by by R. ChidambaramR. Chidambaram

Talk at Unveiling Ceremony of the statue of Sir Talk at Unveiling Ceremony of the statue of Sir C.V. Raman at University of Kerala , Trivandrum, C.V. Raman at University of Kerala , Trivandrum, 2929thth June, 2012 June, 2012

C.V. Raman C.V. Raman : the greatest experimental : the greatest experimental physicist India has produced.physicist India has produced.

Homi Bhabha Homi Bhabha : the founder of our : the founder of our atomic energy programme.atomic energy programme.

Srinivasa Ramanujan Srinivasa Ramanujan : the ‘magical : the ‘magical geniusgenius’ .’ .For the last three decades, I have kept the For the last three decades, I have kept the photographs/paintings of these great photographs/paintings of these great scientists behind my chair in the Office!scientists behind my chair in the Office!

Very different in the nature of their work, but always focused on important problems.

……Peter MedawarPeter Medawar(Nobel Prize - winning (Nobel Prize - winning Biologist)Biologist)

““Advice to a Young Scientist”Advice to a Young Scientist”

- Important to Science or to Society! This advice is useful for everybody, Scientist or otherwise!

My motto when I was Director BARC: “Relevance or Excellence, My motto when I was Director BARC: “Relevance or Excellence, preferably both”.preferably both”.

C.V. RAMAN

WITH A QUARTS CRYSTAL

“India had suddenly emerged in competitive research as an equal partner with her European and American sisters.”

A New RadiationA New RadiationVarious ways are known by which atoms or molecules may be caused to emit light referred to as primary radiation.

The first case discovered of secondary radiation was fluorescence. Another kind of secondary radiation is the scattering of light by atoms and molecules. It is this scattering that gives us the light of the sky, the blue colour of the deep sea and the delicate opalescence of large masses of clear ice.

The light scattering from 60 liquids…though the phenomenon was described (by) Ramanathan and Krishnan as a “feeble fluorescence”, the impression left on my mind at the time was that we had here an entirely new type of radiation.

C.V. Raman, India J. Phys., 1928, 2, 387

The Nuclear PathThe Nuclear PathI have been saying for 2 I have been saying for 2 decades now:decades now:

““Nuclear Energy is an Nuclear Energy is an inevitable option to satisfy inevitable option to satisfy India’s future energy needs”India’s future energy needs”

Homi Bhabha, Founder of the Homi Bhabha, Founder of the Indian Nuclear ProgrammeIndian Nuclear Programme

He said it more succinctly: He said it more succinctly:

““There is no power as costly There is no power as costly as no-power.”as no-power.”

Hardy and Littlewood have compared Ramanujan’s natural genius with great mathematicians like Euler, Gauss and Jacobi

Ramanujan’s birthday (22nd December) has been declared National Mathematics Day

In December, 2011, to celebrate Ramanujan’s 125th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared 2012 as the National Mathematical Year

ChandrasekharChandrasekhar combined Einstein’s combined Einstein’s special theory of relativity and the special theory of relativity and the new quantum mechanics in 1935 to new quantum mechanics in 1935 to define the critical mass called the define the critical mass called the CHANDRASEKHAR’S limit above CHANDRASEKHAR’S limit above which the star would not become a which the star would not become a white dwarf.white dwarf.

This idea, which later won This idea, which later won Chandrasekhar the Nobel Prize, was Chandrasekhar the Nobel Prize, was immediately ridiculed byimmediately ridiculed by EddingtonEddington. . This made young Chandrasekhar This made young Chandrasekhar abandon this field and set back abandon this field and set back research in this area by perhaps research in this area by perhaps 20 years.20 years.

Ph.D. in Physics, switched to biology at Ph.D. in Physics, switched to biology at UCSFUCSF

Contributions include the Contributions include the determination of the structure determination of the structure of the 30S ribosomal subunit of the 30S ribosomal subunit and its complexes with and its complexes with antibiotics, the role of the 30S antibiotics, the role of the 30S subunit in decoding, and the subunit in decoding, and the high-resolution (high-resolution (Thermus Thermus thermophilusthermophilus ribosome at 2.8 Å ribosome at 2.8 Å resolution ) structure of the resolution ) structure of the entire 70S ribosome entire 70S ribosome complexed with mRNA and complexed with mRNA and tRNA.tRNA.Ribosome is the factory of protein synthesis. Ribosome is the factory of protein synthesis.

Hydrogen Bonds are very important in Biology

Neutrons are very good in studying hydrogen bonds and my early work was on hydrogen bonds

ITER (ITER (IInternational nternational TThermonuclear hermonuclear EExperimental xperimental RReactor)eactor)

ITER

Fusion Power: 500 MW

Plasma Volume: 840 m3

Plasma Current: 15 MA

Typical Density: 1020 m-3

Typical Temperature: 20 keVITER complex at Cadarache, FRANCE

(an artist’s view)

Joint Venture of 7 parties

Courtesy : Y.C. Saxena

India, through its Universities, Research Institutions, India, through its Universities, Research Institutions, S&T Departments, including Mission-oriented S&T Departments, including Mission-oriented Agencies (Atomic Energy, Space, Defence Research) Agencies (Atomic Energy, Space, Defence Research) has laid a strong foundation for Basic Research as has laid a strong foundation for Basic Research as well as Applied Research and Technology well as Applied Research and Technology Development. At the same time, the demand for Development. At the same time, the demand for using the generated (and globally available) using the generated (and globally available) knowledge for Industrial Development and Societal knowledge for Industrial Development and Societal benefit, particularly Rural Development, is benefit, particularly Rural Development, is increasing. increasing.

For For industrial development, industrial development, we need in-house R&D we need in-house R&D centres in industry and enhanced academia-industry centres in industry and enhanced academia-industry interactions, and for interactions, and for rural developmentrural development, we need , we need improved mechanisms for rural technology delivery. improved mechanisms for rural technology delivery. These are rapidly growing in India now. These are rapidly growing in India now.

India is too large a country to absent itself from any India is too large a country to absent itself from any field of science and technology. Debating the field of science and technology. Debating the relative importance of small science and big relative importance of small science and big technology missions is irrelevant in today’s India. technology missions is irrelevant in today’s India. The two, in fact, are heavily cross-linked.The two, in fact, are heavily cross-linked.

The Borders are The Borders are FuzzyFuzzy Scientists create Ideas Engineers create Scientists create Ideas Engineers create

Products Innovators create WealthProducts Innovators create Wealth

But the borders between them are fuzzy. But the borders between them are fuzzy. Every researcher is a mix, in different Every researcher is a mix, in different proportions, of Scientist, Engineer and proportions, of Scientist, Engineer and InnovatorInnovator

For discovering the For discovering the Raman EffectRaman Effect, , a physicist a physicist was enough. To look for the Higgs Boson, was enough. To look for the Higgs Boson, we have the multi-billion dollar precision – we have the multi-billion dollar precision – engineered Large Hadron Collider.engineered Large Hadron Collider.

On the other hand, the superstructure of On the other hand, the superstructure of Advanced Technology is built on the Advanced Technology is built on the foundation of Fundamental Science. foundation of Fundamental Science.

And we need an e-science infrastructure. And we need an e-science infrastructure.

((from talk in the Silver Jubilee from talk in the Silver Jubilee Meeting of the Indian National Academy of Engineering Meeting of the Indian National Academy of Engineering , 20 April 2012) , 20 April 2012)

Making Technology Choices requires Technology Foresight and this has to be done in a national perspective, based on natural resources, needs and human resource potential. The critical technologies for India today, in my opinion, range from strategic technologies (nuclear, space and defence-related) to rural development-related technologies. What is a ‘critical technology’ for India may or may not be so for other countries. Examples: Fast Breeder Reactors, Rural Food Processing, etc.

APSARA REACTOR.

BARC, India

Date of Criticality, August 4, 1956.

First Nuclear Reactor in Asia

India’s Technology Needs – Nuclear India’s Technology Needs – Nuclear to Ruralto Rural

The three-stage Indian nuclear programme is based on the closed The three-stage Indian nuclear programme is based on the closed nuclear fuel cycle and thorium utilisationnuclear fuel cycle and thorium utilisation

U fueledPHWRs

Pu FueledFast Breeders

Nat. U

Dep. U

Pu

Th

Th

U233 FueledReactors

Pu

U233

Electricity

Electricity

Electricity

Stage 1Stage 1 Stage 2Stage 2 Stage 3Stage 3

PHWR

FBTRAHWR

Power generation primarily by PHWRBuilding fissile inventory for stage 2

Expanding power programmeBuilding U233 inventory

Thorium utilisation forSustainable power programme

U233

300 GWe-Year42000 GWe-Year 155000

GWe-Year

Nuclear is now an accepted mitigation technology in the context of the Climate Change Threat. But if it is to be a sustainable mitigation technology, you have to close the nuclear fuel cycle.

(‘Coherent Synergy’ is a new phrase I coined some years back(‘Coherent Synergy’ is a new phrase I coined some years back in the S&T context!)in the S&T context!)

The S&T System, to contribute maximally to national development, requires a variety of efforts. Human Resource Development is one of the most important component efforts. Others are R&D with prioritization, academia-industry interaction, international cooperation, etc.

Every such effort requires synergy among the concerned parties and every synergetic S&T effort gives a momentum for development. And momentum is a vector. All the vectors must point in the same direction for coherence. SynergySynergy in every effort and CoherenceCoherence among all the efforts – that is what I mean by ‘Coherent Synergy’.

The Need for Coherent SynergyThe Need for Coherent Synergy

International Cooperation is important for India and should be mutually beneficial for it to be sustainable.

In nuclear science and technology in In nuclear science and technology in particular, I think, India can give to the world particular, I think, India can give to the world (in the long term) as much as it wants to take (in the long term) as much as it wants to take from it (in the short term)from it (in the short term)

(from my talk in a meeting of the Atomic (from my talk in a meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, Aso Mountain, July Energy Society of Japan, Aso Mountain, July 13, 2006) 13, 2006)

International International CooperationCooperation

The Large Hadron Collider ModelThe Large Hadron Collider Model(for International R&D Collaboration(for International R&D Collaboration))

The world’s largest accelerator is being built The world’s largest accelerator is being built in the Centre for European Nuclear in the Centre for European Nuclear Research(CERN) in Geneva – a more than 4 Billion Research(CERN) in Geneva – a more than 4 Billion U.S. Dollars machine. Under an agreement U.S. Dollars machine. Under an agreement signed when I was Chairman AEC, India signed when I was Chairman AEC, India contributed 40 Million U.S. Dollars – worth hi-tech contributed 40 Million U.S. Dollars – worth hi-tech equipment like a thousand superconducting equipment like a thousand superconducting sextuple magnets, etc. and advanced ‘grid’ sextuple magnets, etc. and advanced ‘grid’ software. Half of this contribution has been put software. Half of this contribution has been put into an ‘India Fund’ which will support Indian into an ‘India Fund’ which will support Indian scientists who will work with the Accelerator. scientists who will work with the Accelerator. Indian scientist groups are also participating in Indian scientist groups are also participating in the construction and experimentation with two the construction and experimentation with two giant Detector systems – CMS and Alice – TIFR giant Detector systems – CMS and Alice – TIFR and SINP lead the Indian teams for these two and SINP lead the Indian teams for these two experiments (post-script: CMS was one of the 2 experiments (post-script: CMS was one of the 2 detectors involved in providing the recent detectors involved in providing the recent experimental evidence on the Higgs Boson). experimental evidence on the Higgs Boson).

Our entry as a full member into the ITER Our entry as a full member into the ITER programme is another example of India's 'equal programme is another example of India's 'equal partner' collaboration in a 'mega science' project. partner' collaboration in a 'mega science' project.

In development of all high-In development of all high-technology areas, I have been technology areas, I have been suggesting a three-step strategy: suggesting a three-step strategy:

optimally use Visible optimally use Visible Capabilities; Capabilities;

identify and stimulate identify and stimulate LatentLatent capabilities; and capabilities; and

leverage leverage international international collaborationcollaboration to strengthen to strengthen our own initiativesour own initiatives

Research involves generation of new Research involves generation of new knowledge and Innovation requires adding knowledge and Innovation requires adding economic value (or societal benefit or strategic economic value (or societal benefit or strategic value or a mix of them) to knowledge, not value or a mix of them) to knowledge, not necessarily generated by you. We have also necessarily generated by you. We have also to consider Research in all its dimensions - to consider Research in all its dimensions - Basic Research, (what I call) Directed Basic Basic Research, (what I call) Directed Basic Research, Applied Research (both pre-Research, Applied Research (both pre-competitive and that leading to proprietary competitive and that leading to proprietary product development) – and Innovation, again product development) – and Innovation, again in all its dimensions – Product Innovation, in all its dimensions – Product Innovation, Process Innovation and Design Innovation. Process Innovation and Design Innovation.

Success in Research gives prestige, Success in Success in Research gives prestige, Success in Innovation gives prosperity.Innovation gives prosperity. We want both. We want both. People today want Science to improve their People today want Science to improve their Quality of Life. And this is happening.Quality of Life. And this is happening.

““After the second world war, the U.S … led After the second world war, the U.S … led the world …… through the Department of the world …… through the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) central role in technology Defense’s (DoD’s) central role in technology development. To support this technology development. To support this technology base, the DoD invested in emerging base, the DoD invested in emerging fields….Resulting waves of innovation fields….Resulting waves of innovation created whole industries that helped to fuel created whole industries that helped to fuel the US economy…. The attributes that the US economy…. The attributes that accounted for the military’s successes accounted for the military’s successes (included), in particular, its focused (included), in particular, its focused mission. …….…. and its role as mission. …….…. and its role as an early an early customer for advanced technologies”customer for advanced technologies”. .

Daniel Sarewitz, Nature 471, 137(9 March 2011)

India’s mission-oriented agencies have a similar India’s mission-oriented agencies have a similar experience and must continue to play a catalytic experience and must continue to play a catalytic role in India’s technology development by role in India’s technology development by introducing new advanced technologies. We must introducing new advanced technologies. We must remember that, in high-technology areas, ‘proven’ remember that, in high-technology areas, ‘proven’ technologies are often a synonym for ‘obsolete’ technologies are often a synonym for ‘obsolete’ technologies. technologies.

R. ChidambaramR. Chidambaram

Indian Tsunami Warning System

• The TSUNAMI N2 model is customized for Indian Ocean region Travel times, Directivity maps, Surge heights and Extent of inundation

• A large database of Scenarios for different magnitudes (6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 & 9.5) and depths (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 & 100 km) for 100 x 50 km grid.

• Forecast is given for 1800 coastal forecast points. WEBGIS based service.• IOTWS is a network of national systems consisting of Regional Tsunami Service Providers

(RTSP) and National Tsunami Watch Centres (NTWC). RTSPs distribute products to NTWCs. NTWCs are responsible for providing warnings to their citizens based on their analysis of the situation. Operational RTSP Services started from October 12, 2011.

Courtesy: Dr. Shailesh Nayak

• Potential Fisheries Zone (PFZ) Forecast to > 450 Stations

• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services

Fisheries

Wasteland Monitoring

• National Wasteland Inventory Project (1986 - 2000); Wasteland Updation Mission (2003-04);

• Wasteland Monitoring Project - 2006 • Wasteland Change Analysis project

using 2009 data

• Area & Production estimation - Rice, Wheat, Sorghum, Cotton, Potato, mustard groundnut

• National Centre for Crop Forecasting being established under Ministry of Agriculture

Agriculture

• Groundwater prospect & Recharge zones

• 20 States completed; • Phase-IV ( 13 States & UT) in

Progress.

LU/LC

Water

Drain

Soil

Road

ParcelPRA

Field Survey

Drinking Water

Watershed Development

Monitoring Irrigation Infrastructure

• Use of High resolution satellite data for Assessment of irrigation potential created under the “Accelerated Irrigation Benefit programme” of Planning Commission

• 53 Projects; 5.4 Mha in 18 States

Space Application Projects in Diversified Areas

• Spatial data base at large scales to facilitate planning and monitoring development of land and water resources on watershed basis , in several National and State level programmes

Courtesy: Dr. K. Radhakrishnan

Techniques applied include;

Measurement of environmental stable isotopic ratios of 18O/16O, 2H/1H and environmentally radioactive tritium.

Geomorphologic and hydrogeological data.

Based on the above analysis, artificial recharge structures were constructed at selected locations. The rate of discharge increased three to nine times in many springs and also two new springs sprang up. Almost all the springs have become perennial.

Here springs are the only available source of water for domestic and agricultural use.

An Example of RuTAG/HESCO-BARC work in UttarakhandAn Example of RuTAG/HESCO-BARC work in Uttarakhand(RuTAG is an Open Platform Innovation Strategy of PSA’s office)(RuTAG is an Open Platform Innovation Strategy of PSA’s office)

Identification of Recharge Zones to Drying Springs in GaucherIdentification of Recharge Zones to Drying Springs in Gaucher

from K. Shivanna, Gursharan Singh, A.P. Joshi et al, Current Science(2008)from K. Shivanna, Gursharan Singh, A.P. Joshi et al, Current Science(2008)

It is the largest nuclear desalination plant in the world based on hybrid technology.

Nuclear Desalination- Hybrid MSF-RO, Kalpakkam

NDDP Kalpakkam – MSF4.5 Million Litres per Day (MLD)

Stages: 39Product Quality: Distilled 2-5 ppm

NDDP Kalpakkam-RO1.8 MLD capacity

Product Quality: Drinking water (WHO quality)

(Courtesy : P.K. Tewari, BARC)(Courtesy : P.K. Tewari, BARC)Solar Energy can also be used. Solar Energy can also be used.

Nuclear is, of course, Power. But its impact branches out to medicine, agriculture Nuclear is, of course, Power. But its impact branches out to medicine, agriculture and other societal needs, including water security. and other societal needs, including water security.

Tremor analysis glove fabricated by Tremor analysis glove fabricated by IGCAR, in collaboration with SCTIMSTIGCAR, in collaboration with SCTIMST

(with IGCAR knowledge of synergy with sensors used for seismic detection in nuclear reactors used for monitoring hand movement disorders in SCTIMST)

Courtesy: Dr. Baldev Raj, IGCAR, and Courtesy: Dr. Baldev Raj, IGCAR, and Dr. Asha Kishore, SCTIMST Dr. Asha Kishore, SCTIMST

► 31 PoP► 89 Backbone Links► 1500 Edge Links► More than 700

connections by April 2012

National Knowledge Network National Knowledge Network On Conclusion of Final PhaseOn Conclusion of Final Phase

Courtesy: R.S. Mani, NICCourtesy: R.S. Mani, NIC

Regional and International Research Collaboration can be enhanced by connecting such Knowledge Networks

Aims to connect all Knowledge Institutions in India through a high-speed all-optical fibre low-latency network

NKN an integral NKN an integral part of e-science part of e-science infrastructureinfrastructure

NKN

NKN

NKN APPLICATIONSNKN APPLICATIONS

NKN e-Classroom

NKN Webcasting

Remote Experiment

Climate Change

High Energy Physics

Engineering Research Collaboration: Complex Systems from Nuclear to orthodontics (Collab CAD platform)Engineering Research Collaboration: Complex Systems from Nuclear to orthodontics (Collab CAD platform)

The most important issue, today, and not The most important issue, today, and not only in India but everywhere, is attracting only in India but everywhere, is attracting talented young people to careers in science talented young people to careers in science and technology, particularly in those areas and technology, particularly in those areas which a country considers important. which a country considers important. INSPIRE programme of DST is a significant INSPIRE programme of DST is a significant initial step in this context, starting from initial step in this context, starting from age group 10-15 (middle and high schools) age group 10-15 (middle and high schools) to faculty awards in the age group 27-32 to faculty awards in the age group 27-32 (post doctoral) – 6,40,000 awards released (post doctoral) – 6,40,000 awards released since 2008. since 2008.

Hemorrhage of engineering research talent Hemorrhage of engineering research talent has also got to be stemmed at the has also got to be stemmed at the B.Tech/M.Tech Final Years. B.Tech/M.Tech Final Years.

And then there are the Gifted in Science And then there are the Gifted in Science and Mathematics, whose innate abilities and Mathematics, whose innate abilities have to be identified and nurtured. Our have to be identified and nurtured. Our Office has initiated a pilot project in this Office has initiated a pilot project in this context.context.

R. ChidambaramR. Chidambaram

““By the time Ramanujan finished school, he had become a By the time Ramanujan finished school, he had become a celebrity for his talent in mathematics…..before he left celebrity for his talent in mathematics…..before he left school, he came upon …..Carr’sschool, he came upon …..Carr’s Synopsis of Elementary Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure Mathematics,Results in Pure Mathematics, a collection of important a collection of important mathematical results, ….without proof or explanation. ……mathematical results, ….without proof or explanation. ……following the example of following the example of Synopsis, Synopsis, much of Ramanujan’s much of Ramanujan’s original work consists of brilliant results simply stated, original work consists of brilliant results simply stated, with generations of researchers …..who came after him with generations of researchers …..who came after him having to plod to find the proofs ….. Ramanujan failed in having to plod to find the proofs ….. Ramanujan failed in his FA examination in Government College in his FA examination in Government College in Kumbakonam ….. (and again in Pachaiyappa’s College). Kumbakonam ….. (and again in Pachaiyappa’s College). …..providentially, a brilliant young mathematician at …..providentially, a brilliant young mathematician at Cambridge, G.H. Hardy, ….. was thunderstruck by the Cambridge, G.H. Hardy, ….. was thunderstruck by the incredible originality of the material sent to him (by)….. incredible originality of the material sent to him (by)….. the remarkable Indian clerk”.the remarkable Indian clerk”.

Can we identify and nurture today’s Can we identify and nurture today’s Ramanujans?Ramanujans?

““from S. Ananthanarayanan’s “Icons from the World of Science”, 2004from S. Ananthanarayanan’s “Icons from the World of Science”, 2004

MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION

“In the 1920’s, there was need for self-expression as a part of the national movement ………. to show the West that in their own realm, we were equal to them”

S. Chandrasekhar speaks to K.C. Wali

Today, the motivation should be to make India a ‘Developed Country’ in the fullest sense of the term and a ‘Global Innovation Leader’.

How did India produce world-class scientists like C.V. Raman and S.N. Bose in 1920’s?

Need for CharacterNeed for CharacterNeed for CharacterNeed for Character

“ “Most people think it is the Most people think it is the intellect intellect which makes a great which makes a great scientist.scientist. They are wrong, it is the They are wrong, it is the character.”character.”

-EinsteinEinsteinTo do experiments with patience and care, to interpret results without bias or prejudice, to persevere in spite of failures and to claim credit for what you have done and no more than that requires character. These virtues mutatis mutandis are needed also for leadership in any field.