An Outreach Theme Meeting on “Societal Applications of Nuclear Science and Technology” organised by the Department of Atomic Energy – Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (GoI) was held at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo University, Baripada on 25-27th March 2022. A delegation of 26 eminent nuclear scientists led by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre along with Dr. Asoka Kumar Das, Vice Chairman, Odisha State Higher Education Council attended this outreach meeting.
As a historic occasion for the state, this is for the first time in Odisha that a high profile delegation from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) led by Dr. Ajit K. Mohanty, Director, BARC including scientists from BARC, Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Institute of Physics and NISER visited the University.
As part of commemoration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, this event was was jointly organized by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences , Institute of Physics (IOP), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), and Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo University in association with Indian Association of Nuclear Chemists & Allied Scientists (IANCAS).
The inaugural ceremony started with paying homage to Prof. Srikumar Banerjee, Former Chairman, Department of Atomic Energy who was the conceiver of this programme. Chief guest of the event Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty in his address, recalled the history and glory of his birthplace Mayurbhanj and his educational life in Mayurbhanj. He expressed that research should not done for the sake of research rather it should reach the real life of the masses. He remembered Prof. Jogesh Pati who is a son of the soil of Baripada and highlighted his contribution to nuclear physics. He also envisioned the popularisation of Mayurbhanj chhau dance in the country and informed that soon Mayurbhanj Chhau will be performed in Anushakti Nagar, the residential township of BARC in Mumbai.
In the welcoming address, Prof. Kishor Kumar Basa, Vice Chancellor of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo University described the event as a historic occasion for the state which will provide an excellent platform for the scientists, academicians and research scholars to exchange their knowledge on recent applications of Nuclear Science & Technology in different disciplines. Such programmes will for sure create an environment for research towards upliftment of the tribals of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar district. He opined that this type of outreach program will help in raising the aspiration of tribal youths through science. The students, research scholars and younger faculty members will be benefited by establishing collaboration between DAE sponsored national institutes both in research and internships.
Dr. Asoka Kumar Das, Vice Chairman, Odisha State Higher Education Council in his address, expressed that the Make in India initiatives has a tremendous opportunities for sustainable development. The program will be very much important to spread the technology developed in the lab to the people of Odisha. He also emphasized that Government of Odisha is taking keen interest in developing research ecosystem across the state and the Higher Education Council is functioning as an umbrella organization by implementing various teaching and research initiatives.
Among the delegates who attended the event are Dr. P. K. Pujari, Director, Radiochemistry & Isotope Group, BARC & president, IANCAS ; Dr. A. K. Tyagi, Director, Chemistry Group, BARC; Dr. S. M. Yusuf, Director, Physics Group, BARC; Dr. T. K. Ghanty, Director, Biosciences Group, BARC; Prof. S. Panda, Director, NISER, DAE, Bhubaneswar; Prof. K. K. Nanda, Director, IOP, DAE, Bhubaneswar ; Shri S. K. Jakhotiya, Internal Finance Adviser, BARC; Shri R. K. Rath, Registrar, IOP, DAE, Bhubaneswar; Prof. Pradip Kumar Sahu, IOP, DAE, Bhubaneswar; Shri M. K. Sapra, Scientific Secretary, BRNS, DAE; Smt. S. S. Mule, Head, AKRUTI Technology Section, BARC; Dr. S. Gautam, Head, Food Technology Division, BARC; Dr. P. K. Mukherjee, SO(H), Nuclear Agriculture & Biotechnology Division, BARC; Dr. Raghunath Acharya, SO(H), RCD, BARC; Dr. Soumitra Kar, SO(G), Desalination & Membrane Technology Division, BARC; Dr. B. K. Das, SO(G), NA&BTD, BARC; Dr. Sachin Sarangi, SO/D. IOP, Bhubaneswar; Dr. B. Mallick, SO/D, IOP, Bhubaneswar; Dr. Khirod C. Patra, SO/D, IOP, Bhubaneswar; Shri Hemant Agnihotri, Programme Officer, BRNS, DAE. As many as 7 keynote talks and 7 technical talks were delivered by this delegate.
The University felicitated Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty for for being conferred on ‘Bhumiputra Sanmana’. On behalf of BARC Dr. Mohanty donated a GM counter to the University for the benefit of students.. On behalf of the University, all the dignitaries present on the stage were felicitated with the mementos. Vice Chancellor Prof. Basa felicitated Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty's mother Smt Ratnamani Mohanty with Uttariya. Former Health Minister of Jharkhand, Dr Dinesh Sadangi honored Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty with Uttariya and urged upon the scientists to address health issues in the Jaduguda region due to uranium mining.
This two day event witnessed an exhibition of 38 outreach Posters and BARC Technologies which was inaugurated by the chief guest and other distinguished guests. Dr. Ajit Mohanty and other distinguished scientists interacted with the farmers of Mayurbhanj and explained the practical aspects of nuclear technology in agriculture. The delegation also interacted with the print and electronic media about various societal applications using the technologies of BARC. Scientists from BARC shown the demo of various BARC technologies such as AKRUTI – Spin-off Technologies, Nuclear Agriculture & Biotechnology and Food Technologies. Experiments with Nuclear Physics instruments such as GM Counter and E2: NaI(Tl) Detector were demonstrated to the participants. The delegation also visited various departments of the university and exchanged views with faculty members and research scholars. The event was attended by the research scholars, students, faculty members, agriculture officials of Mayurbhanj district, farmers and local entrepreneurs.
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