Panjab University Round-Up

Chandigarh: A National Seminar on ‘Recent Trends in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology’ was organized by Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Panjab University . It was inaugurated by Prof. Navdeep Goyal, Coordinator of Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Dr. Jadab Sharma, convener of the seminar greeted the participants and explained the purpose of organizing the seminar.
The lectures delivered by Prof. Rajesh V. Nair, IIT Ropar, Prof. Jino George, IISER Mohali and Dr. Samir K Mondal, CSIR-CSIO Chandigarh were mostly addressed to physics audiences and they liked it. It was highly enlightening to know the controlled emission from an emitter under designer periodic dielectric environment as explained by Prof. Rajesh. For the first time Prof. Jino experimentally confirmed how chemical reactions or more precisely vibrational spectra of molecules under photonic excitations can be altered. Dr. Samir explained how a simple design principle for optical fiber tips can do wonder in near field optics. He nicely explained some of the most recent applications of plasmonic and optical fiber tips known as nano antenna.
Lectures delivered by Prof. Vinayak Sinha, IISER Mohali, Dr. Raman Parkesh, IMTECH Chandigarh, Dr. Kamalakannan Kailasam & Dr. Kaushik Ghosh, both from INST Mohali and Dr. Moumita Kotal, MMU Ambala were equally appreciated by all. Prof. Vinayak explained the real danger for human health in the form of air pollutants which were yet to be detected due to the lack of proper detection methods. We came to know few of most advanced detection tools being developed or installed at IISER Mohali.
Dr. Kamalakannan discussed how porous carbon nitrides (SGCN) can be modified for hydrogen generation in the form of clean energy source. We were surprised to know the future possibilities of installing solar hydrogen generation modules similar to photovoltaic devices. 
Dr. Kaushik nicely elaborated and extended how hydrogen can be generated by solar energy. He explained certain new possibilities which was quite interesting. Dr. Raman explained the issue of available library of drugs & development of new drugs. Especially, audiences came to know the significance of RNA (in sharp contrast to common perception about DNA) which controls the protein synthesis.
 Few of the students and faculty members were excited to know the uniquely designed porous nanostructured electrodes like two dimensional hetero-atom doped graphene, three dimensional carbon nitride/graphene based hybrid and three dimensional graphitic nanoribbons anchored on graphene based hybrid nanostructures for development of electrically responsive soft ionic actuators nicely as explained by Dr. Moumita.

CHANDIGARH REGION ALL SET FOR ‘CRIKC TECHNOLOGY CLUB’
To strengthen the innovation ecosystem of India, DST-Centre for Policy Research (CPR) at Panjab University, Chandigarh in collaboration with Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) organized a ‘Roundtable Meet’ entitled CHALLENGES IN TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION’ on Saturday, February 1, 2020 in Panjab University, Chandigarh. 
The keynote speaker, Prof. R K Sinha, Director, CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) deliberated upon the technology commercialization ecosystem of CSIO. In his speech he addressed four major challenges in technology transfer i.e. ‘Individual level, Technological level, Organizational level and National level challenges. He further emphasized the fact that, government is focussing more on administrative issues whereas, to enhance the technology commercialization, technical issues need to be given more importance. Prof. Sinha also added that, for an effective technology transfer ecosystem,  strong Industry-Academia linkages are of paramount importance. He also dwelled upon the reasons for stupendous success of CSIO for transferring technologies to the industries. This success, he said, was due to high calibre scientists ably supported by technical staff and the presence of high end instruments. He also emphasized that, institutions should be headed by champion leaders who are for not only professionally competent, but also a team leader. 
Prof. Shyam Sunder Pattnaik, Director, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, Guest of Honour of the event, vocalised his views regarding integration of industries and institutes, wherein the industry can provide financial and business support to the academia which intern will help in resolving their research problems. He shared his initiatives taken at NITTTR to engage industry with academia. He further added that universities absorbing superannuated scientists tend to attract more funding from the public and private sectors.

 In his welcome address, Prof. Raj kumar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh encouraged the academicians to undertake industry oriented research and engage industry personnel in the academic activities. He also urged the gathering for an Industry-Academia club under the aegis of CRIKC. 

The highlight of the event was a Roundtable Meet on the challenges in strengthening the technology commercialization ecosystem. The technology experts from 15 CRIKC member institutes  (IIT-Ropar, Panjab University-Chandigarh, IISER-Mohali, PEC-Chandigarh, NITTTR-Chandigarh, Chitkara University-Chandigarh, CSIR-IMTECH, CSIR-CSIO, NIPER-Mohali, NABI-Mohali, CIAB-Mohali, C-DAC-Mohali, SCL-Mohali, PSCST-Chandigarh and Maharaja Aggrasen University-Baddi) deliberated on the gaps existing in technology commercialization and also provided solutions to most of these challenges. 
In addition, the participants came up with several concrete recommendations  a) to be forwarded to GoI for consideration in preparing draft for ‘Technology led Innovation Policy, 2020’ of India and b) promoting innovation ecosystem in the institutes of Chandigarh region.
The august gathering unanimously agreed for the creation of ‘CRIKC Technology Club’ under the guidance of Dr. S S Pattnaik. This Chapter will have number of sector agnostic Industry-Academia Sub-clubs. Dr. Pattnaik along with a few experts from industry and academia will lay down the roadmap of the activities pertaining to industry-academia. Prof. Rupinder Tewari, Coordinator, DST-CPR, the spirit behind this event, introduced the genesis of organising this kind of Meet. He shared with the audience the recommendations, submitted by the DST-CPR to Ministry of Science & Technology, which have been carried forward at the national level for enhancing Industry-Academia R&D ecosystem in India.  

CHANDIGARH TEAM WINS LAURELS IN THE NATIONAL INTEGRATION CAMP AT GUJARAT
 10 students and 1 program officer from main campus and various colleges of Panjab University got a chance to represent UT Chandigarh in the national integration camp of national service scheme held at the maharaja sayajirao university of Baroda, Gujarat from January 20 to 26. This seven day and night national camp themed on "ek bharat shresth bharat" had 190 NSS volunteers from 7 states and 18 universities from all over India. The camp included a series of inter-state competitions, cultural nights, lectures, heritage walks, yoga sessions and a visit to statue of unity. The team from UT. Chandigarh participated in all of the events and won hearts of all the other teams and organisers through their exceptional talent. Heerak Singh Kaushal of DAV College Sector 10, bagged first position in extempore competition. Jagdish Banga of Centre for Social Work, Panjab University, directed a skit on fundamental rights which bagged second position in the skit competition. Nidhi Sharma of SGGS college Sector 26, gave a tough competition to others in the elocution competition. The whole team performed a fusion dance including Himachali, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Giddha and Bhangra. Sufi singing depicting the culture of punjab was performed by Jagdish Banga and other members. Individual performances included bhangra by Vishal Kumar of GCCBA College Sector 50, patriotic dance by Sahil Robert of PGG College Sector 46, kalbelia by Pooja Verma of PGG College Sector 11 and folk singing by Sumanpreet Kaur of PGG College Sector 42. Anmol Singh of SGGS College Sector 26, Preeti and Suraj Kumar of PGG College Sector 46 also played a vital role in all the performances of their team. Ms. Amanjot Kaur, Programme Officer, SGGS College, Sector 26, Chandigarh was appreciated by every other team and organisers for her dedication and hardwork towards success of the performances by her team and hence she was invited specially invited to share her experience with all. Being the most favourite team of this national camp, the NSS volunteers from Chandigarh won laurels and left a benchmark in Gujarat.

SCREENING FOR RECRUITMENT – A REPORT
Central Placement Cell and the Chairperson, Department of English arranged  the  interview for English & Punjabi candidates Department of English & Cultural Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh.The two subject experts from YPS, Patiala held screening and shortlisted students to be further interviewed for the final selection. The interviews were conducted in the presence of Prof. Deepti Gupta, Chairperson, Department of English and Cultural Studies and Dr. Meenu Gupta, Placement Officer for the Department of English and Cultural Studies. There were 17 students who had applied for English and four were shortlisted and two for Panjabi out of Six who appeared for the screening. The shortlisted students would be further interviewed by the Board for the final recruitment.

FACULTY TRAINING SCHOOL UNDER UGC NETWORKING PROGRAMME CONCLUDES AT UIPS, PU

The one-week long Training School under UGC Networking Resource Centre in Pharmaceutical Sciences on the theme “Targeting New Echelons in Drug Discovery and Analysis” conducted by University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, was successfully concluded here today.

During the Programme, a group of 20 entry-level faculty and research scholars from 13 states of the country were trained. 22 lectures, 9 hands-on wet and dry lab sessions and 2 visits were conducted by 26 eminent speakers‎ from various academic institutions, manufacturers of sophisticated analytical instruments, and research organizations with expertise in diverse disciplines of analytical techniques of pharmaceutical sciences, together with the in-house faculty of UIPS.

During the valedictory programme, Professor Saranjit Singh, Acting Director, NIPER & Ex-Dean NIPER and Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, NIPER, Mohali, Punjab, was the Chief Guest and delivered the valedictory lecture on “Current Trends in Use of Chromatography in Pharmaceutical Sciences.”

Earlier, Professor Kanwaljit Chopra, Chairperson, UIPS & Programme Coordinator, UGC-NRC, delivered the welcome address. Professor Ranju Bansal, Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, welcomed the august gathering. Professor Alka Bali, Course Coordinator, briefed about the antecedents of the weeklong course. Feedback from the participants was also invited.  Dr Neelima Dhingra, Joint Course Coordinator of the School, presented the Vote of Thanks. 

 
PU VC INAUGURATES CHANDIGARH BOOK FAIR

Professor Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University Chandigarh inaugurated the Chandigarh Book Fair at Panjab University campus in the benign presence of Lt. Col. Yuvraj Malik, Sardar SPS Oberoi, S. Gurbhej Singh Goraya  here today. The Chandigarh Book Fair is organized by the National Book Trust in Panjab University from February 01 to 09, 2019. 

In his inaugural address, Professor Raj Kumar highlighted the importance of the literature and underlined that the literature is the foundation of life. Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity and lay an emphasis on many topics from human tragedies to tales of the ever-popular search for love. Lauding the initiative of National Book Trust, PU VC stated that literature is one way for us to hear the voices of the past and work with the present. It is the way for the present to connect to the possible future. 

Further, Professor Kumar said that the different colleges, institutions and the universities of the region including the Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) will be benefitted from this initiative. He suggested the organizers of the book fair to explore the possibilities of establishing a nodal centre of National Book Trust in Panjab University to promote the habit of reading among the youth of the region in specific and country in general. Later, he visited the different book stalls and appreciated the wide collection of books.

Those accompanied PU VC at the inauguration ceremony included DUI Professor Shankarji Jha, DSW Professor Emanual Nahar, Professor Devinder Singh, Chief of University Security Professor Ashwani Kaul, Professor Gurpal Singh, Dr. Dinesh Kumar among other officials of the university.

PLAY "WRONG NUMBER" STAGED 
The play "Wrong Number" written by Pali Bhupinder Singh, directed by Mr. Karan Gulzar was presented by the Panjab University Alumni Association on 31st January, 2020 in the Mulk Raj Anand Auditorium. Play's main theme was based  on relationships, it showed the emotional conflict of a man who has lost his legs and this insecurity of the protagonist, lead to confusion, hatred and anger in his relationships. Throughout the play it was seen that how this handicapped man affects himself and others and how he comes back to his senses. The director of Tagore theatre and a renowned artist Mr. Kuldeep Sharma graced the event with his presence. Dean of Panjab University Alumni Association, Prof. Deepti Gupta appreciated the play's versatility and stated that knowledge is not limited to a particular language and experience has no bounds, it is fluid and all encompassing.
Characters.           Actor
Manav.            Raman Parashar
Satya.              Disha Dahiya
Kalpana.         Babbandeep Kaur
Sambhav.       Karanvir Singh
Guru.               Karan Gulzar
Chela.              Kuljinder Singh
Delivery man. Narinder Kumar
Backstage team-
Sound- Karanvir
Lights- Aditi Mehra
Set design- Sumegha, Monika, Manik, Lakshay