Young Scientists Exhibit New Inventions

From a new gadget to thwart terror to experimental bringing up of a plant in water for long without soil, several innovative ideas were exhibited by children participating in the Children's Science Congress, one of the major events of the 96th edition of the Indian Science Congress held at NEHU in Shillong.

Topan Kumar Samal, a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, CRPF, Bhubaneswar, made a model of a 'logical' Close Circuit Camera Television (CCTV) fitted with a killing weapon to identify and gun down terrorists from a control room.

He came up with the idea after he saw TV footage of the Mumbai terror attack at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus where terrorists went on a rampage killing many innocents even as security personnel laid down their lives confronting the terrorists.

''I was thinking how causalities relating to security personnel could be reduced and then came up with the model, where security personnel need not go into the conflict zone but make the best use of available technology,'' he said.

The young scientist made a model of his innovation saying that security agencies need not physically venture into a conflict zone but personnel at the control room could gun down any terrorist after proper identification.

Bharati Singh, of BBL Public School, was fascinated by a history lesson where she learnt that soldiers during World War II applied mosses to their wounds when they were injured to stop infection.

''We did some experimentation on mosses and finally extracted a protein that could prevent multiplication of viruses and were thrilled with the result. We finally applied for patent of our discovery in December,'' she said.

Philawan Shisha Thabah, a student of Meghalaya's Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, Shillong, exhibited her invention of 'nutrient film technique'. The nutrient film technique is a method of growing crops in a nutritional rich solution without the use of soil.

The basic idea is to grow plants in a thin film of nutrient which allows the root of the plants to have constant contact with the nutrient and the air layer above at the same time.

The nutrient rich solution is continuously pumped to nurture the plants and any excess is recycled back to a nutrient reservoir.

Another child scientist Sumen K Marak, of St Thomas Higher Secondary School, Mendipathar, East Garo Hills, exhibited organic non-toxic pesticides invented by her which can be used without any side effects to the crops and plants.

According to her, the indigenous, home-made organic pesticides could be promoted among farmers in a large way in the Northeast.

Ms Marak developed chilli, neem, garlic and tobacco based solution to be used as non-toxic pesticides for the growth of these produces.

Dheeraj Kumar, a student of SKD academy, Lucknow, concerned with the waste of energy because street lights are never put off during the day, has evolved a system that will turn off the lights the moment the sun rises.

The system, which prompts the streetlights to automatically turn off and on with the sunrise and sunset, has already been put into use in his locality, claimed Kumar, adding the country's endeavour to save energy will get a fillip if the system is put into use.

Source: UNI

Most Destructive Virus Being Spread Through Email On Osama

Anti-virus software experts of McAfee, leading company in intrusion prevention and security risk management, have detected the ''most destructive virus'' being sent through e-mail invites across the world with pictures of Osama Bin Laden captured/hanged.

''The moment you open e-mails saying ''Osama Bin Laden Captured'' or ''Osama Hanged'', your computer will crash and you will not be able to fix it,'' the experts warned today.

This e-mail is being distributed through countries around the globe, but mainly in the US and Israel, according to experts. 

''It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch, which ''burns'' the whole C hard disc of your computer,'' they said, adding that CNN and Microsoft have called it the worst and most destructive virus ever respectively.

This virus was discovered by McAfee on 3 January, 2008, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus, the experts said. 

This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital information is kept, the experts said.

Source: UNI

Prof MGK Menon Inaugurates PARAM Sheersh Facility

PARAM Sheersh, a supercomputing facility for bio-informatics and computational biology was formally inaugurated at the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong on 5 January, 2009.

Prof MGK Menon, who inaugurated the facility in the absence of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, said the new technology was specifically developed for the North Eastern Region to usher in new benefits for the local population.

Developed by Pune-based Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the facility will take up in conducting research in strategic areas of Weather, Seismic, Bio-informatics, Physics, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Material Sciences and Life Sciences.

PARAM Sheersh facility consists of 4 TF peak supercomputing power along with 10 TB High Performance storage scratch space and 24 TB on-line storage.

Source: UNI

India To Double Investment In Science: PM

While announcing a doubling of the investment in science from 1 to 2 per cent of the national income, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, 3 January, 2008, urged the Indian industry to invest in research and development aimed at boosting science and technology so that young minds are attracted to seeking a career in science.

"We need a new wave of investment from the private sector so that young people will be encouraged to seek a career in science," the prime minister said while inaugurating the 96th Indian Science Congress at the Northeastern Hill University in Shillong.

"India is lagging behind not just in comparison to developed Western nations, but also the new industrialising economies of Asia. While the government is doing its bit to ensure quantitative development, the leadership for qualitative development must come from you (students, researchers and scientists)," Manmohan Singh said.

"Today we can say with pride that we have launched five new institutions dedicated to teaching and research in sciences," he said. "New institutes for research in Himalayan glaciology, molecular materials, nano science and technology are to be created."

Stressing that the central government was committed to enhancing the budgetary allocations for science and technology, Manmohan Singh said the budget outlay for the ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences have been trebled in the last four years (2004-2008).

Singh said the parliament recently announced the setting up of a National Science and Engineering Research Board that would work towards formulating plans for scientific research funding in the country.

Stating that the government has placed the highest emphasis on making a career in science attractive to young students, the Prime Minister said that his government has widened the higher education base of the country by investing in the creation of 30 new central universities, five new Indian Institutes of Science, Education and Research, eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology.

There are also proposals from the Ministry of Science and Technology to adopt a Cancer Research Institute in Chennai, Institute for Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Guwahati and the National Innovation Foundation as grantee institutions.

A large number of scientists, engineers and technologists from India and abroad have gathered for the annual science congress, which this year is on the theme of 'Science education and attraction of talent for excellence in research'.

Sibal Calls For Utilitarian And Result Oriented Research: Emphasing that research should be utilitarian and result oriented, Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said on 3 January, 2008 that resources should be spent on projects which can offer quick and lasting solutions.

Delivering a key-note address at the 96th edition of the Indian Science Congress held at North Eastern Hill University in Shillong, Mr Sibal said the country needed to continue with its efforts to ensure a strong future supply of scientists, engineers and technologists and to unlock the talents of all people in the country to use science and technology to help them lead their lives more richly.

Expressing concern over the misuse of technology for destructive purpose, the Union Minister said the answer to the problem lies not in embracing a technology denial regime, but act in the belief that technology alone can provide answers to those who seek to misuse it.

Mr Sibal said the challenges for society are formidable and will require substantial information, knowledge, wisdom, and above all collaboration between the scientific community, policy makers and the public.

Observing that the importance of scientific engagement across society and the potential for science to contribute to good policy making and sound governance has never been greater, the Union Minister expressed confidence that it is only science which will help the nation address the challenges facing it.

In this regard, Mr Sibal believed that there is a pressing need to strengthen the level of high quality engagement with the public on all major scientific issues; and increase the number of people who choose to study science subjects and to take up research and scientific careers.

Sibal said scientists of Indian origin scattered in various parts of the world were willing to contribute to Indian science.

"We are devising special programmes to encourage return of scientists to India and work in areas related to life sciences and bio-technology," he said.

The five-day congress will see a galaxy of eminent scientists taking part in various seminars.

Sources: IANS, UNI