control; Artemisia annua-a source of wonder antimalarial drug; Malaria : Situation analysis, diagnosis and treatment; Malaria : Prevention and treatment; Malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment with particular reference to high risk groups; Malaria : prevention and treatment with particular reference to women;  Mosquito behaviour and their role in malaria transmission; Fighting malaria with Artemisia annua – a wonder anti-malarial drug; and Malaria and its control by the communities.
Prof. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma delivered lectures on Importance of Education and Scientific Knowledge; Malnutrition of Women and Children and some Simple Home Remedies for them; On Environmental Sanitation and Cleanliness; HIV/AIDS; Excitement of Biotechnology; and Career options in Biology : Excitement and Challenges.

Prof. S.K. Joshi delivered lecture on Superconductivity.

Prof. Samir Bhattacharya delivered lecture on Molecular mechanisms involved in Diabetes mellitus : a global epidemic disease.
Dr. (Mrs.) Shelly Bhattacharya delivered lecture on Cellular interaction with Xenobiotics in animals.
Prof. A.P. Mitra delivered lecture on Ionospheric Physics.
Lectures for (10 + 2) level Science Students - At the request of the Academy, over 300 Fellows/Members have delivered lectures to (10+2) level science students in Schools/Colleges of their respective city as a part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Academy.