Annual Report 2000 - 2001

Professional Bodies

Indian Academy Of Sciences, Bangalore

The year under report is the sixty-seventh year of the founding of the Academy. During the year, twenty-three distinguished scientists were elected Fellows, and three from abroad as Honorary Fellows. Among those who were less than 32 years of age, six were elected as Associates

Publication of the eleven scientific journals continued with the same vigour as before. Some of the theme issues that were covered in journals related to such areas as isotopic windows on planetary processes, Bay of Bengal monsoon experiment, modelling system, mechanical and structural systems, nuclear structural analysis, neutrino physics, high energy physics, gravitation and cosmology, and plasma science and technology. Under "Project Lifescape" which is aimed at preparing illustrated accounts of plants and animals found in the country, the first publication on "Butterflies" was brought out. Full texts of articles published in various Academy journals are now made freely available on the internet to give greater worldwide visibility. A new 64-Mbps VSNL line to provide for improved electronic access of journals has become operational. A new website of the Academy (www.ias.ac.in) has also been commissioned.

As part of the ongoing efforts to improve science education and teaching in universities and colleges across the country, two new programmes were added. These include 2 or 3-day lecture series for students and teachers from local colleges and 2-week all-India refresher courses for teachers. Several of these were held during the year in different parts of the country. This is in addition to the other programmes such as Summer Fellowships for students/teachers to do brief project work and opportunities for teachers to attend scientific meetings.

The Academy mid-year scientific meeting in July 2000 held in Bangalore included three public and special lectures and thirteen semi-technical presentations. The Annual meeting held in Goa in November, consisted of a microsymposium in "Climate, Monsoon and India's water", two public lectures, three special lectures and ten semi-technical presentations. This meeting was
attended by 250 scientists from all over the country, and an equally large number of students and researchers from within Goa. Four discussion meetings on such topics as computational fluid dynamics with hyperbolic conservation laws, statistical methodologies in information sciences, function and plasticity of adult brain, and origin of life and evolution were held at the Academy conference facility in Coorg. Many public lectures by distinguished scientific personalities who visited Bangalore were organized during the year.

Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi

The Council assumed office after the Anniversary General Meeting on 20 December 1999 at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Professor G Mehta delivered the Presidential Address on Synthetic Design of New Glycomimics which evoked keen interest and comments from amongst the Fellowship.

• Five Symposia/Seminars on (1) High Altitude Biology at G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Almora; (2) Isotope Applications in Earth and Planetary Sciences; (3) Advances in Sciences for Sustainable Environment and Development in the next Decade at PRL, Ahmedabad; (4) Natural Disasters and (5) Integrative Biology at INSA premises were held.
  
• As many as 18 medal/lecture awards were announced (6 General Medals/ General Lectures, 12 Subjectwise Medals). Twenty three Award Lectures were delivered during General Meetings, under the aegis of Local Chapters. Eleven scientists (below the age of 32 years) were honoured with the INSA Young Scientists' Medal.
  
• The Academy continued research support through various programmes of appointment of Research Professors (5), Senior Scientists (49), Visiting Fellows (17), projects of Young Scientists Medal Awardees (21) and for organizing conferences (55) under the Basic Sciences scheme.
  
• The Indian National Commission on History of Science approved 13 new projects. In all, there are now 38 on-going research projects - 17 in Ancient period, 10 in Medieval period and 11 in Modern period. 'History of Technology (Modern Period): Volume III' , 'History of Astronomy in India' and the proceeding of the Seminar on the Concept of Sunya are at the final stage of publication. Four issues of Indian Journal of History of Science (IJHS) were also published.
  
• In pursuance of the scientific collaboration and exchange programmes established with the prominent science Academies in Europe, Asia, North and Central America and CIS countries, 96 Indian Scientist visited abroad and 110 foreign scientists visited India. Apart from this, the Academy nominated 79 Indian Scientists to undertake their visit during the year 2000-2001. Under the purview of Joint INSA-USNAS energy collaboration a workshop on "Clean Fossil Fuels" was planned to be organised in India in the near future. In order to advise the decision makers in the area of biotechnology which will affect the future of humanity and the planet's natural resources in the next century, the Academy in collaboration with the seven major Academies of the world namely Brazil, China, Mexico, USA, UK and TWAS decided to issue a joint statement on "Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture". The Academy also continued to participate in the programme of the Inter Academy Panel on International Issues (IAP) which decided to constitute a Inter Academy Council (IAC), a formal organisation, to undertake joint projects and policy investigation, etc. The Academy also continued to support the activities of the joint project "Population and Land Use Changes" formulated jointly with USNAS and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Academy also continued its relationship with the regional and other international organisations i.e. FASAS, TWAS and IFS.
  
• The Academy supported the visits of 235 scientists (84 ICSU-sponsored, 151 other important international meetings) and 54 Young Scientists for various conferences/seminars abroad. Nine international meetings were organised in India under the sponsorship of ICSU and ICSU affiliated subject unions.
  
• As an adhering organization in India, Academy very actively participated in the ICSU General Assembly in Cairo from 26-30 September 1999. Professor Mehta was elected to the Executive Board of ICSU as a Member. Nine ICSU sponsored international meetings were held in India including the 13th International Biophysics Congress and the General Assembly of IUPAB in New Delhi in September 1999.
  
• The Academy's Library added 138 books in English and 126 in Hindi, and received 800 journals on various disciplines of science and technology mostly under the exchange programme. Citation analysis was carried out for about 5231 research articles published during past two decades using CD-based SCI database. Four issues of Science Information Notes were brought out alongwith Hindi issue.
  
• Twelve issues of the Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IJPAM), Six issues each of PINSA-A (Physical Sciences) and PINSA-B (Biological Sciences), and six issues of INSA News (English and three of Hindi version) were published.
  

The following special publications were also brought out: (1) Gondwana Assembly: New Issues and Perspectives; (2) Emerging Communication Technologies and the Society; (3) Diarrhoeal Diseases - Research Perspectives; (4) Multi-Drug Resistance in Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases; (5) Number Theory; (6) Quantum Field Theory - A 20th Century Profile.

Indian Science Congress Association, Calcutta

The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) owes its origin to the foresight and initiative of two British Chemists, namely, Professor J.L.Simonsen and Professor P. S.MacMahon. It occurred to them that scientific research in India might be stimulated if an annual meeting of research workers somewhat on the lines of the British Association for the Advancement of Science could be arranged.

The Association was formed with the following objectives:

• To advance and promote the cause of science in India; to hold an annual congress at a suitable place in India; to publish proceedings, journals, transactions, etc;
  
• To popularise science.

88th Indian Science Congress 2001

The 88"' Indian Science Congress was held in New Delhi under the auspices of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute from January 3-7, 2001, under the General Presidentship of Dr.R.S.Paroda, Secretary, DARE & Director-General, ICAR, New Delhi. The, Focal Theme of the 88P Indian Science Congress was "Food, Nutrition and Environmental Security". There were as many as eight Plenary Sessions devoted to different facets of the Focal Theme namely, Session - 1: improving Productivity for Food and Nutritional Security; Session - II: Post Harvest Processing and Value Addition; Session - III: Managing Resources for Increased Farm Sustainability; Session - IV: Complementing New Technologies with Traditional Knowledge; Session - V: Nutritional Needs for Human Health; Session - VI: Livestock for Nutrition and Financial Well Being; Session - VII : Environmental and Agricultural Development; and Session - VIII : Progressive Policies for Food, Nutrition and Environmental Security.

Many eminent scientists, technologists, policy-makers, industrial executives, social activists and noble laureates participated. Besides the Focal Theme, a Public Forum on "GMOs and Genomics" and "How Food Secure is India" were also organised. A few Evening Lectures were organised. Symposia on specialised topics were organised during the Science Congress in different Sections/ Committees/Forums. Other deliberations in Sections included Presidential Addresses, Platinum Jubilee Lectures as also Lectures on subject of special interest. Contributed Papers were presented by way of posters. ISCA Young Scientists Programme in sections was arranged as usual. A large number of award lectures were also delivered during the Congress.

Foreign Scientists

Participation of foreign scientists formed an integral part of the Science Congress Session. ISCA invited several foreign scientific societies/academics to send representatives to participate at the 88th Indian Science Congress. A few individual scientists from abroad were also invited.

Interaction with Foreign Scientific Academies/ Associations

ISCA has been actively represented in various foreign scientific academies/ associations, namely British Association for the Advancement of Science, French Academy of Sciences, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, etc. with a view to have first hand knowledge on topics of mutual interests.

ISCA Chapters

The Association started organising popular science lectures in different centres in India from 1962-63. The scheme envisages some constructive work for the popularisation and advancement of science throughout the year. Till 1985-86 these lectures were delivered at seventeen centres spread over the country. However, this was restructured with the formation of Regional Chapters.

One of the major objective of the ISCA is to inculcate scientific temper among the people and to encourage young scientist to grow up steadily in this direction involving them in the programmes relevant to fundamental, experimental and operational activities. With these objectives in the view, ISCA started Chapters from 1986-87 in different places in India. At present ISCA Chapters are at Bangalore, Baroda, Bhubaneswar, Bodh-Gaya, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Karnal, Nagpur, Patiala and Shillong. These ISCA Chapters arranged various lecture, seminar, quiz, workshop, competition, discussion, exhibition, etc. during 2000-2001. The ISCA Jaipur Chapter arranged a Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award Lecture (1999-2000) by Dr. Amrita Patel on 14th November, 2000.

Collaborative Programme

The Association observed 'Technology Day' on 12th May, 2000 in its Lecture Hall in collaboration with Birla Industrial & Technological Museum. ISCA also celebrated 'Environment Day' and 'Engineers Day' with Science Association of Bengal (SAB), National Environmental Science Academy (NESA) West Bengal Chapter and Institution of Engineers (India) on 5th June, 2000 and 15th September, 2000 respectively.

Publications

This is a very important and significant activity from the angles of both dissemination of scientific knowledge and projection of Association's image. The year under report witnessed a significant number of publications brought out by the Association; Proceedings of the Eighty-seventh Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress Association were published. The issues of quarterly journal "Everyman's Science" was brought out in time. Other publications brought out were: ISCA Directory: 2000-2001; General Information brochure of the 88P Indian Science Congress, Annual Report for l999-2000.

A combined volume on Platinum Jubilee Lectures (1997-98) & (1998-99) consisting of four separate parts (Part I - Physical Sciences, Part II- Biological Sciences, Part III - Engineering & Earth Sciences and Part IV - Social Sciences) was released.

National Academy Of Sciences, Allahabad

The objectives of the Academy, established in 1930, are cultivation and promotion of Science and Technology in all its branches, providing a national forum for publication of research work, holding symposia/seminars on scientific topics of national relevance, organizing a Science Library including section for students of plus two level, organizing meetings and discussions on scientific and technological problems, promoting scientific and technological research concerned with the problems of national welfare.

The research journal, Proceedings of the Academy, being published regularly in two sections covering Physical and Biological Sciences, are now running into their 70th Volume. The Academy also publishes a monthly research journal, National Academy Science Letters, now running into its 23rd Volume. The other special publication of the Academy during the year is History of the Academy entitled Stepping Stones (1930-2000).

The Academy during the year has organized three symposia (i) School Science for India of Tomorrow, (ii) Mathematical Modelling for Glacier Studies and (iii) Harnessing Science and Technology for the New Era, besides the 70th Annual Session at Allahabad. During the Annual Session Swarna Jayanti Puraskars were given to scientists presenting best research paper in the Sections of Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences.

Brain Awareness Week and National Technology Day were celebrated besides organizing a round table discussion on conciousness.

For promotion of excellence, the following Awards were given :

• M.N. Saha Memorial Lecture Award
  
• A.C. Banerji Memorial Lecture Award
  
• R.N. Tandon Memorial Lecture Award
  
• Millennium Award to a distinguished senior scientist
  
• Millennium Awards to two young scientists, one each in the streams of Physical and Biological Sciences.

Under human resource development programme an intensive Science Communication Activity comprising popular lectures, extension lectures, State and Local level science contests is being organized which would culminate with the celebration of National Science Day.

The Academy during this duration has elected 1 distinguished scientist as Honorary Fellow, 3 distinguished scientists as Foreign Fellows, 50 distinguished scientists as Fellows and 43 scientists as Members.