Page 45 - Scientech 2016-17

DST started Nano mission 10years ago when in Livingston, Louisiana—operated in unison
there was no Nano technology in the country to detect gravitational waves or distortions
but at present India is number 3 in terms of caused in the space time fabric due to
papers published on the subject. But on the collision or coalescing of black holes or other
question of products we have no visible impact cataclysmic events. The third LIGO is slated
because there are no takers in the industry. to come up in India providing the third
Industry is not R & D savvy, it is profit driven. coordinate to pinpoint the location of such an
There are many examples of success but not in event. LIGO is a mega project costing 1200Cr
the scale one would expect given the number and will take 10 years to build.
of scientists working on Nano technology.
Nano Technology is everywhere – water Commercial Viability and Dissemination
purification, self cleaning shirts, biomedical of Information & Technology
devices, fabrics etc. Nanobots are the future
of medicine where they use the Targeted DST is responsible for developing technologies,
Delivery technology where the Nano capsule demonstrating its viability and ensuring that
contains a cargo which goes to the specified it works. But the commercial aspect of a
site to do its work. Nano technology is all technology is not under the mandate of DST
pervasive and scientists from any discipline for which other ministries are responsible.
can work on Nano technology.
DST is in the process of setting up a mega site -
9. National Super Computing Mission India Science and Technology Portal which
The present world generates huge amount will consolidate all the technologies that are
of data that needs to be sifted through and being developed and what is commercially
analyzed to get relevant information which viable, the pros and cons. DST has assured
can help in governance, development and the Ministry of Urban Development that they
control. Thus we need these super computers will provide a comprehensive road map for all
to sift through this enormous data and arrive the technologies being developed for future
at information that is significant. There are planning. A huge networking is necessary
some important components in this mission: to address the issue of disconnect between
technological innovations and the industry
• Setting up the infrastructure and the public. This is where Vijnana Bharati
• Developing some of the hardware could collaborate with DST in implementing
indigenously through C-DAC, Pune grass root innovations through awareness
• Launching R & D based on these programmes.
computational machines like
analyzing monsoon predictions, or Large number of committees will be working
developing drugs or predicting climatic on various aspects to come up with viability
changes which require an enormous of technologies with respect to India. TIFAC
computational power which was not Vision 2035 continued from TIFAC Vision
possible before in the country 2020
• Human resources are necessary to
provide a skilled workforce to work “would take into account our capabilities
with and maintain these computers. and competitiveness, accommodate
• Big Data Analysis which means sifting regional aspirations, priorities & disparities
and placed as a referential document. The
through huge amount of data to vision, it is hoped, will inspire and prompt
glean information from which useful the stake-holders across the spectrum to
information has to be further gathered. chart technological trajectories through
Software has to be developed which subjective interpretations…”
can handle huge data bytes to come up
with relevant information.
As we wrap up the interview it becomes clear
10. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational- that Dr Sharma who is at the helm of DST
Wave Observatory (LIGO) Project clearly has his work cut out for him. But
he needs all the cooperation and support
possible from the Ministries and Industry to
There are two LIGO centers in the world –
one in Hanford, Washington and the other make the changes he envisions.

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