S. Vishnu Sharma
Strengthen ties for Research Day celebrations was a grand affair at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) with eminent personalities laying emphasis on promoting research in the educational institutions. Promoting research has its own benefits, said Daniel Chuburu, Ambassador of Argentine Republic to India. Research can be a fine way in promoting bi-lateral relations between Argentina and India.
Speaking further during the celebrations on Friday (28 February), India and Argentina can come of help to each other in boosting research in fields of high importance. Both the countries have strong points which can be of use to each other. Strong point for India is its expertise in Information Technology, while Argentina’s strength lies in its high-level knowledge in agriculture.
Strengthen ties for research
Using the fine methods we manage to grow food more than their actual requirement. Added to this, Argentina is developing microwave imaging satellite to monitor natural disasters and soil moisture in a long-term effort to bolster agriculture sector.
Strengthen ties for research: Argentine diplomat, SRMIST
The radar antennae technology will allow Argentina to access a real-time water map, this will allow for prediction of harvest yields, floods and droughts. This may help India in its farming sector. India on the other hand can help fostering the creation of new unicorns in Argentina by providing its high level knowledge in the field of Information Technology, said Argentine Diplomat. Argentina is a home to majority of Latin America’s tech unicorns, he reminded.
Speaking further he said lot more is being done to foster ties between the two countries so that exchange of knowledge and experts can happen between them to benefit each other. A pact was signed in 2019 when their President visited India towards establishing India-Argentina Centre of Excellence for Information and Technologies (IA-CEIT) in Argentina.
The centre will facilitate the transfer of technology to equip laboratories and knowledge including through the exchange of experts and the development of training courses. A prominent university located in the western part of Argentina will have a department of Indian Studies. This will provide an indepth understanding of India and its salient features to students there, apart from exploring opportunities for research and student exchange programme.
Professor Giridhar U. Kulkarni, president, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) said more women must be involved the field of science and its related research. While women make a splendid beginning in the careers related to research and science, not many continue for long due to various reasons. We should ensure more womenfolk are actively involved in research, he said.
P. Sathyanarayanan, pro chancellor (academics), SRMIST said efforts must come from all quarters to enhance research activities in India. Mere educational institutions alone cannot make efforts to promote research, entire eco-system has to work for that. Most of the funding for research comes from the government and less contribution pours out from private companies.
Industry-academia collaboration along with healthy funding for research from private companies and active participation of students can enhance research activities in India, he said. Students and faculty at SRMIST have received awards in recognition of their contribution towards research. Vice chancellor of SRMIST Sandeep Sancheti, SRMIST registrar N. Sethuraman also spoke.