Jamshedpur : CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, celebrated the 72nd CSIR Foundation Day. The function was attended by NML’s scientific and technical staff, invited retirees and guests, above 250 school students from Kerala Public School, Burmamines, NML Kerala Public School, Agrico and BPM+2 High School, Burmamines.
CSIR-NML Director, Dr. S. Srikanth while delivering the welcome address traced the history of CSIR, right from the formative days and also elaborated on future plan.
Dr. Srikanth said, “CSIR pervades all aspects � social, economic and quality life. The very fact that CSIR has been associated with a variety of tasks through its 37 laboratories across the country � from manufacturing baby food (Amul) to bringing out the non-steroid contraceptive (Saheli); Swaraj Tractor for agriculture, extracting poly-metallic nodules from the entrails of the Indian ocean to flying Light Combat Aircraft in the Indian skies; from defining the genetic configuration of cholera bacterium – speaks volumes about how the institution touches Indian lives, with regularity.
Prof. M.K. Mishra, Vice Chancellor, Birla Institute of Technology, Mersa (Ranchi) while giving emphasis on different policies adopted by BIT Mesra, stressed on the need of collaboration between BIT Mesra and CSIR-NML. Prof. Mishra said there is an increase in the demand of rear earth material globally, where China is currently controlling the global market.
CSIR-NML can contribute more in this field. Further, considering the global demand on �Steel�, CSIR-NML�s role to meet the requirement of quality steel becomes more imperative at National level.
Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former Chairman ISRO and planning Commission Member (Science), delivered the CSIR-Foundation Lecture on �India in Space � A Vision for 21st century�. While introducing the significance of space research, he, quoted Stephen Howkings statement � �The Human race has no future if it does not go into space�. He traced the beginning of Indian space programme � launching of sputnik in 1957 till the recent Mars mission where we came out successfully at first attempt.
He said the space research programme in India evolved in three phases � Initiation phase (1960-1970), experimental phase (1980-1989) and operational phase (1990 onwards).
The whole programme has become our national requirements in terms of education, Health, Connectivity, weather, natural resource management and disaster management. Indian space research has several missions like development of communication satellites, remote sensing missions, global positioning satellites, launch vehicles, beginnings of planetary mission and so on.
The application of space satellite will have a new business environment in terms of TV, Radio, Communications, climate data, education, health, international co-operation and so on.
Indian space programme has been carried and in a low budget � total investment of Indian Rs. 490 billion (till 2013-14).
India has been participating in international programme like � ISS and subsequent space initiatives, asteroid missions, space exploration and robotic mission, Joint missions to Moon and Mars, Global habitation programmes, space infrastructure co-operation, space Governance and Debris Management and so on.