REPORT on

Science Academies’ Lecture Workshop on ‘Learning Chemistry Differently’ Dates: 20-21 March, 2015

Organized by: Department of Chemistry, Malda College, Malda, West Bengal

� A two-day long science Academies’ Lecture Workshop on “Learning Chemistry Differently”, organized by the Department of Chemistry, Malda College, Malda, West Bengal and sponsored and supported by three academies comprising of Indian Academy of Sciences (Bangalore), Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi) and The National Academy of Sciences, India (Allahabad) was held on 20th and 21st March, 2015. The workshop maintained the rules of the Academies in the best possible ways. The logos of these three academies marked in all announcements in forms of advertisement of the workshop.

Fig. 1: Brochure for publicity

� The venue selected for the workshop was the well furnished and decorated “Sanaullah Mancha” of Malda College Auditorium with a capacity of 340 seats.

Fig. 2 : Indoor & Outdoor view of Auditorium

� Brief inaugural ceremony of the workshop was started with the theme song ‘CHEMISTRY IS EVERYWHERE …………’, presented by the students of the Department of Chemistry, Malda College. The song was composed by Smt. Bratati Misra, Associate Professor, Department of English, Malda College.

Fig. 3 : Theme Song, ‘CHEMISTRY IS EVERYWHERE……….’, presentation

� Welcome address scheduled to be given by Teacher-In-Charge, Malda College, was not possible to take place because of some unavoidable reasons. However the formal opening of the workshop was announced by Professor Asit Dutta, Ex-Reader, Department of Commerce, Malda College. The key-note address was given by the convener of the workshop Dr. Uday Maitra, Professor, Dept. of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Sciences, Banglaore, with reference to the motto of the Science Academies to make the young learners aware of the recent developments in the field of scientific knowledge and the research works specially that of the branch of chemical science keeping in view the title of the workshop ‘Learning Chemistry Differently’.

Fig. 4 : Key note address by Prof Maitra; Coordinator’s vote thanks; Resource Persons & dignitaries and

Hall-packed Audiences

The inaugural session came to an end with vote of thanks given by the coordinator of the workshop who offered thanks to everybody concerned with the arrangement of the workshop and especially to the resource persons for coming to Malda despite their busy academic schedule although Malda is a small town having no Air route facility except a Helicopter service once a week.

� Eight lectures, each of one hour and fifteen minutes duration were delivered in two days by four eminent chemists. The first day’s academic session was started at 10.30am on 20th March, 2015 with the lecture of Dr. Tapas Chakaraborty, the INSA young scientist medal award winner, Professor, Indian Association for the cultivation of Science, Jadavpur with the title ‘Understanding of Light – Molecule Interactions’. All the participants listened to his lectures touching on Raman Effect through Power Point Presentation and he ended his discussion showing a brief documentary on the life of Sir C V Raman, the Nobel Laureate Scientist of India, which must have left an indelible impression on all the audience. His second day lecture on ‘Molecular Spectroscopy and Molecular Parameters’ was equally impressive.

Fig. 5 Prof. Tapas Chakraborty in different actions

� Veteran chemist Dr. Sabyasachi Sarkar, Honorary Professor Emeritus, BESU, Shivpur and former Professor and Head, Dept. of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur addressed second lecture of the workshop with title ‘Do We Eat Graphen? What Nano Carbons Have In Store?’ And on the second day (21.3.15) his lecture was on the title ‘Chemistry of Blood Sucking Insects and a Fishy Enzyme’. His analysis of the subject was understood by the participants very well who got informed of the nature of Graphen and its usefulness which we sometimes get through the small charred part of bread or chapatti. His reference to the catching term Sleeping Giant is worthy to be mentioned as it made the participants well aware of the foul play of the free radicals in our body.

Fig. 6 Interactions with Prof. Sabyasachi Sarkar.

� Dr. Samaresh Bhattacharya, Bhatnagar Awardee chemist, Professor, Jadavpur University, Kolkata delivered two lectures on two different days on the topics entitled ‘Coordination Chemistry of the Trasition Metal Ions : Concepts and Application’ and ‘Organometallic Complexes and their Application in Catalysis’. The participants were highly benefited by his simple analysis of the complex aspect of the subject. Sometimes he crossed the boundary line of chemistry in order to inspire the students with reference to the sayings of great personalities of the world including Rabindranath Tagore.

Fig.7 Prof. Samaresh Bhattacharya explaining ‘Complex’ in simple way.

� Prof. Uday Maitra, Convener of the workshop, Bhatnagar award winner chemist, IISC, Bangalore impressed the participants by his lucid presentation of the topic ‘Stereochemistry Basics’ (2nd day’s 2nd Lecture) through models and direct demonstration of optical rotation by sugar solution which the participants followed with rapt attention. In the dark hall of Auditorium, the participants found new light and ways in order to probe deep into the subject.

Fig. 8. Prof Uday Maitra absorbed in delivering his lectures.

His discussion on ‘Drug Design’ (1st day’s 4th Lecture) brought into light some real problems to invent a new drug though it is often claimed so by the market agency in India by which the people are often deluded.

� Perhaps the most interesting and fruitful part of the workshop was the interaction session which took place initially after each lecture was over and then at the end of the session on both days with all resource persons together; on the 1st day it continued for more than one 1 hr and on the 2nd day the duration covered at least for 45 minutes. The questions were asked on the subject of chemistry as well as sometimes outside of chemistry which proved the participants’ concern for their future career as most of them came from rural background. The coordinator and resource persons felt that the joint interaction session must be an essential part of all such workshops.

Fig. 9 Joint interaction session

� In the brief feedback session which was held at the very end students as well as teachers of the Colleges came to a unanimous view regarding the high utility of this kind of Workshop. All of them expressed their thankfulness to the Academy for arranging a workshop in a rural area as Malda, the Covener Prof Uday Maitra, the resource persons, Prof Sabyasachi Sarkar, Prof Samaresh Bhattachrya, Prof Tapas Chakraborty and also to the Coordinator.

� The Workshop came to its final end with the Rabindra Sangeet performed by the students of Dept. Chemistry of Malda College : AKASH BHARA SURYA TARA VISWA BHARA PRAN ……..

� More Words : Total number of participants were 171 (Resource persons=4, Reaserch Scholars=5, Teachers=14, Students=148). Moreover there were 20 supporting staffs. So Lunch, Tea/Biscuits etc were arranged for about 200 heads for both the days. Lunch menu carried Fried Rice, Potato Chips, Dal, Padal Posta, Paneer, Chicken/Fish Curry, Chutney and Rasgolla (sweet). All the persons having involvement with the Workshop are highly satisfied with these menu items. Allotted budget was for 150 heads. On earnest request of the Convener, Coordinator here mentions that it has been possible for him to return a sum of Rs.10170.00 after meeting all the expenditure of the Lecture Workshop to the Academy thankfully.

Fig. 10 Enjoying the lunch!!!!!

Fig 11 Snap shots at the parting moment.

Time Table PROGRAMME

SCIENCE ACADEMIES’ LECTURE WORKSHOP ON ‘LEARNING CH EMISTRY DIFFERENTLY’ Organized by: Department of Chemistry, Malda College, Malda, West Bengal

Date Time Event Speaker Title of the talk

Friday, March-20, 2015

09:00 – 09:30

Registration

9:30 – 10:00 Introductory Remarks (please see attached sheet)

10: - 10:20 HIGH TEA

10:20 – 11:35 Lecture 1 Tapas Chakraborty [ 1 ] Understanding of light-molecule interactions

11:35 – 12:50 Lecture 2 Sabyasachi Sarkar [ 2 ] Do We Eat Graphen ? What Nano Carbons Have in Store?

12:50 – 14.00 Lunch Break

14:00 – 15:15 Lecture 3 Samaresh Bhattacharya [3] Coordination chemistry of the transition metal ions: Concepts and applications

15:15 -15:45 Tea Break and Discussion

15:45-17:00 Lecture 4 Uday Maitra [ 4 ] Drug Design

17:00 – onwards: Interaction with Resource Persons and then Tea & Samosa

Saturday, March-21, 2015

9:30 – 10:00

Re-registration

10:00 -11:15 Lecture 5 Samaresh Bhattacharya [3] Organometallic complexes and their application in catalysis

11:15 – 11:30

Tea Break and Discussion

11:30 – 12:45 Lecture 6 Uday Maitra [ 4 ] Stereochemistry Basics

12:45 – 13:30 Lunch Break

13:30 – 14:45 Lecture 7 Tapas Chakraborty [ 1 ]

Molecular spectroscopy and molecular parameters

14:45 -15:15 Tea Break and Discussion

15:15 – 16:30 Lecture 8 Sabyasachi Sarkar [ 2 ] Chemistry of Blood Sucking Insects and a Fishy Enzyme 16:30-16:45 Tea Break

16:45– 17:45 Closing Interaction with Resource Persons and concluding session and

then Tea & Samosa

[1] Tapas Chakraborty, Professor, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science Kolkata and

Former Professor of Chemistry, IIT-Kanpur. Education: M. Sc. Calcutta University (1987), Ph.D. IACS (Jadavpur University 1992 with Prof.

Mihir Chowdhury), Postdoc with Edward C Lim at University of Ohio at Akron, USA, 1992-94. Areas of Interests: Gas-phase photochemistry, mass spectrometry, weak intermolecular

interactions, molecular spectroscopy (Infrared and Ultraviolet). Awards and Honours: INSA young scientist medal award (1993), DST Ramanna Fellowship,

Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (2015). [2] Sabyasachi Sarkar, Honorary Professor Emeritus, Bengal Engineering and Science University-

Shibpur, Botanic Garden, Howrah, West Bengal; Former Professor and Head, Chemistry Department of IIT Kanpur.

Education: M.Sc. Calcutta University (1966), Research Associate, Calcutta University (1967-1969 with late Prof. P.B. Sarkar), Ph.D., Gorakhpur University (1975 with Prof. R.P. Rastogi), Post Doc. University of Dortmund and University of Bielefeld, Germany (1976-78, with Prof. Achim Mueller)

Area of Interest: Modeling of metalloproteins, chemical Darwinism, evolution, synthetic leaf, non-invasive bio-imaging, drug delivery crossing blood brain barrier, water soluble nano carbons, silk cocoon as model of green house architecture, new magnetoreception mechanism for nocturnal moth, synthetic biology and scientific, satire and short story writings.

Awards and Honors: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2013), DST Ramanna (Sr.) Fellowship (2012), DAAD Fellow (2002), Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (1997).

[3] Samaresh Bhattacharya, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Jadavpur University, Kolkata

700032 Education: B.Sc. (1978) and M.Sc. (1980) from Jadavpur University, Ph.D. (1986, worked at

IACS with Prof. Animesh Chakravorty); Post Doc. (1988 – 1991, with Prof. Cortlandt G. Pierpont) University of Colorado at Boulder, USA

Areas of Interest: Coordination chemistry of the platinum group of metals, Organometallic chemistry, Catalysis.

Awards and Honors: S. S. Bhatnagar Prize (2005), CRSI Bronze medal (2006), Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (2006) and the West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology (2008), DST Ramanna Fellowship (2009).

[4] Uday Maitra , Professor, Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

560 012 Education: M.Sc. IIT Kanpur (1981); Ph.D. Columbia University (1986, with Prof. Ronald

Breslow); Post Doc. University of California at Berkeley (1986-87, with Prof. Paul Bartlett). Areas of Interest: Chemistry of Bile acids; Hydrogels, Metallohydrogels and Organogels;

Dendrimers and Nano/hybrid materials; Enzyme sensing, etc. Chemistry Education. Awards and Honors: S.S. Bhatnagar Award (2001), Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences

and the Indian National Science Academy.

INSTITUTE WISE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS Science Academies’ Lecture Workshop on ‘Learning Chemistry Differently’ Dates: 20-21 March, 2015 Organized by: Department of Chemistry, Malda College, Malda

Name of Institution No. of participants

01. University of Gour Banga Research Scholars = 05

Student = 25

02. Visva Bharati Student = 02

03. Malda College Teacher = 06

Student = 43

04. Gour Mahavidyalaya Teacher = 04

Student = 22

05. Gangarampur College Teacher = 01

Student = 15

06. Raiganj Surrendranath Mahavidyalaya Student = 13

07. Kaliaganj College Teacher = 01

Student = 12

08. Balurghat College Teacher = 02

Student = 10

09. Dr. Meghnad Saha College Student = 06 Total = 167 + Resource Persons = 04

+ Supporting Staffs = 20 ………………………………………….

TOTAL = 191