Women in Science Breaking the Mould · 2018-03-06 · cover story 04 Women in Science Breaking the...

Indo-US Science and Technolongy Forum

Women in Science

Breaking the Mould

Volume 3 (3) | January 2012

Indo-US Science & Technology Forum

Newsletter of IUSSTF

cover story

04Women in Science

Breaking the Mould

feature

11Indo-US Joint Center on Nanobiotechnology

Going Forward

14Michigan State University in India

A Growing Partnership

18Indo-US Joint Center on Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies

Smoother Rides

report

22First US-India Higher Education Summit

Giving Wings to Talent

24 13th IUSSTF Governing Board Meeting

news and events27 Events Diary

C O N T E N T S

4

23

11

2 Connect • January 2012Connect • January 2012

25

Editor-in-ChiefRajiv SharmaExecutive Director, IUSSTF

EditorManoj DabasAravali Foundation for Education

Editorial Advisory GroupMichael CheethamDirector, India Science and Technology Partnership (INSTP)

Debapriya DuttaCounselor for S&T, Indian Embassy Washington DC

Mark TemplerScience and Technology OfficerEnvironment, Science and Technology SectionU. S. Embassy New Delhi

Smriti TrikhaSr. Science Manager, IUSSTF

Nishritha BopanaScience Officer, IUSSTF (Member Convener)

Copy Desk:Pramod Kr. Jha

Opinions:Opinions expressed in Connect do not necessarily reflect the opinion of IUSSTF or other organizations associated with publication of Connect.

Comments and Suggestions:Please email the Connect Team at [email protected]

Designed, Produced and Circulated by:Aravali Foundation for Education Communication & Outreach DivisionAravali House, 431/D-22Chhatarpur Hills New Delhi-110074, India

Cover Picture : Sunita Williams, United States Naval Officer and NASA Astronaut

Picture Courtesy : National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Published and Printed by:Nishritha Bopana on behalf of Indo-US S&T Forum from Fulbright House 12 Hailey Road, New Delhi - 110 001. Printed at Anand Print & Pack 106, DSIDC, Scheme-I, Phase-II Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi-110020

The year 2011 was a very eventful year for the Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF). We feel proud to mention that this year we crossed the milestone of organizing 200 India-US bilateral workshops since the inception of IUSSTF. These workshops

are aimed to disseminate information and create awareness on topical and thematic areas of interest through substantive interaction between Indian and American scientists and researchers from academia, laboratories and industry with the explicit aim to develop sustained linkages. One such successful workshop on “Women in Science” has been chosen as the cover-story for this edition of Connect. We have also highlighted two successful virtual networked centers – one on Nanobiotechnology and another on Intelligent Transportation – in this issue of Connect.

While numbers are important, sometimes they may not reflect the true picture. It was therefore very heartening to receive encouragement from the US and Indian governments for IUSSTF’s role in promoting and catalyzing Indo-US S&T cooperation. IUSSTF was invited to participate in the First US-India Higher Education Summit held in October 2011 at Washington DC. It was encouraging to meet many of our partners and stakeholders in this Summit and listen about activities seeded in partnership with IUSSTF blossoming into sustainable linkages between various Indian and US groups over the years. The Summit declaration by the US Secretary of State and the Indian Human Resource Minister “expressed their support for the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, which provides fresh impetus to academic collaboration in the cutting-edge areas of scientific research and technology development”. Such recognition motivate us to set up higher bars for performance and excel in our endeavours to bring together US and Indian scientists, engineers, technologists, medics and researchers for global benefit. A report on the Summit is included in this issue of Connect.

2011 was also the year IUSSTF was entrusted with the responsibility of administering and implementing two strategic Indo-US initiatives - the US-India S&T Endowment Fund and the Indo-US Joint Clean Energy R&D Centre. Some of this has already been reported in previous issues of Connect.

We also crossed the milestone of catalyzing over 10,000 linkages among US and Indian scientists, academicians, researchers and policy makers through various programmatic activities of IUSSTF over the years. IUSSTF profusely thanks to all our stakeholders who have made it possible.

We at IUSSTF are now confidently poised to shoulder greater responsibilities to encourage the scientific engagement between the two countries in the New Year. We wish a very happy, prosperous and successful year 2012 to our stakeholders. l

Rajiv SharmaExecutive Director, IUSSTF

From the Editor-in-Chief

Connect • January 2012 3


Connect • January 2012

Breaking the Mould4 Connect • January 2012

Women in Science

C O V E R S T O R Y

While increasing numbers of women have pursued science and technology education and professions in recent decades, many female students and professionals still face obstacles to pursuing a career in science. It is essential that the barriers that discourage women from studying science and pursuing it as a career are identified and overcome. If women are not encouraged to pursue careers in science, what vital discoveries and advances might be missed? In a world facing food, water and energy shortages, and a host of other urgent challenges, can we afford to neglect half of our human capital, our most valuable resource of all? As part of its efforts to encourage women and girls to pursue careers in science and technical fields, U.S. Embassy New Delhi hosted its third annual “Women in Science” (WIS) workshop on September 12, 2011, with support from the Indian Department of Science & Technology (DST), and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).

The workshop brought together nearly 200 women scientists, students, educators, and policymakers to share strategies and ideas for promoting WIS with the objective of surmounting their shared challenges and achieving greater success in the field. The aim of the workshop was to develop realistic and far-reaching proposals that will be effective in attracting women into science and increasing the proportion who remain active for a full and successful career in scientific fields.

The workshop also highlighted the increasing importance of women scientists in U.S.-India science and technology cooperation. WIS has emerged as an important area for bilateral collaboration between the United States and India. WIS was prioritized as an area for bilateral engagement between the United States and India in the joint statement released by the two governments at the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in July 2011. Both the United States and India participated and co-sponsored along

“ We will not sow the seeds for a brighter future or reap the benefits of the change we need without the full and active participation of women around the world.” Barack Obama U.S. President

Amazingly, only nine of the more than 300 Nobel prizes awarded in science since 1901 have been won by women. This is in spite of the fact that women have historically been responsible for crucial scientific and technological advances such as discovering the drug that has combated AIDS for many decades, AZT; formulating the theory of radioactivity; and teaching us that there are many galaxies outside of the Milky Way.



Timothy NeelyOffice of Environment,

Science and Technology Affairs,

U.S. Embassy,New Delhi, INDIA


with Brazil in an event titled “Changing Mindsets: New Approaches to Advance Women and Girls in Science,” organized in conjunction with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in February 2011 (UN CSW 2011) in New York. “Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation: the Role of Women” is the official theme of the 99th Indian Science

Congress (ISC) held in Bhubaneswar in January 2012. Science policymakers in both the U.S. and Indian governments participated in the ISC 2012 to brainstorm new initiatives to promote the role of Women in Science in the United States and India. The September workshop in New Delhi also featured participation by scientists from Nepal, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, who expressed interest in Nepal’s inclusion as a partner in future U.S.-India collaboration on WIS issues.

Opening the 2011 New Delhi WIS workshop inaugural session, Department of Science and Technology (DST) Secretary Dr. T. Ramasami spoke about the critical role the government can play in promoting WIS through a sound policy framework, and suggested that the United States and India develop joint programs to address WIS issues in both countries. Minister-Counselor for Economic, Environment, Science and Technology Affairs, Blair Hall discussed the importance of science and technology and noted that the challenges women in India face are global challenges that will affect the outcome of global issues.

The American Association for the Advancement of Sciences’ (AAAS) Dr. Shirley Malcom talked about finding local solutions that link science and technology to the issues women face daily such as health, water, and food security. She shared how the National Science Foundation’s “ADVANCE” program promotes the advancement of women scientists’ careers through carefully-designed, targeted programs at the university level.

DST Advisor and Head, Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development, Dr. Vinita Sharma highlighted a number of DST programs, including targeted fellowships benefitting thousands of scientists and targeted funding for research by women scientists (http://www.dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/women-scientists.htm lists DST programs). Dr. Sharma also said that India’s 12th Five-Year Plan, commencing in April 2012, would include funding to empower women to use science to improve livelihoods in small towns, a re-entry program for women

T. Ramasani (Secretary, DST) delivering the inaugural address

Vinita Sharma (Advisor, DST) addressing the gathering

6 Connect • January 2012

Women in Science

returning to their professional careers after having devoted time to their family, as well as the new Women Scientist Program that will create 1000 mobile jobs for scientists to allow women to stay in science careers even when their husbands transfer between cities.

Indian Council of Medical Research Professor, Dr. Indira Nath described the UNESCO-L’Oréal International Fellowship Program for Young Women in Life Sciences, which promotes young women in life science research and development. Indian Institute of Science’s Neuroscience Department Head Dr. Viji Ravindranath emphasized that neurological differences between women and men allow women leaders to add unique skill sets and perspectives to managerial teams. Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera, Executive Vice President for Discovery and Analytical Sciences at RTI International encouraged the women to be bold and creative grant writers, to seek out funding from non-traditional sources.

Dr. Geetha Bali, 99th Indian Science Congress General President called for women scientists to take a lead role in helping India to achieve its full potential as a leading country. Dr.

Svati Bhogle, Secretary of the Technology Informatics Design Endeavor (TIDE), shared how her organization trains rural women to use technology to generate income and solve problems at a local level. Dr. Sudha

“ Science and technology offer practical ways to overcome today’s global challenges, but this will only happen when our best people – of all backgrounds and genders – are able to focus their collective talents on tackling scientific obstacles.” Ambassador Peter Burleigh U.S. Chargé d’Affaires

Blair Hall (Minister Counselor of Economic, Environment, Science & Technology, US Embassy, New

Delhi)

Shirley Malcon (AAAS) addressing the gathering


Newsletter of IUSSTFNewsletter of IUSSTF

The Indo-US workshop on Women in Science dealt with various aspects of involvement of today’s women in the field of science and technology. The participants from various scientific organizations deeply deliberated on the issue. In order to arrive at a strategy to enhance the participation of women in science, the workshop organized an exercise so as to get relevant inputs from all the participants.

The participants were divided into three groups - Red, Green and Brown. Each group was given an area to strategize upon. Group I, the Green group was given the topic Promoting Science Education; Group II, the Red group worked on Raising Standards of Science Education in Remote/Rural Areas; Group III, the Brown group involved themselves with assessing how to Facilitate women seeking Science Careers. The three groups ideated for 30 minutes separately and then got together with their plans in place to be discussed with all the participants.

Several thought provoking ideas were thrown up like dissemination of science career programs through dedicated departments at all levels of education, awareness building through corporate involvement, improvement of the science curriculum at the school level and making it more hands-on and practical, motivating science teachers to raise teaching

standards, penetration into rural areas and creating a communication channel between the urban and the rural educational institutes, etc.

The last phase of the workshop was a live interaction with the world-renowned astronaut, Sunita Williams from the International Space Station, NASA via a satellite link-up. The entire congregation was quite enthused and a very stimulated discussion with Williams left everyone asking for more. Sunita Williams was full of encouragement for the young participants and commended them for focusing on their goals early in life. She admitted that she never expected to work with NASA that early, but now she could not have asked for better! She felt that sharing of technology and information improves international relationships and in space humans become one race facing the universe together. They cease to represent separate countries. The idea that works in outer space is the protection and sustenance of the human species. She created a beautiful picture of the earth from outer space saying that the earth looks very peaceful. She suggested that it would be a good idea for people to take a lap around the planet simply to change to way you look at Earth and realize that it is the only planet we have to call our home!

Indo-US workshop on Women in Science


Women in Science

Nair, Senior Director, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation noted that gender disparity in education is decreasing in India, and that India currently has a large number of working women, comprising 35% of the workforce. Nair stressed that in spite of the progress, women still lag behind men in education, income, and opportunities.

Director at the Center for Science for Villages Dr. Vibha Gupta spoke about her Maharashtra-based organization which currently serves over 125 villages and has trained women to produce textiles, work with natural dyes, craft lantana furniture, and farm using natural techniques. The students were the real stars of the workshops. These young women were involved in after-school programs such as “Space,” which brought the All India Asteroid Search Campaign to Indian students. In 2011, this group was responsible for several Main Belt asteroid discoveries by Indian school students, including a major breakthrough discovery of a rare Trojan asteroid in Jupiter’s orbit. Several members of this group aspire to become astronauts. Also represented was the Amateur Astronomers Association, a group of young women eager to discover their own galaxy or solar system. These young women asked many tough questions, but also offered creative solutions for how to attract even more young women to study science.

The students were an inspiration to the conference attendees and demonstrated to the elder women in the room that younger generations of women are eager to advance the field of science. For many participants, the highlight of the workshop was the interactive session with astronaut Sunita Williams, who spoke about her experiences—ranging from space walks to running the first marathon in space--and answered questions from the audience. She inspired the crowd when she said that when you look at the world from outer space, you realize that what binds us together as human beings is far more important than the things that separate us. The

audience repeatedly broke into spontaneous applause upon hearing the simple profundity of her observations about the unity of all nations when Earth is viewed from space.

Following the workshop, key opinion leaders joined a U.S.-India Roundtable meeting focusing possible bilateral or trilateral cooperation on WIS issues, with a view to bring these issues to a higher policy level. The Roundtable meeting chaired by Blair Hall and DST International Division Head Dr. Arabinda Mitra gave recommendations for joint programs, including formation of a U.S.-India Advisory Group and making “WIS” one of key agenda items for the 2012 U.S.-India Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Science and Technology. Roundtable participants discussed possible joint U.S.-India programs on WIS issues. Department of Biotechnology Advisor Dr. Renu Swarup and Dr. Shirley Malcom both noted that jointly-organized workshops on topics such as research proposal writing and leadership would facilitate the career development of young women researchers and scientists. Participants stressed the value of joint programs to address gender-sensitive issues in the areas of water, health and energy.l

Sunita Williams sharing her experiences and insight with the audience


Newsletter of IUSSTFNewsletter of IUSSTF

The Governments of the United States of America and India (through the Department of Science & Technology) have established the United States - India Science and Technology Endowment Fund for promotion of joint research and development leading to innovation, entrepreneurial and commercialization activities in Science & Technology.

United States - India Science and Technology ENDOWMENT FUND

For more information, please visit: http://www.indousstf.org/US-India-Endowment-Board.html

The program is coordinated and administered through the bi-national

Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF)

Indo-US S&T Forum

OBJECTIVES

¡

on applied R&D

¡Encourage entrepreneurial activities that have

significant potential towards commercialization of

joint technology

¡Promote sustained partnerships in innovation

between scientists, technologists & entrepreneurs

towards economic development and public good of

both countries

STAKEHOLDERS

¡Academia

¡National Laboratories

¡Non-Governmental R&D Institutions

¡Start-up and Private Companies

Strengthen and expand S&T cooperation with focus

PRIORITY AREAS FOR SUPPORT

¡

preventive / curative measures to improve health of

citizens (excludes pharmaceutical development), or

food and nutrition products.

¡Empowering citizen: Reducing the digital divide,

information and communication technologies with

social impact in areas such as water, agriculture and

education.

FUNDING

¡Size of each award: Rs.1,12,50,000 - Rs.2,25,00,000

or $250,000 - $500,000

Healthy individual: Affordable diagnostic /

*

*Areas are subject to change

For more information, please visit : http://www.indousstf.org/US-India-Endowment-Board.html

Jeffrey M. KarpBrigham and Women’s Hospital,

Harvard Medical SchoolUSA

Innovation happens at the interface of disciplines and two emerging areas that will dramatically impact medical sciences in the future are stem cell biology and nanotechnology. Although, these two areas are already intersecting, the interface between these areas offers an untapped niche for scientific exploration and inventions that will revolutionize translational medicine.

Keeping the emerging need of scientific exploration and inventions in mind, scientists/engineers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and MIT in Boston and at NCBS and JNCASR in Bangalore met together in September 2009 to discuss the possibility of a joint research centre which would use the strengths of NCBS in stem cell biology and the core expertise of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard-MIT in material sciences and nanotechnology. That meeting was followed by a meeting at NCBS and the Indo-US Joint Center for Nanobiotechnology, funded by IUSSTF, was born.

This joint endeavor bridging Bangalore and Boston includes Profs. K. Vijay Raghavan (NCBS), Maneesha Inamdar (JNCASR) and Jyotsna Dhawan (Instem); and Shiladitya Sengupta and Jeffrey Karp (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT and Harvard Medical School, Cambridge). This joint center aims to pursue three goals:

1. To develop a strong research program elucidating the role of nanostructures in stem cell function in the context of cardio-vascular biology,

2. To develop a strong training component and exchange program,

Going forward

Indo-US Joint Center on Nanobiotechnology


Newsletter of IUSSTFF E AT U R E

SUDHIR RANGANATH

INDO-US JOINT CENTER FOR NANOBIOTECHNOLOGYPARTNERING INSTITUTIONS

3. To pursue translation of technology developed by promoting an entrepreneurial culture and partnerships with the industry.

As this research area is highly inter-disciplinary in nature, it was essential to recruit fellows from different fields. The search was zeroed down to two bright young recent PhD graduates Abhijit Majumder and Sudhir Ranganath. Abhijit was recruited in the joint project between Dhawan and Karp labs in February 2010 to investigate mechano-biology of the stem cell niche and the control of quiescence. Sudhir was recruited in the joint projects between the Karp and Inamdar labs in August 2010 to harness the Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)

secretome for cardiovascular regeneration using bioengineering strategies.

This grant from IUSSTF is expected to facilitate the creation of an ecosystem that will evolve into a long-term collaboration between the two nations, fostering additional grant funding from multiple sources in the future, training of manpower/sharing of expertise, generating intellectual property, and facilitating the professional development of bright physical scientists to work at the interface of stem cell biology and nanotechnology. Two post doctoral students associated with the centre recount their experience and take aways during the association.

INDIA

K VijayRaghavan National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore

Maneesha Inamdar Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore

Jyotsna Dhawan

InStem, Bangalore

USA

Jeffrey M. Karp Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute

Shiladitya Sengupta Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology

Interplay between Cell, Substrate

and Contractility

Plastic

Stiff PAA Gel

Soft PAA Gel

Myosin II Inhibited

“After my doctoral studies in chemical engineering focusing on biomaterials and drug delivery at the National University of Singapore, I naturally wanted to do my postdoctoral work at one of the best labs in the world. When I applied to renowned institutes in the Boston area, Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Co-Director of the Center for Regenerative Therapeutics at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital informed me about the Indo-US Joint Center for Nanobiotechnology that would allow me to work at his laboratory in Boston as well as in

India at inStem and JNCASR in Bangalore and asked me if was interested. The decision to join was easy for two reasons. On the emotional front, it allowed me to return to my roots (my hometown Bangalore!!). On the opportunity front, it gave me a chance to work with one of the best institutions in the business – Harvard and MIT. However, I hesitated, reasoning that my lack of understanding of stem cell biology might prove to be a challenge. But, when I started exploring the partnering institutions, NCBS and JNCASR, it was heartening to

Sudhir Ranganath


Indo-US Joint Center on Nanobiotechnology

ABHIJIT MAJUMDER

see Indian research institutions on par with others in the world. Moreover, inStem, the first research institute on stem cells and regenerative medicine in India offered interaction with experts in molecular and stem cell biology. Even though it was a very challenging prospect, I was excited to join.

Jointly appointed by Dr. Jeffrey Karp and Prof. Maneesha Inamdar (JNCASR & inStem) in August 2010, I joined as a postdoctoral fellow at the center which is a truly international and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Utilizing the stem cell biology expertise at JNCASR and inStem, I have been able to study and understand adult mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) biology, especially its secretome function and regulation in the context of cardiovascular regeneration. We have also been able to identify key components of the

MSC secretome responsible for cardiovascular regeneration. We are now testing small molecules that could activate/inhibit specific pathways leading to desired MSC secretome. In the near future, we intend to harness the MSC secretome using bioengineering approaches including nanotechnology, biomaterials and drug delivery to promote cardiovascular regeneration as well as to translate the technologies we develop into affordable clinical products. The collaborative opportunities created under this joint centre are well positioned to transform biomedical sciences and nanotechnology, by harnessing the untapped niche at the interface of these two areas.

Thanks to IUSSTF for making this unique marriage happen. This opportunity has allowed me to do something unthinkable being a chemical engineer – study stem cell biology!!”

“For the past one and half years, I have been working in Prof. Dhawan’s laboratory in Instem Bangalore under the joint guidance of Prof. Dhawan and Prof. Karp with the aim to understand biomechanical signalling processes in adult mesenchymal stem cells. As a chemical engineer by training and with no prior research experience in biological science, it was not an easy decision to change fields to stem cell biology. However, fascinated with the idea of contributing to translational biomedical research, I decided to venture into the field of stem cell biology for my post-doctoral work. Furthermore, I desired to work with excellent people in a world class laboratory with international connections and exposure, while being based initially in India. IUSSTF offered me an unique opportunity to fulfil my dream in one of the best laboratories in India with international exchange. The project has also allowed me to interact with outstanding researchers at the Raman Research Institute and the IISc in Bangalore.

In the Dhawan laboratory, with constant feedback from Prof. Dhawan and Prof. Karp, I am trying to understand how the mechanical properties of the microenvironment influence stem cell behaviour. This project builds on my earlier research where I studied the physical and chemical properties of substrates. Specifically, our aim is i) to generate synchronized human bone marrow MSC cultures for molecular analysis and effective transplantation and (ii) to vary a number of physical parameters of the substrate and study the effects on MSC proliferation, quiescence and differentiation. Towards this goal, we use a two-pronged approach using (a) materials and mechanics combined with (b) cellular and molecular biology. We hope that the outcome of this research will help explain many unanswered aspects of mechano-signalling in stem cells and will help in advancing their therapeutic use in regenerative medicine.” l

Abhijit Majumder



Karim MarediaProfessor and

Senior Associate to the Dean College Agriculture and

Natural ResourcesMichigan State University,

East Lansing, USA

A Growing Partnership

Founded in 1855, Michigan State University (MSU) is a premier Land Grant University in the United States of America. With the mission of “Advancing Knowledge and Transforming Lives”, MSU brings a strong commitment towards international development. With over 155 years of history, MSU has evolved from an agricultural college to a comprehensive university with more than 15 colleges. More than 47,000 students from more than 100 countries around the world pursue their higher education at MSU. In addition, in 2010, MSU hosted over 1100 visiting scientists and scholars from all over the world. MSU has collaborative research, education, and outreach programs throughout the world and is a leader in Global Engagement.


Michigan State University in India

MSU South Asia Partnership - Strengthening ties with India and South Asia

International collaboration and corporation is a hallmark of Michigan State University. Over the past several decades, MSU has been actively collaborating with various public and private sector institutions in India and South Asia region. To further strengthen these long-standing ties, MSU launched the South Asia Partnership (SAP) initiative in 2008. Under this initiative, faculty members across several colleges and units at MSU are actively engaged in collaborative programs with India including the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Education, College of Communication and Arts, College of Social Sciences, James Madison College, and the Asian Studies Center. Several Colleges have appointed Consul Generals in India for coordinating collaborative programs with local institutions. The Asian Studies Center at MSU is dedicated to promoting collaborative programs and linkages with India as well as promoting Indian languages, cultural, and student and faculty exchange programs.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources – Feeding 1.3 billion people

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) is the first college established at MSU. The CANR brings deep commitments towards agricultural development and natural resource management in the State of Michigan and across the world towards enhancing food security and quality of life. The CANR faculty members and students are actively engaged in collaborative research, education, training and outreach programs with numerous public and private sector intuitions across India.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex institution in India for agricultural research and development with more than 80 research institutions spread across India. MSU has had a wide range of collaborative programs with ICAR institutions

across India for several decades. To further strengthen these collaborative linkages, in September 2011, MSU signed an MoU with ICAR for expanded partnership and linkages with India. MSU has been a member of the US-India Agricultural Knowledge Initiative for institutional capacity building and has hosted more than 50 scientists under the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) and other funding mechanisms. MSU faculty members are also actively collaborating with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) in India.

In addition, MSU has been partnering with private companies, non-profit organizations/NGOs, and international agricultural research centers located in India.

Based on the MSU South Asia Summit held in September 2008 and prior consultations with collaborators and partners in India and South Asian countries, the CANR prioritized the following three thematic areas for college level initiatives:

Partnership with Bejo Sheetal Company in Biotechnology and Plant Breeding.



Natural Resources Management: Natural resources (water, soil, forest, biodiversity, etc.) are key to sustainable agricultural development. The wise and responsible use of natural resources including land, water, biodiversity, fish, natural products, forests, etc will help ensure long-term food security, and environmental quality as well as help address emerging climate change issues. Our collaborative programs include biological,

social and economic aspects of conservation and sustainable use and management of natural resources.

Enhancing Agricultural Productivity through New Technologies: New technologies play an important role in enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, environmental quality, and sustainable economic growth. Our approach is to jointly identify and develop new

Tom Reardon (Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics) has implemented joint collaborative programs with IFPRI in India during the past five years (2007-2011). These joint MSU/IFPRI programs in India focus on Markets in Asia, Value Chain Development, and Super Markets. These programs include partnerships with several public and private sector institutions. For eg. USAID /PIKA project on Rural Business Hubs in India, with work with company partners (ITC, Hariyali, and Viswas) and University partners (University of Allahabad, UP, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agriculture university in Jabalpur MP, and CESS, Hyderabad, AP); Asian Development Bank project on value chains of rice and potato in various countries including India, with university partner University of Allahabad, UP; etc.

Muralee Nair (Department of Horticulture) has been collaborating with a number of researchers at national and state institutions in India for the past 15 years, including state agricultural universities on research and development of natural products utilizing local biodiversity. He has taught courses related to functional foods and phyto-medicines, including traditional medicine and has worked with local institutions in India to achieve public-private partnerships and promote small business startups.

Mark Axelrod and Brian Roth (Department of Fisheries and Wildlife) have initiated collaborative research programs in fisheries and globalization with M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai and other research institutions in Southern India.

Collaborative programs of MSU-CANR faculty in India

ICAR-HAU-MSU Intellectual Property Management and Technology Transfer Workshop at NAARM, Hyderabad, India (February 2008)

Contd. on pg. 26



Murari Suvedi (Department of Community Agriculture Recreation and Resource Studies) has designed and implemented collaborative programs in India focusing on program evaluation capacity building. Through the funding from USDA/NRI, Dawn Pysarchik and Murari Suvedi led a research on processed food in India from 2003-2006.

Leslie Bourquin and Deepa Thiagrajan (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition) are implementing various projects in India in the area of Agri-Food Systems such as USAID HED project with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University on fruit and vegetable supply chain management; USAID-India funded PFID-F&V Maharashtra Mango Market Development Project; USDA-NIAM (National Institute of Agricultural Management, Jaipur) Strengthening Agricultural Marketing Systems (SAMS) project in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh focused on development of horticulture value chains; USAID-MSU-Indian Horticulture Development Alliance (IHDA) project focused on horticulture value chains in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Numerous partners including Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, National Horticulture Mission, National Horticulture Board, Quality Council of India, Confederation of Indian Industries, YES Bank, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, several state marketing boards and horticulture missions, numerous private sector partners. The National Horticulture Mission of the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation has matched the IHDA project with $1.2 million of funding to continue this work.

Mywish Maredia (Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics), Nanda Joshi (Animal Science), Cholani Weebadde (Department of Horticulture) and Karim Maredia (Department of Entomology) are partnering with the International Horticulture Innovation and Training Center (IHITC) in Rajasthan, India and have initiated a one-year pilot project to explore and test the cost-effectiveness of cell-phone-mediated personalized agro-advisory services for growers cultivating horticulture crops in poly-houses, shade-nets and open fields. This project is funded by the USAID supported through the Horticulture CRSP program for the period October 2010 to September 2011.

Jon Bartholic and Jon MacDonagh-Dumler (Institute of Water Research) have been collaborating with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and TERI in New Delhi for the past three years to develop Water Management Knowledge Hub for India and South Asia region. Dr. Batholic and Dr. MacDonagh-Dumler participated in the Water Management Workshop hosted by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in March, 2011 funded by IUSSTF.

Karim Maredia (Department of Entomology) has implemented an Intellectual Property Management (IPR) and Technology Transfer capacity building project in collaboration with two State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) in India - Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) in Hisar, Haryana and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) in Thrichur, Kerala.

Karim Maredia (Department of Entomology) and Nanda Joshi (Department of Animal Science) have implemented a Food Safety capacity building program in India in collaboration with the new established Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This program is funded by the Mead Johnson Company in USA under the theme of public-private sector partnerships.

Matt Syal from the School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) is partnering with the Lady Irwin College in New Delhi, India. The SPDC has assisted in developing a M.Sc. level specialization in Sustainable Development. The SPDC has also co-sponsored an annual symposium on Sustainable Development with Lady Irwin College since 2007. Starting from November 2010 symposium, the Govt. of India- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has agreed to sponsor and fund the symposium annually.

Cholani Weebadde (Department of Horticulture) and Karim Maredia (Department of Entomology) have developed a collaborative training program on Biotechnology with a focus on Molecular Plant Breeding in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Bejo Sheetal Biosciences Foundation in India. This program is sponsored through the Indo-US S&T Forum. In 2010, MSU also implemented a Plant Genomics workshop in India in collaboration with the CCS Haryana Agricultural University sponsored through IUSSTF.

Karim Maredia (Department of Entomology) has initiated a three-way collaborative educational program in Bio-Business. This nine-month Post-Graduate Certificate program has been developed in collaboration with the Mumbai Education Trust (MET) and Bejo Sheetal Biosciences Foundation in India.

Hashini Galhena (Department of Crop and Soil Sciences) has conducted research on food production and food security in Bihar in collaboration with National Center for Agricultural Economics and Policy (NCAP).



Smoother Rides


Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is a popular and viable means of reducing and mitigating the effects of increased transportation demand on existing infrastructure without resorting to building new roadways, widening existing roads, etc. Over the past twenty years a number of countries have begun widespread development and deployment of ITS as

Lelitha Vanajakshi andLaurence Rilett explain.

Indo-US Joint Center on Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies

18 Connect January 2012

The benefits of ITS includes enhancing efficiency of the transportation system, improving mobility for both people and freight, reducing traffic congestion, increasing traffic safety and reducing the environmental impact of vehicles (by reducing fuel consumption and emissions). ITS takes advantage of recent improvements in computer power and communication technologies to better utilize the existing infrastructure. For this reason, it is a cost-effective and viable option for both developed and developing countries, particularly when compared to the cost of developing completely new infrastructure.

ITS, simply defined, is the integration of a broad range of wireless and wire line communications-based information and electronics technologies to the transportation system. These advanced communication technologies are applied both within the transportation infrastructure as well as in the vehicles that traverse the system. Consequently, these systems have the ability to gather, organize, analyze, and share information about the transportation network. This information is then used by the system and vehicle operators to meet their respective demands in a more efficient, safe, effective and/or economical manner. For example, ITS can reduce the occurrence and severity of many common traffic problems including traffic congestion, air pollution, and traffic accidents. Intuitively, ITS is a multi-disciplinary endeavor which requires a wide variety of engineering expertise from a large number of engineering disciplines in order to be successfully implemented.

There are four basic requirements for the successful implementation of real-time ITS. Obviously an efficient, reliable and fast method of data collection is required, for without data/information it would be impossible to “intelligently” manage the traffic system. Secondly, a traffic management center (TMC) is required since there must be a centralized location where the data is collected and analyzed and where real-time solutions can be implemented readily. Thirdly, a fast communication facility

is required for transferring the data from the field to the TMC and to send the solution back to travelers in a timely manner. Lastly, various traveler information facilities are needed for transmitting the necessary information to the drivers.

India is undergoing a period of drastic changes in the transportation field. The main reason for this is the rapidly growing economy resulting in rising vehicle ownership levels. However, uncoordinated planning of land use and transport, constraints in transport infrastructure expansion, an inefficient and inadequate public transport system along with this rising vehicle population is leading to more traffic problems. To solve this problem, different infrastructure expansion projects are being planned and implemented. The expansion of infrastructure alone, however, cannot meet the rapid growth in traffic; hence, there is a need to explore better traffic management options. Because of its reliance on advanced and relatively inexpensive information technologies, ITS is one of the more popular options. The potential for ITS technologies to solve India’s growing transportation challenges is greater than anywhere else in the developed world because of India’s existing IT infrastructure and knowledge base.

Schematic representation of ITS functionalities (Source: www.etsi.org)

WLAN

MAN

IntermodalCommunications

Navigation

Safety Systems

Fleet Management

Vehicle-id-Vehicle

Traffic Signal

Toll Collection

MOBILE

TripPlanning

Travel Assistance

PassengerIntroduction

AdeptiveCruise Control

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

TERRESTRIAL BROADCAST

Schematic representation of ITS functionalities.



Lelitha Devi Vanajakshi

Indian Institute of Technology Madras,

INDIA

Laurence R. Rilett

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA


19Connect January 2012

While a number of prototype ITS projects have been introduced in various cities in India—including New Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Indore and Chennai—these have focused on isolated deployments of parking information, such as area-wide signal control, advanced toll collection, etc. Also, some of the cities like Bangalore and Delhi have set up traffic management centers. However, most of the above initiatives are small scale, single-city based pilot studies which are in the beginning stage of deployment. At present, there are no comprehensive, fully developed ITS applications with traffic management centres in India. Moreover, there are many other ITS applications that have not been tested but have the potential to be of great importance to India. Such applications include systems of emergency management, congestion management, advanced traffic management, advanced traveler information, commercial vehicle operations, and advanced vehicle control systems to name just a few examples.

Considering the fact that ITS is ideal for Indian conditions, with required human resources and technology readily available to implement ITS, the use of ITS in the Indian transportation system is minimal in relation to the needs of India. Certainly much more needs to be done. Overall, the existing applications show significant promise for the deployment of full-scale ITS in India. They have provided an initial

empirical foundation of important data which highlighted the methodological, practical and research challenges for Indian conditions.

India has recently begun the research that is a precursor to the wide adoption of ITS, whereas the US has over twenty years’ experience related to ITS research and implementation. The purpose of the IUSSTF supported Indo-US Joint Center on Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies (IUJC_ITST) is to bring together university faculty and students from India and US to solve common traffic-related problems faced by both countries. The center will rely on support from both public sector agencies and private sector companies to meet the research agenda and support from the Indo-US S&T Forum to meet collaborative needs. The end goal would be to develop collaborative research programs that will result in better ITS implementation in both countries.

The vision of the Indo-US Joint Center on Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies (IUJC_ITST) is to become an internationally recognized center of excellence by using advanced technologies to address traffic congestion issues related to increasing demand for transportation in both India and US. Toward that end, the IUJC_ITST consortium will leverage the existing research resources at the partner institutions to develop and deliver a premier program in research and education. l

Some ITS initiatives in India


Indo-US Joint Center on Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies

Connect January 2012

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) announces the Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) to provide unique opportunities for science, technology, engineering and medical students from the United States to undertake internships in national laboratories, federal research centers, academic research institutes, and private R & D laboratories in India. Objective of the internships are to provide students exposure to Indian S&T milieu, gain practical skills and develop collaborative networks. Internships are envisaged as a source of mutual cultural and professional enrichment for both the interns and their host institutions.

Internship duration Internship provides• 3 to 5 months •Monthly stipend • Accommodation • Airfare Eligibility• U.S. and Indian Citizen• Open to science, engineering, technology and medical disciplines• Ph.D and Master students currently enrolled at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in U.S.

For program information contact:Dr. Smriti Trikha Indo-US Science and Technology Forum12 Hailey Road, Fulbright HouseNew Delhi-110 [email protected]

Application Deadline

31 March 2012

For Application Guidelines & Format

www.indousstf.org

Indo-US S&T Forum

RESEARCH INTERNSHIPSIN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Opportunities for

In India

Indian Institutions interested in hosting interns under the RISE program may contact us.

IUSSTF

In recent years, cooperation and engagement in the field of higher education has emerged as one of the pillars of the strategic Indo-US relationship. With a view to further strengthen the higher education relationship, both the countries hosted the first US-India Higher Education Summit at Georgetown University, Washington DC on October 13, 2011.

The summit was inaugurated by Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Govt. of India and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In their opening remarks, Secretary Clinton chalked out the contour of recent Indo-US higher education cooperation and emphasized the value of this collaboration in creating common good like the portable child incubator developed by a group of Indian and US students of Stanford University at a cost of $100, which is being used in Indian hospitals. Minister Sibal highlighted the new emerging demand for higher education in India, in view of the planned increase in Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education from the current 15% to 30% by 2020, which will require opportunities in higher education for an additional thirty million children and will need to build an additional 1,000 universities and 50,000 colleges. He also drew attention

towards India’s requirement of around a 500 million skilled workforce by 2022 for sustaining the economic growth. In view of the 21st century’s emerging borderless technology-based education system, he invited academia, business and policy makers from India and US to collaborate more widely to address this opportunity.

Nearly 300 higher education leaders, including representatives from 100 US colleges and universities, 20 Indian university vice chancellors, and many business, government, and civil society leaders from both the nations

Debapriya DuttaCounselor (S&T)

Embassy of India, Washington D.C.

Giving wings to talentEducational exchanges at higher levels pave the way for long term and durable initiatives aimed at solving pressing problems and finding solutions to unmet needs. India and the United States reiterated their commitment to laying down a solid foundation for robust and vibrant collaboration in the higher education sector.

R E P O R T

22 Connect • January 2012Connect January 2012

US-India Higher Education Summit

Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State with Kapil Sibal, Minister of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India and John J. DeGioia, President, Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

interacted over a roundtable, eight breakout sessions and a plenary session to discuss topics crucial for expanding and strengthening the bilateral higher education collaboration.

At the end of the Summit a joint statement was issued, which endorsed the resolve of the stakeholders from academia, government, and industry to take forward the following areas of consensus:

1. A continued expanded US-India Higher Education Dialogue with representatives from government, academia, and business as an annual bilateral event to map out strategies for partnership in the field of education between the two countries.

2. Support for the following goals:

• Promoting strategic institutional partnerships for further strengthening and expansion of collaboration in the priority areas of higher education, including science and engineering, social sciences, and humanities, and addressing societal challenges in areas such as cyber security, energy, environment, health and agriculture;

• Encouraging expansion and collaboration in research and development in the above areas between academic institutions of the two countries through existing initiatives;

• Fostering partnerships in the areas of vocational education and skills enhancement to meet the needs of today’s world;

• Exploration of models for ‘educational institutions for the 21st Century’ (such as ‘meta’ universities);

• Further strengthening programs for student and faculty enrichment and exchange, and development of leadership in academia at all levels; and,

• Welcoming the involvement of the private sector in the two countries to support and deepen collaboration with the higher education community, faculty exchanges,

skills development, and institutional partnerships.

The two leaders lauded the role of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum in strengthening the bilateral S&T and education collaboration by supporting events like the Indo-US Engineering Education Conclave, held in January 2011 in New Delhi.

India announced its intention to set up an India-US higher education platform as a means to pursue these goals. Strengthening educator enrichment and exchange programs with the Government of India indicating its intention to initially sponsor up to 1,500 faculty and junior scholars to leading universities and research institutes in the United States to promote development of human resources while also enhancing broader interaction between the two countries. The most tangible outcome of the summit was the announcement of a partnership between community college, Hawaii with Bombay University to establish 10 institutions in the model of US community college in Maharashtra.

More details about the summit can be accessed at http://www.state.gov/p/sca/ci/in/education/index.htm. An on-line forum has been planned to continue the productive dialogue from the Summit. For further details regarding this, please contact [email protected]. l

“The two leaders also expressed their support for the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, which provides fresh impetus to academic collaboration in the cutting edge areas of scientific research and technology development.” Excerpt from the Joint Statement



23

24 Connect • January 2012 Connect • January 2012 25


13th

IUSSTF GovernInG Board meeTInG december 6, 2011 | new delhi

cooperation that will be enabled through a true public-private bilateral partnership. Samir Brahmachari, DG, CSIR remarked that IUSSTF has served extremely well by meeting the needs and aspirations of its stakeholders and congratulated the organization for its achievements. Sanjay Dhande, Director,IIT-Kanpur, emphasized the need to map the indicators in science, technology, research and education which will be the key markers to the knowledge based economy and development in both the countries.

The Governing Board complimented Dr. Mitra the first Executive Director of IUSSTF for his ability to reach across S&T systems in India and looked forward to Dr. Rajiv Sharma the new Executive Director to continue the good work. Dr. Rajiv Sharma made a presentation to the GB on the programmatic activities covering outline of IUSSTF activities, activities supported by IUSSTF since the last GB meeting, salient outcome and accomplishments, new initiatives and future vision, status of strategic initiatives administered by IUSSTF and financial indicators. The GB expressed its appreciation of the role of IUSSTF in forging and catalyzing individual as well as institutional linkages through its programmatic activities in India and the US.l



The 13th annual meeting of the joint Governing Board of IUSSTF was held at New Delhi on December 6, 2011 under the co-chairmanship of T. Ramasami Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and Norman Neureiter Advisor, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

As IUSSTF completed eleven years of existence, the Governing Board members deliberated and

provided their views on the accomplishments and also the future vision and role for IUSSTF in promoting its mandate. T. Ramasami, Indian Co-Chair, in his opening remarks welcomed the new leadership at the helm of IUSSTF. He also highlighted that the Forum has gained good visibility and its work is widely appreciated in India. Ray Johnson, Sr. VP and CTO, Lockheed Martin, spoke about the positive feedback received from the students selected for the Young Engineers Visitation Program wherein they visited the Lockheed Martin Center for Innovation and were exposed to various systems of systems approaches. He felt that it was imperative to engage young creative minds and challenge them with problems that are of interest to both countries. Phyllis G. Yoshida, Deputy Assistant Secretary, US,DOE, appreciated the role played by the Forum in implementing the Indo-US Joint Clean Energy R&D Centre, which she defined as a novel concept of bilateral

IUSSTF Governing Board Meeting


technologies that are environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable for the South Asia region. Our programs include collaborative research and development of science-based policies that govern the development and safe deployment of emerging technologies including modern biotechnology and nanotechnology in the region.

Agri-Food Systems: Market-led food value chains are critical for post-harvest management and ensuring safe and nutritious food supply to consumers in a timely manner. Our approach is to develop collaborative programs that address various components of food value chain including post-harvest handling, storage, transportation, processing, packaging and value addition while ensuring the safety of food products. The overall goal of this thematic area is to help enhance farmers’ access to local, regional and international markets.

For each of these three thematic areas, a faculty team has been appointed and is actively engaged

in expanding collaborative programs with India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Vibha Dhawan from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi serves as the Consul General representing CANR in India. Under the SAP initiative, MSU has established MoUs with several universities, non-profit organizations, and research institution across India. Prominent among these MoUs include: • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),

New Delhi

• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi

• Lady Irwin College, New Delhi

• C.C.S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar

• G.B. Pant Agricultural University, Pantnagar

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

• M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai

• Aga Khan Rural Support Program –India (AKRSP-I), Ahmedabad

• International Horticulture Innovation and Training Center (IHITC), Jaipur

• Mumbai Education Trust (MET), Mumbai

• Bejo Sheetal Biosciences Foundation, Jalna l

January 2012

Workshop on Cancer, Stem Cells & Inflammation, Vellore

Workshop on Interdisciplinary Approaches, Bangalore

Workshop on Nanophotonics, Bangalore

Workshop on Vehicle Health Management, Bangalore

Training on Immunology, Jodhpur

Workshop on Photovoltaic Science & Technologies, Mumbai

Workshop on Intraplate Seismicity, Gandhinagar

Workshop on Thermoelectrics, Mumbai

February 2012

Workshop on Solid State Chemistry, Gurgaon

Indo-American Frontiers of Engineering 2012, Bethesda

March 2012

Workshop on Biosecurity in Vet Hospital, Hyderabad

Workshop on Global Challenges, Gurgaon

Workshop on Physiological Systems, Agra

Workshop on Vehicle Safety Design, Bangalore

Workshop on Green Chemistry, Dehradun

Workshop on Shale Gas, Delhi

April 2012

Workshop on Telestroke, University of Massachusetts Medical School

IUSSTF UPCOMING EVENTS

Contd. from pg. 16A Growing Partnership



BIOCOMPUTING 12-13 September 2011 Calicut

Bioinformatics is an area that entails many scientific and technological advances, realizable only through a concentrated global collaborative effort. The primary objective of the Indo-US workshop on Biocomputing was to provide a common platform for exchanging ideas/hypotheses and to initiate and catalyze dialogues for developing long-term research and educational strategies in the field of bioinformatics for the two countries. The workshop brought together domain experts from India and the US to create a forum which would act as a focal point for engineers, scientists and academics, to exchange views, develop curricula and improve the quality of research in the area of bioinformatics for the benefit of both countries. The principal investigators for the event were S.D. Madhu Kumar & G.K. Rajanikant (National Institute of Technology,

Calicut) and Mathew J. Palakal (Indiana University School of Informatics, Indianapolis). The workshop focused on the following aspects: gaining exposure to research developments and research problems in the field through expert talks and discussions by eminent researchers and academicians; identification of important research issues of common interest with scope for collaborative research; formulation of strategies for curriculum development incorporating latest advances in the area of bioinformatics for engineering students and scholars; drafting policy suggestions for the Indian and US governments to achieve closer bilateral collaboration in the field of bioinformatics; and, catalyzing the exchange of scholars and transfer of bioinformatics technologies between institutes/universities of both nations. l

WOMEN IN SCIENCE 12 September 2011New Delhi

The US and India have a strong history of scientific collaboration, and both countries have produced many preeminent women scientists and science policy makers. Yet, despite these achievements, women in both countries still face significant socio-cultural and institutional challenges to achieve their full potential in science-related careers. To address these issues, the one-day Indo-US workshop on Women in Science enabled a dialogue on the topic of empowering women in science and generated concrete suggestions to improve opportunities in the workshop’s three key focus areas – science education for girls, success stories by women achievers, and promoting access

to technology and interest in science education for women in rural areas. This conference addressed three major areas of the strategic US-India relationship: Science and Technology, Education, and Women’s Empowerment. The workshop organized by Rama Mukherjee (Ara Healthcare Pvt Ltd., Gurgaon) and Mark Templer (US Embassy, New Delhi) brought together approximately 150 participants from the US and Indian governments, industry, research institutions, NGOs, and academia. For more details on the workshop please refer to page 8. l

September – 2011 EVENTS DIARY


Nov - Dec – 2011EVENTS DIARY

ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON NUTRITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 05-09 November 2011New Delhi

The discipline of nutritional epidemiology involves methodological approaches to determine the association between dietary factors and the occurrence of human health-related outcomes which is a challenging task. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to assess any relation between diet or lifestyle and disease occurrence. Nutrition

epidemiology in India is at a very nascent stage and needs capacity and skill building. Limited evidence in the field of nutrition, health, diet and disease is resulting in improper implementation of policies and programs. To reduce this knowledge gap and its implementation through policies, nutrition research is needed so as to define measures to apply epidemiologic methods to nutrition including designing epidemiological studies, data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation of results and evaluation. Thus, an Advanced training course on Nutritional epidemiology was organized by Shweta Khandelwal (Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi) and Aryeh Stein (Emory University, Atlanta) in New Delhi. The specific objectives of the program were to understand and define the domains of nutritional epidemiology; to apply and assess epidemiological methods in nutritional research; to differentiate and evaluate various study designs utilized in nutrition research; to critically appraise published research and policies in nutrition; and to develop policy recommendations based on critically reviewed evidence.l

NANOMEDICINE: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES 14-15 November 2011Mumbai

“Nanomedicine” or the exploration of medical applications of nanotechnology, is evolving from laboratory research to clinical application, particularly in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, drug delivery, and monitoring. Nanotechnology and nanoparticles are expected to dramatically change the way disease is detected and treated, with implications for personalizing management strategies in clinical practice, patient-physician communication, and outcomes measurement. The purpose of the Indo-US symposium on Nanomedicine: prospects and challenges was to bring together experts in the field of nano-drug delivery, nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology

and allied areas on a common platform for intense deliberation on nanomedicine. The principal investigators of the symposium were Padma V. Devarajan (Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai) and Vinod Labhasetwar (Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland). Nanomedicine for cancer, infectious diseases and targeting to the brain, including the relevant biology and drug delivery approaches were discussed. Other than the faculty, senior and eminent scientists from India also participated in a round table discussion on the myriad applications of nanomedicine and the means to surpass challenges. l

SPACE WEATHER STUDIES 28 Nov. - 01 Dec. 2011Goa

Extremely Low Frequency (ELF, 30‐3000 Hz) and Very Low Frequency (VLF, 3‐30 kHz) waves are powerful tools for remote sensing of dynamic processes in the ionosphere and

magnetosphere. ELF‐VLF waves have their origin in a wide variety of both natural (eg. lightning discharges) and man‐made (eg. VLF transmitters) sources. For the past several decades,


December – 2011 EVENTS DIARY

satellite and ground-based observations of whistlers and VLF emissions all over the globe has been used as an important diagnostic tool to understand the process in the complex ionosphere and magnetosphere. Advancing VLF science through the Global Atmospheric Weather Electromagnetic System for Observation, Modeling, and Education (AWESOME) network concentrates on some of the key issues involved in space weather studies through observations of VLF waves across the global AWESOME VLF sites. The Indo-US workshop on Space weather studies focused on a wide

variety of VLF-related phenomena, including lightning, solar flares, gamma rays, electron precipitation, and earthquakes. The event was organized by B. Veenadhari & Rajesh Singh (Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mumbai) and Umran S. Inan, John T. Gill & Morris B. Cohen (Stanford University). The workshop also addressed innovative methodologies for analysing VLF data and extending local VLF studies to global initiatives. The sessions gave researchers an opportunity to develop collaborative research initiatives with other VLF scientists. Detailed tutorial sessions were also held, with the end goal being scientific publications.l

APPLICATION OF MOLECULAR MARKER TECHNOLOGY FOR RAPID DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF NEW CROP VARIETIES FOR ENHANCING FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY IN INDIA.

03-09 December 2011New Delhi & Jalna, Maharashtra

Enhancing agricultural productivity on a sustainable basis is a key priority of the Governments of India and the United States for ensuring long-term food security and economic growth.

With the intensification of agricultural systems during the past five decades, and the key emerging issues such as climate change, depleting soils, biodiversity and water resources, the world is faced with a challenge of stagnating and declining yields and agricultural productivity of staple crops threatening long-term food and nutritional

security. An exciting new wave of modern biotechnology tools such as molecular marker technology offers a great opportunity for enhancing the agricultural productivity through


December – 2011EVENTS DIARY

rapid and efficient crop improvement programs. Molecular plant breeding offers a unique opportunity to speed up the development and delivery of new and improved crop varieties that can address the multitude of biotic and abiotic stresses faced in the agricultural sector such as drought, salinity, heat and cold tolerance and pests and diseases. Unlike the products of genetic engineering, molecular marker technology is not controversial, less expensive and is utilized by both the public and private sector.

Building on more than 20 years of experiences in biotechnology capacity building, Michigan State University and The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) came together with IUSSTF support to organize an Indo-US workshop on Application of molecular

marker technology for rapid development and delivery of new crop varieties for enhancing food and nutritional security in India. The principal investigators were Vibha Dhawan (TERI, New Delhi) and Cholani Weebadde (MSU, Michigan). Around 40 participants from various public and private sector institutions in USA and India participated in this workshop to share and exchange information, tools and research experiences in the application of molecular marker technology in plant breeding and crop improvement programs for food security and high value crops. The workshop also provided hands-on experience in the application of cutting-edge molecular marker technology and tools for the improvement and rapid breeding of field, fruit and vegetable crops of mutual interest.l

5TH ANNUAL INDIAN MEDTECH SUMMIT: DRIVING MEDTECH INNOVATION FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND ADVANCES IN HEALTHCARE THROUGH AFFORDABLE TECHNOLOGIES: A US-INDIA GRAND CHALLENGE

5-6 December 2011New Delhi

The fifth annual Indian Medtech Summit was held in New Delhi on 5 December 2011 with the aim to understand the current state of the healthcare

industry, to identify issues facing it and to delineate key

activities that will help chart its future course. The event was jointly hosted by Stanford-India Biodesign, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science & Technology, Indo-US Science & Technology Forum and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. “Collaboration and Medtech Innovation: Lessons Learned” was the year’s main theme of the event. The summit brought together thought leaders of the emerging medical technology industry in India. About 250 Members of industry, government and academia from India and the United States participated in the summit. l

FRONTIERS IN LIQUID ATOMIZATION AND SPRAY SYSTEMS 10-12 December 2011Chennai

The Indo-US workshop on Frontiers in liquid atomization and spray systems was an effort to spark joint research in liquid spray systems and atomization using a bilateral technical conference as the seed. Spray and atomization systems are the basis for several engineering activities including power generation, aviation, ground transportation, painting/coating, pharma/medicine, materials processing, and agriculture. While research and development in both academia and industry in the US is at an advanced stage, the same is not true for India. The conference helped rectify that deficit by identifying several avenues for collaborative research that will advance the

scientific knowledge and technology bases for spray-related industries in India. The workshop was organized by Mahesh Panchagnula & R.I. Sujith (IIT Madras) and Paul E. Sojka & Stephen D. Heister (Purdue University, W. Lafayette). An important feature of this conference was the participation of industry R&D personnel. The United States is by far the world’s biggest commercial producer and consumer of spray and atomization systems. The presence of industrial personnel at this conference facilitated the exchange of ideas with academic researchers so as to allow all participants to tailor their future research towards industry-specific solutions. l


EVENTS DIARYDecember – 2011


NANOPARTICLE ASSEMBLY: FROM FUNDAMENTALS TO APPLICATIONS

12-14 December 2011New Delhi

The last decade has seen a rapid expansion of synthetic methodologies for controlled production of nanoparticles with specific size, shape and functionalities. While intermolecular forces, such as dispersion, short-range repulsion, electrostatic, bonding and solvophobic forces, are reasonably well-understood on the atomic scale; extrapolation of these forces to the nanoscale is not always trivial. Moreover, many applications depend upon creating appropriate two- and three-dimensional assemblies of nanoparticles. The synthesis of such nanostructured materials in amounts necessary for technological applications requires some variants of self-assembly, under either equilibrium or non-equilibrium conditions, and possibly directed by external fields or substrate templates. The Indo-US workshop on Nanoparticle assembly: from fundamentals to applications organized by Charusita Chakravarty (IIT Delhi) and Sanat

K. Kumar (Columbia University, New York) leveraged new advances in the production of nanoparticles with controlled surface chemistries, the development of novel methods for characterizing the multiscale structure (and dynamics) of the assemblies, and enabling theory and simulations. The workshop brought together experiments, theory and simulations centered on the theme of nanoparticle assembly, hoping to catalyze the development of novel, globally relevant technologies particularly germane to the Indian subcontinent, i.e., energy, environment and sustainability industries. These applications are of particular relevance to emerging nations, such as India, due to their relatively large needs in these areas, especially those that can be developed with the smallest possible environmental footprint. l

LARGE-SCALE DATA ANALYTICS AND INTELLIGENT SERVICES

18-20 December 2011Bangalore

The Indo-US workshop on Large-scale data analytics and intelligent services organized by N. Balakrishnan (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), Manish Gupta (IBM Research – India) and Ramakrishna Akella (University of California at Santa Cruz) was intended to bring together major software analytic and service providers from India and the US, together with their customer firms and users of their technologies, and leading researchers from universities in the US and India. The major theme was to focus on analytic methods and machine

learning, including those bundled with intelligent services and data/text mining and information retrieval and extraction. This was in the context of application areas such as business analytics and services, healthcare, educational technologies, e-governance, homeland security, energy analytics, and others. The intent was to review the state of the art research-based technologies and define new needs and directions that require cutting edge research.l

VIRTUAL INSTITUTES FOR COMPUTATIONAL AND DATA-ENABLED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

21-22 December 2011Bangalore

Data-intensive and date-centric computing will be at the fore-front of research in this decade. The objective of the Indo-US workshop on Virtual institutes for computational and data-enabled science & engineering was to explore opportunities for synergy and collaboration in the area of Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E). The longer term goal was to establish a virtual institute that will provide a hub of excellence in CDS&E and catalyze new thinking, paradigms, and practices in STEM research and education. The workshop was organized by R. Govindarajan & Govindan

Rangarajan (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), Anand Sengupta (University of Delhi) and Manish Parashar (Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey). Leading researchers and industrial leaders from the US and India participated in the event. There were presentations and panel sessions on the main research directions in three major areas, namely computational mathematics & statistics, data-intensive computing & astrophysics, and cyberinfrastructure, by researchers from the universities, national labs and industrial labs in US and India.l

Indo-U.S.Science & Technology ForumThe Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), established under anagreement between the Governments of India and the United States of America,is an autonomous, not for profit society that promotes and catalyzes Indo-U.S.collaborations in science, technology, engineering and biomedical researchthrough substantive interaction among government, academia and industry.

Foster excellence by capitalizing on the scientific and technological synergyDisseminate information and create awareness through scientific exchangesBuild linkages through networking between academia and industryExplore new frontiers by nurturing contact between young and mid-career scientistsPave way to sustainable interactions and establish long term relationshipsEncourage public-private partnership to inculcate elements of innovation andentrepreneurship

Exciting and innovative collaborative programs cutting across disciplines and institutions

IUSSTF solicits joint proposals for Indo-US workshops, training programs and joint networked centres thrice a year and awards activities for every call on the basis of peer reviews both in India and USA.

Academia-Industry Connect Programs Programs on InnovationAdvance Schools & Training Programs Public-Private Networked Joint CentersBilateral Workshops & Symposia Special Initiatives for Strategic PartnershipsFlagship Events Student InternshipsIndustry Driven Programs Travel GrantsKnowledge R&D Networked Joint Centers Visiting Professorships

Submission Deadlines Award Announcements

15 February 31 May15 June 30 September15 October 31 January

Further information available at http://www.indousstf.orgWe value your interactions with us towards promoting Indo-U.S. Science and Technology collaborations

Rajiv Sharma, Executive DirectorIndo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF)Fulbright House,12 Hailey RoadNew Delhi 110 001, IndiaE-mail: [email protected]: 91-11-42691700Fax: 91-11-23321552

Michael Cheetham, HeadUS Representative OfficeIndo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF)American Association for the Advancement of Science1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005, USAE-mail: [email protected]: 1-202-326-6664

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