Green Transport

Going Green has become fashionable these days. I wonder whether all of us fully understand the nuances  of Green or we are trapped in oxymoronic definition of its synonym Sustainable. Green actually represents consciousness of our age. It represents a wide and loosely defined spectrum of thought, attitude, philosophy and practice centered around the concern for the environment. We have green resources, products and processes like green energy, green buildings, green agriculture, green transport, green cities, green electronics, green computing, green chemistry, green pharmaceuticals, green fabrics to name a few.

 Any product or process is green if the emission of carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas is minimal during its fabrication and usage, it has consumed minimum of non renewable resources including energy and water, it has been made of recycled materials, it is recyclable after its useful life, it has utilized local resources, it respects other forms of life during its formation, usage and disposal.  It seem a tall order but it is not necessary that the entire wish-list is fulfilled, the more of it the better. 

We realise that there are shades of ‘greenness’. Getting completely green product or process is utopian. We also realise that green revolution is not green. The objectives of green revolution were noble but the means such as use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation techniques were not green. Now people are shifting to truly green ‘green revolution’ which focuses on no-till farming, organic fertilizers, natural pesticides, rain water harvesting and drip irrigation.

Worldwide transport  is the most non sustainable sector. Efforts are being made to make it green.  Improving public transport system, running trains and other vehicles on biodiesel and ethanol, promotion of solar cars and battery operated vehicles, non motorized transport like pedal bicycles are some efforts in this direction. The ultimate green transport could be vehicles run on hydrogen as hydrogen produces water on combustion instead of carbon dioxide.  As of now not much innovation has either achieved in solar cars or fuel cell operated vehicles or the generation of hydrogen from renewable sources.

 In hybrid and  battery operated vehicles the issue is regarding the electricity which has been used to charge the battery. If electricity is green meaning if it is hydro or solar then the vehicle is green whereas if the electricity has been obtained from thermal means then the vehicle is not green. So the only green transport choices we are left with include Bus Rapid Transport System, car pool and bicycles. Of course walking, the first mode of transport is most sustainable. One bus of commuters is six times more efficient than a car with single person. Bus Rapid Transport system of Curitiba of Brazil is worth emulating.

 Individual efforts like promotion of cycling or car pool is not going to be sustained until and unless government takes some concrete steps. These could be anything from streamlining of public transport system and providing lane/track for cyclists on all important routes. There should be adequate and free parking space available for cyclists. Walking and cycling environment could be improved in cities by introducing arterial bye-passes and ring roads.

Recently  faction of environment conscious people have started a group ‘Re-cycling Kashmir’ to promote cycling. Hope they are able to motivate masses towards this green mode of commuting. Apart from a green option, cycling is a healthy option too. My cardiologist friends would agree that cycling is a good aerobic activity and pedaling at 10 kilometers per hour burns 240 calories per hour. Let us hope that administration provides cycling friendly infrastructure and policies for cyclists of Kashmir. Let us make Srinagar a cycle friendly city like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Groningen, Gothenburg and Delft. Green transport leads to green cities. So our next target should be to make Srinagar a green city like Curitiba and Masdar.

Report on Inspire Science Camp at NIT Srinagar (17-21) March 2012

One of the mandates of National Knowledge Commission is to attract talented students for a career in basic sciences and mathematics. A strong foundation in basic sciences is needed to create the next generation of competent teachers and scientific talent. Technology development is impossible without a strong research and development base of basic science and mathematics. To revive and consoli­date ‘Science’ as a career option for bright students from across the country National Knowledge Commission  has suggested to increase the number of existing fellowships  such as  Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojna (KVPY) and to start new fellowships schemes like INSPIRE. Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is thus a programme by the Department of Science and Technology for attraction of talent to study science and opt careers with research. The motivation behind INSPIRE is to enlarge the pool of scientific human power and foster research in the sciences. The Scheme includes three sub-components viz.,  Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS), Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) and Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC).  As one sub components of SEATS, Summer/winter camps for about 50,000 youth are being organised throughout India in which students  interact with global science leaders.  Summer/Winter Camps are organized for age group 16 – 17 years, Class XI students. According to Dr. Umesh Kumar, Scientist  DST who was present at the inaugural session of Inspire Camp at NIT, it was the third such camp in Kashmir valley. Six camps have been organized in Jammu region and one has been organized in Ladakh. More such camps will follow regularly in this region.

The inaugural session of the camp began with an introduction of the Institute by Prof. MD Mufti, Dean R&D and chairman Inspire Camp. The director NIT, Prof. Rajat Gupta elaborated on the genesis of Inspire programme. Prof. Gupta urged the young participants to undertake research in future on contemporary issues such as solar power, climate, environment, wildlife conservation, eradication  of epidemic diseases etc.  Jenab Wajahat Habibullah, Chairman Board of Governors, NIT Srinagar who was the Chief guest emphasised on the importance of this programme. He expressed that this programme is an acknowledgement of the excellence achieved by the students of Jammu and Kashmir. 

A book on Nanotechnology entitled ‘ Principles of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology’ co-authored by Convener of Inspire Camp Dr. Ashraf Shah was  released on the occasion. A review of the book was presented by Prof Anima Nanda of Sathyabama University, Chennai.

During the camp the students from all over the valley  got a chance to interact with renowned scientists from prestigious scientific organizations of the country. The keynote address was delivered by Prof T Pal from IIT Kharagpur on Nanotechnology.  The other mentors include  Prof Talat Ahmad, VC Kashmir University, Prof. Anjali Pal from IIT Kharagpur, Prof Ranjani Vishvanathan from JNCASR, Prof R Tondon from Delhi University, Prof Shaijumon from IISER,  Prof. BB Kale from C-MET Pune and Prof. S Lone from IIT Kanpur.

Apart from lectures, the students of the camp  got a chance to visit various labs of NIT Srinagar.  They Participated in science quiz and essay competition. They keenly watched screening of scientific documentary ‘Behind the Dark Ages’ made by Mr. Akif Mufti, a student IUST. The documentary highlights the achievements of medieval scientists and polymaths like Ibn al Haytham, Ibn Sina, Abu Rehan Alberuni and al Khwarizmi.

Students also appreciated the scientific philately exhibition displayed by Dr Seemin Rubab, co-convener of the Camp. The stamps exhibition was on several themes including remarkable scientists from Arab, India and world. The other theme was centered around conservation of natural resources. Stamps on astronomy and astrophysics were also on display.

At valedictory function the students interacted with Dr. Faisal Shah, an IAS officer of  Jammu and Kashmir cadre and topper of civil services examination. In the same session there was a lecture on career by Mr. Maruf Shah.

 After lunch, the students from various districts of the valley were flagged off to their respective destinations by Convener of the programme Dr. Ashraf Shah

Ode to women in Chemistry

Many women have contributed towards the growth and development of science in general and chemistry in particular from the time immemorial.  Several women contributed to the proto-science of alchemy in Alexandria around the 1st or 2nd centuries AD. The best known among them, Mary the Jewess, is credited with invention of several chemical instruments, including the double boiler (bain-marie) and a type of still.  In medieval Europe, many of the women chemists were self taught and worked clandestinely. These women worked as assistants to their fathers, brothers and husbands. Hildegard  of Bingen, Germany practised naturopathy. She  was well known for her healing powers involving practical application of tinctures, herbs, and precious stones. Hildegard also wrote   about the need to boil water as early as in twelfth century in her medicinal texts. Marie-Anne was Lavoisier's wife and colleague. She used to conduct chemistry experiments at home. She translated documents from English for him and prepared sketches and engravings of laboratory instruments. She hosted parties at which prominent scientists could discuss chemistry and other scientific ideas. These early chemists were not very well known, were allowed less access to research facilities than their male counterparts, had fewer job opportunities, published less and received lesser awards and recognition.

It was however Madam Curie who changed the rule. She defied all norms and won two Nobel prizes in Physics and Chemistry. In doing so she inspired a whole generation of future women scientists and engineers. Her daughter Irene Curie-Joliot was also a Nobel laureate in Chemistry. Marguerite Perry started her career as assistant to Madam Curie and discovered eighty seventh element of periodic table.  In fact International Year of Chemistry 2011 coincided with the 100^th anniversary of Nobel prize in Chemistry to Madam Curie. Despite winning Nobel Prize she was denied a post in her native place Warsaw because of her gender. She was not allowed membership in French academy of science due to the same reason. She however overcame all prejudices and discrimination. Madam Curie clearly changed the role of women in Society too.

Many, other women chemists and biochemists, made important contributions in their fields. Some won Nobel Prize while others won various types of accolades and recognition.  Rosalind Franklin used x-ray crystallography to see the structure of DNA.  Gerti Cori was a biochemist and became first American woman to win a Nobel Prize in science. Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for using x-rays to determine the structure of biologically important molecules. Recently, Ada Yonath of Israel received Nobel Prize for her work on Ribosomes. Emma Perry Carr was the first recipient of the America society Garvan medal for her work on ultra violet spectra of simple unsaturated hydrocarbon. Marjori Caserio is an expert  educator  and  author of organic chemistry.

Maria Telkes an industrial chemist is known for creating the first thermoelectric power generator in 1947 and the first thermoelectric refrigerator in 1953 using the principles of semiconductor thermoelectricity. She designed a house using Phase Change Material  to make it warm without using fuel . Rachel Carson’s powerful book ‘Silent Springs’ documents the impact of Pesticide on Marine life. She is a pioneer of Green Chemistry. Ruth Wiener is another environmental chemist of repute.

The above list is just indicative and not exhaustive. Presently many female Chemists are working, around the globe for the growth of knowledge in chemistry and betterment of society. Although their percentage is small as compared to their male counterparts but their contributions are by no means small.

Women possess indigenous technical knowledge and practice chemistry in their everyday lives. It is however a pity that the sciences which are of practical use in the household are excluded from recognition. All home makers are expert in kitchen chemistry, molecular gastronomy and food processing. They perform chemical operations like ignition, combustion, boiling, measuring, facilitation of heat transfer, mass transfer, phase change, fermentation, Pasturization, Coagulation et al on daily basis. Moreover women process fruits and vegetables available in one season to be used in lean season. Due credit must be given to the practice of open sun drying of vegetables by Kashmiri women in summer. These dried vegetables known as ‘Hokh Seun’ in local parlance provides assortment and nutritional security in harsh winter months. By experimentation and practice home makers ensures the right moisture content in dried vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are home processed to make Jams and pickles. Homemakers also process milk to obtain cottage cheese, butter and curd which have longer shelf life, better nutritional values and provide range in food value. Every woman is an expert in kitchen chemistry, thermodynamics and heat transfer which she has learnt by practice and experience. Due credits should be given to grandmothers and great grand mothers who wrap the pots  full of cooked rice with blankets to ensure that it remains hot at time of consumption. Warm milk is mixed with right amount of culture to prepare yoghurt. The temperature is maintained to ensure proper reaction. Grandmas are practical chemists and drugists. Many common ailments are treated at home using kitchen condiments like turmeric, tulsi, garlic, clove, amla etc.

Scientific Temper

Scientific temper

Science and Technology have become an inseparable part of our daily life; hence creation of scientific awareness and inculcation of scientific temper has now a days become the need of the hour. It was Pandit Nehru who introduced the concept of modern ‘scientific temper’ – a phrase taken to mean an enquiring attitude and analytical approach that leads to rational thinking and the pursuit of truth without prejudice in his book Discovery of India. Scientific temper has to be fostered with care at the individual, institutional, social and political level. The spread of scientific temper in a society should be  more pervasive than the spread of science and technology.   Scientific temper is an attitude of mind which calls for a particular outlook and pattern of behaviour. It is of universal applicability and has to permeate through our society as the dominant value system influencing the way we think and approach our problems. The spirit of enquiry and the acceptance of the right to question and to be questioned are fundamental to scientific temper. It recognises the fact that knowledge often progress by disproving earlier ideas, beliefs, theories and laws. It considers knowledge as open ended and ever evolving. Scientific temper and humanism are included as fundamental duty of all citizens in our constitution in 1976. Various stakeholders are involved in developing statement of scientific temper and its dissemination. A meeting of manyacademicians, scientists and eminent citizens was convened in 1981 at Coonoor near Ooty for this purpose. Scientific temper statement was revisited and revised in 2011 at Palampur in wake of newer development in terms of growth of ICT and shift of economy from industry based to knowledge based. The scientific temper was recently discussed and deliberated in an ‘International Conference on Science Communication for Scientific Temper’ at New Delhi from 10-12 January 2012 convened by NISCAIR. The scope of scientific temper was broadened by including experts from arts and humanities apart from natural and social scientists. The conference consisted of four plenary sessions and fifteen parallel sessions.  During these deliberations strategies were developed to disseminate scientific temper. Several methods and media were selected for this purpose. It was decided that education is the foremost medium to inculcate scientific temper among children and youth. Role of Radio, Television and new electronic medium was discussed. Hands on science activities, science movements,  science museums and extension centres play important role in building scientific temper among masses.  Science fiction can also be used to inculcate scientific temper. Science communication and rational thinking has played a great role in diluting superstitions related with natural phenomenon like solar or lunar eclipses. Role of government practices and policy issues in spreading of scientific temper was also deliberated upon.  Several studies are also being conducted to find out or quantify scientific temper among masses. Science communicators are trying to develop indicators for gauging scientific temper. During valedictory session of the conference a revised statementof scientific temperendorsed by all participants was released.  Valedictory session was addressed by eminent scientists and scientific policy makers.

Seamless celestial globe

All of us are familiar with an ordinary terrestrial globe which shows the earth, with its physical and political characteristics. A celestial globe shows the night sky with stars and their constellations. In a celestial globe the positions of the stars are recorded with the use of coordinates in relation to each other. These were used primarily for solving problems in celestial astronomy. The altitude of the Sun and the right ascension and declination of the stars could be calculated with these by inputting the location of the observer on the meridian ring of the globe. These globes were used previously in analogue computer devices to record the positions of the stars and study their movements. These days, one can get an educational celestial globe from any shop that sells globes and children can get a basic grounding in the field of astronomy by studying these globes. It is a pity that such globes are not available in Kashmiri markets.

The invention of the celestial globe is generally attributed to the Chinese. About 4th century BC, the Chinese were using these devices to make astronomical calculations.  Later on, this invention of the Chinese was further developed by the Koreans.  The modern world recognizes the celestial globe invented by the Greek astronomer Eratosthenes as the first authenticated version of the instrument. Many Islamic astronomers and medieval Europeans have also contributed to the development of the celestial globe. In the 12th century, Jabir ibn Aflah (Geber) was the first to design a portable celestial sphere to measure and explain the movements of celestial objects. The credit for the invention of the seamless celestial globe goes to the Indians and that too to a Kashmiri. Considered one of the most remarkable feats in metallurgy, it was invented in Kashmir by Ali Kashmiri ibn Luqman in 998 AH  and twenty other such globes were later produced in Lahore and Kashmir during the Mughal Empire. Ali Kashmiri created many masterpieces in Kashmir  in the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and during  Akbar’s rule the craft found its way into the city of Lahore.   The largest globe was made during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan by Muhammad Salih Tahtawi. It was being inscribed in both Arabic and Persian. The last was produced in Lahore by astronomer and metallurgist Lala Balhumal Lahuri   during Sikh ruler Jagatjit Singh Bahadur’s reign. Seamlessly cast globes continued to be made in Lahore up to the mid 19th century until the arrival of the British Empire. Before they were rediscovered in the 1980s, it was believed by modern metallurgists to be technically impossible to produce metal globes without any seams, even with modern technology. Hollow objects are typically cast in two halves. These Mughal metallurgists pioneered the method of lost-wax casting while producing these seamless globes.

Report on Hands on Science Activities at NIT Srinagar

Hands-on science refers to interactive science which is fun to watch, perform and learn. Hands-on science movement has now gained momentum in India. It started with ‘Quest’ programme on Doordarshan in early eighties by Mr. Samar K. Bagchi. These days several practitioners of Hands on activities are using their talent to educate and entertain students throughout India. Notable among them are HC Verma, BN Das, Suresh Agarwal and Arvind Gupta. Moreover Septuagenarian SK Bagchi is still active. These educationists travel throughout India and conduct workshops, give stage shows and organize science melas.  Recently Prof. BN Das and Samar K. Bagchi visited Kashmir valley on the Invitation of J&K Students Welfare Society. The conducted stage science shows at NIT Srinagar, Iqbal Islamia Mission high school Kralsangri, Srinagar, JNV Aglar Pulwama and Maryland Public high school, Niwa, Pulwama.

In all workshops experiments on science  were performed/demonstrated. In some workshops teachers also participated. The students and teachers witnessed  how simple but sensitive and precise experiments at low cost materials can be designed to improve the understanding of science at the school level. The teachers also get experience for quantitative measurement with sufficient accuracy to verify certain laws etc from these experiments.

Prof. Das and Mr. Bagchi have designed modules of science topics like – force, gravity, surface tension, Bernoulli’s principle, air pressure, buoyancy & Archimedes principle, heat, light, magnetism, static electricity, current electricity, sound, vibration and waves. At NIT the audience consisted of B.Tech students, faculty and children of faculty members. At NIT the resource persons demonstrated activities on force, gravity, surface tension, Bernoulli’s principle and magnetism. They involved students in various demonstrations and activities.  To have a feel about One Newton force, one student was asked to push another student with One Newton force. If acceleration due to gravity is taken roughly as 10 meter per second square then One Newton force is about 100 gram weight. One can have a feel of this force by pushing the pan of a pan balance so that it shows 100 gram on its scale. Several demonstrations on Bernoulli’s principle were given. The audience enjoyed inflating the Bernoulli’s bag. Kids loved when a balloon filled with water was swallowed by a jar in which a small candle was burned to displace air. Small children enjoyed the activities on surface tension, cohesive and adhesive forces. Magnetic lines of forces were drawn using iron fillings and a bar magnet. Everybody was struck by the beauty of magnetic lines of forces.  

Celebration of International Year of Chemistry at NIT Srinagar: A report

Chemistry – Our Life, Our future was the focal theme of last year being celebrated as International year of chemistry. The achievements of chemistry, and its contributions, to the well being of humankind were celebrated throughout world in various forms. The year 2011 coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to Madame Marie Curie for discovery of Radium and Polonium.  This gave us an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women to science in general and to chemistry in particular. To change the persistent stereotype of scientists as male, the poster of IYC depicts a female scientist. The other important goals of IYC celebrations were to promote green or sustainable chemistry. The other objectives of IYC include, increase the public appreciation and understanding of chemistry in meeting world needs, encourage interest of young people in chemistry and highlight the nature, beauty and relevance of chemistry to the modern world.

In this back drop the department of Chemistry, NIT Srinagar organized a one day seminar on ‘Chemistry: Our Life our Future. They were ably supported by other departments of Institute in organizing the seminar.  The seminar is attended by many faculty members from various colleges of the valley. Senior faculty members from Kashmir University also graced the occasion with their benign presence. The key note address delivered by chief guest Prof A H Zargar a renowned endocrinologist of the valley was most illuminating. He gave an elaborate explanation of Iodine and its role in brain development. He also discussed about the consequences of Iodine deficiency and its scenario in Kashmir valley.

Prof MA Qureshi of Kashmir University gave an in-depth analysis of role of chemistry, particularly MRI in medical diagnosis. Prof Khaliquz Zaman Khan gave a general talk on the role of chemistry in daily life. Prof AR Yusuf from CORD, Kashmir University deliberated on the role of Chemistry in Environmental Pollution and its control. Prof MF Wani of Mechanical engineering department, discussed on the role of chemistry in ‘Surface Tribology’. Tribology is the science of reducing friction and development of  lubricants. Dr. Rubab talked about role of women in development of chemistry. She also highlighted the role of women in Kitchen chemistry. Dr Kowsar Majid, the organizer of this seminar gave a wonderful explanation of molecular electronics. According to her conducting polymers, pigments and proteins are going to be the future of electronics industry.

Since one of the important goals of IYC was to attract young talents towards chemistry, Mr. Aryan Raj, a second year chemical engineering student was given a chance to deliberate on the role of chemistry in daily life. A quiz “Fun with Chemistry ‘was conducted by Dr Seemin Rubab for campus Children. Four team viz., Bhatnagar, Faraday, Jabir bin Hayyan and Mam Curie participated in the quiz. The Competition was won by Faraday team. The Director NiT Srinagar, Prof Rajat Gupta took keen interest in the whole proceedings and was very pleased to encourage youngsters.