The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Catching up in the U.S.

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Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Catching up in the U.S.

Divya Gandhi

BANGALORE: If the campus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) wears a somewhat desolate look these days, it could be because dozens of its faculty are on route to the United States to attend the first ever alumni meet of the institute.

The centenary celebrations of the IISc. might be a year away, but the enthusiasm of the Institute’s Alumni of North America (IISc. AANA) has ensured that a Global Conference — seen as a curtain raiser to the celebrations — will be held on June 22 in Santa Clara, California. Around 500 scientists, industry leaders and academics will attend the two-day meet from India and the U.S.

Despite its 100-year history, the IISc., surprisingly, does not have a vigorous alumni network, says P. Balaram, Director. He confesses that the event is almost entirely the result of the initiative of the U.S. alumni. “Former students of the institute now working in the U.S., especially those working on information technology and biotechnology in the Bay area have shown a great deal of enthusiasm in re-connecting with the institute,” he says. This will have a “catalytic effect” for the institute, he hopes, whether financially or through collaborative research and development. Some of the other areas he sees as particularly benefiting from this meet are nanoelectronics and stem cell research.

The participants and alumni from India include R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Union Government, V.K. Aatre, former Scientific Adviser; and A.R. Upadhya, Director, National Aerospace Laboratories.

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