Now ! Prof. MGK Menon, at the Science Congress (Trivandrum, 2010 Jan).
Then ! Prof. M G K Menon, in 1966, when he was one among the first three "Men who mould Indian Science". Please see my last post.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Prof. M G K Menon - Now and then .
Now ! Prof. MGK Menon, at the Science Congress (Trivandrum, 2010 Jan).
Then ! Prof. M G K Menon, in 1966, when he was one among the first three "Men who mould Indian Science". Please see my last post.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Men who mould Indian Science
"Men who mould Indian Science" . Science Today carried a series on this topic. The first among them was published in its Sept 1966 issue. This series is on Science in India, and the men behind it.
The first trio, presented in this article are :
The first trio, presented in this article are :
Vikram Sarabhai , Chairman, AEC
H N Sethna, Director, AEET
M G K Menon, Director, TIFR
The two page article, briefing on these great personalities and men of vision, also has a quote (a paragraph) from Dr. Homi J Bhabha's last speech.
Indian Science Congress - Now and then
The 97th Indian Science Congress ( ISC ) is in progress, at Trivandrum. I just peeped into the past, through the pages of 'ScienceToday" (ST), on the earlier ISCs.
It's interesting to note that ST has been serious about the ISC. Right from the first year of its publication, ST had commenced coverage on ISCs and the related 'Science". I have here, the first article appeared in March 1967 (pages 42, 43).
"The Indian Science Congress : In Quest of a Change".
ScienceToday carried another article in April 1967(pages 42, 43), titled
"Science and the Common man" - What the Indian Science Congress can do to popularise Science. This article, by Prof. T R Seshadri, stresses thus :
"The science Congress is therefore ideally suited to undertake this task { laison between Scientists and the public, Popularise Science, and improve Science Education } . But how should it proceed in the matter."
Prof. Seshadri further discusses the methods.
It's interesting to note that ST has been serious about the ISC. Right from the first year of its publication, ST had commenced coverage on ISCs and the related 'Science". I have here, the first article appeared in March 1967 (pages 42, 43).
"The Indian Science Congress : In Quest of a Change".
The article deals with the history of the Indian Science Congress. Here are a few quotes.
" At the first session in 1914, in Calcutta, 105 members and a few visitors had divided themselves into six sessions and discussed 35 scientific papers for three days.
" When the Royal Asiatic Society hall in Calcutta 53 years ago, a hundred and odd men gathered for the first session of the newly formed Indian Science Congress Association, they too the British Association for the Advancement of Science as their model.
" At the end of 53 years, amidst mounting criticisms and desperate move by a few to orient the Science Congress to new directions, Prof. TR Seshadri, General President of the 54th session, again turned to the British Association for a model, sothat 'we also take effective steps to make this Science Congress more and more effective and liason between Scientists and the public.
"
"Science and the Common man" - What the Indian Science Congress can do to popularise Science. This article, by Prof. T R Seshadri, stresses thus :
"The science Congress is therefore ideally suited to undertake this task { laison between Scientists and the public, Popularise Science, and improve Science Education } . But how should it proceed in the matter."
Prof. Seshadri further discusses the methods.
Later, in the January 1969 issue of ST, another article titled :
" Indian Science Congress ( 56th Session, January 1969, Bombay) - A need for change " by A . Rehman.
This article presents an excellent analysis of the effectiveness of ISCs, with data on participation (delegates), Expenditure, and the Programme of the ISC.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Where are we heading to ?
The Moon Impact Probe on the Chandrayaan did certainly make an impact in the minds of all Indians. That's evident from the Editorials in various newspapers appeared yesterday.
But I am stuck at a point .
Till last day, we all were looking at the moon. Yesterday we could throw a stone (mip) at it.
Today, we all look at the stars. When are going to throw a stone at them ?
While appreciating the herculian efforts (of every kind of resource) from ISRO, I am thrilled at what the NASA is doing.
NASA has been looking at (not alone the moon and the stars !) the Universe, and they were throwing stones on many planets and stars ( and danced on the Moon). Now they are looking further ahead. They are searching for newer stars, beyond the solar system, to throw at . I wish them ALL SUCCESS.
.
But I am stuck at a point .
Till last day, we all were looking at the moon. Yesterday we could throw a stone (mip) at it.
Today, we all look at the stars. When are going to throw a stone at them ?
While appreciating the herculian efforts (of every kind of resource) from ISRO, I am thrilled at what the NASA is doing.
NASA has been looking at (not alone the moon and the stars !) the Universe, and they were throwing stones on many planets and stars ( and danced on the Moon). Now they are looking further ahead. They are searching for newer stars, beyond the solar system, to throw at . I wish them ALL SUCCESS.
.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Chandrayaan, MIP, and Moon
Today, all the media celebrates the BIG NEWS. The news about Chandrayaan, MIP and the Moon. Yesterday ( Children's day ! Diabetes day ! ! ) at 8.31 PM, the MIP was dropped on to the Moon, from the Chandrayaan. According to ISRO, everything is successful... , justifying the popular ISRO terminology - "text book flight".
But, what interests me most today, is the media coverage of this historic moment. I had a quick look into some of the newspapers. All of them (except Business Line, from the Hindu Group) had the lead title about Chandrayan and MIP.
Let me just reproduce some of the newspapers, just to show how they put the historical moment and great achievement for India.
I have reproductions from The Hindu, Indian Express, Malayala Manorama, and Mathrubhoomi. Please have a look.
Indian Express : Tri-Color on Moon
Malayala Manorama : "Grahapravesham'
[ entry to planet }
Mathrubhoomi : Tri-colour on Moon
The Hindu : India leaves its footprint on Moon.
As I hinted above, 'Business Line' (a business news paper, from Hindu group ) did not even make a mention of this great achievement. ( I spent a lot of time, searching for atleast a one-line mention in the remotest corner of the paper. I am disappointed. May be that BusineesLine could not see any business in Chandrayaan, MIP or the Moon !! ).
I shall put my researched glimpses of the initial Moon missions, with reference to ST(2001), in a couple of days , here.
But, what interests me most today, is the media coverage of this historic moment. I had a quick look into some of the newspapers. All of them (except Business Line, from the Hindu Group) had the lead title about Chandrayan and MIP.
Let me just reproduce some of the newspapers, just to show how they put the historical moment and great achievement for India.
I have reproductions from The Hindu, Indian Express, Malayala Manorama, and Mathrubhoomi. Please have a look.
Indian Express : Tri-Color on Moon
Malayala Manorama : "Grahapravesham'
[ entry to planet }
Mathrubhoomi : Tri-colour on Moon
The Hindu : India leaves its footprint on Moon.
As I hinted above, 'Business Line' (a business news paper, from Hindu group ) did not even make a mention of this great achievement. ( I spent a lot of time, searching for atleast a one-line mention in the remotest corner of the paper. I am disappointed. May be that BusineesLine could not see any business in Chandrayaan, MIP or the Moon !! ).
I shall put my researched glimpses of the initial Moon missions, with reference to ST(2001), in a couple of days , here.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Chandrayaan
Right now, we are on our journey to the Moon. Moon is just going to be a stopover for our journey. Our destination is far ahead away. Chandrayaan is but the beginning.
Indian Chandrayaan is just above the Moon, circling him (her?). It's about to drop a packet (MIP) on to the moon. For us, this is certainly a proud milestone.
When we are with the Chandrayaan and MIP, the Americans are further ahead with their journey to the Mars, Sun, and further ahead. Today's news is that NASA has just ended the current mission to the Mars, with its Mars lander losing contacts with the ground.
"Science Today" magazine, right from its inception, have been giving extensive coverage of the Space Missions. Many articles, covering the science and technologies of Moon expedition have been published . These articles are really great, and are quite useful to all strata of people, the young and the old.
Tomorrow, the Moon Impact Probe would be dropped on to the Moon, from Chandrayaan. Let's wish ISRO all success ... for the coming Projects too.
... more on the Moon missions , wrt ST will follow.
Indian Chandrayaan is just above the Moon, circling him (her?). It's about to drop a packet (MIP) on to the moon. For us, this is certainly a proud milestone.
When we are with the Chandrayaan and MIP, the Americans are further ahead with their journey to the Mars, Sun, and further ahead. Today's news is that NASA has just ended the current mission to the Mars, with its Mars lander losing contacts with the ground.
"Science Today" magazine, right from its inception, have been giving extensive coverage of the Space Missions. Many articles, covering the science and technologies of Moon expedition have been published . These articles are really great, and are quite useful to all strata of people, the young and the old.
Tomorrow, the Moon Impact Probe would be dropped on to the Moon, from Chandrayaan. Let's wish ISRO all success ... for the coming Projects too.
... more on the Moon missions , wrt ST will follow.
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