THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS OF NAMMA OORU BENGALURU

 

THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS OF NAMMA OORU BENGALURU

Botanical Name: Tabebuia avellanedae

It is winter here in Namma Ooru Bengaluru and its Cherry Blossom time.

It is that time of the year, when the Tabebuia trees bloom with their showy Pink Trumpet Flowers and paint the City Pink.

Tabebuia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. Tabebuia is native to the American tropics and subtropics from Mexico and the Caribbean to Argentina. Most of the species are from Cuba and Hispaniola.

The name Tabebuia entered the botanical literature in 1803, when António Bernardino Gomes used it as a common name for Tabebuia uliginosa, now a synonym for Tabebuia cassinoides,

Tabebuia is an abbreviation of "tacyba bebuya", a Tupi name meaning "ant wood"

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A PHOTO TRIBUTE TO PROF RODDAM NARASIMHA 1933-2020

 

A PHOTO TRIBUTE

TO

PROF RODDAM NARASIMHA

1933-2020

 

                    Parents: Shri R.L. Narasimhaiya and Smt. Leela Devi

                                                   A Young Roddam Narasimha

                           A Young Roddam Narasimha as a PhD Student at CALTECH

Dr. Roddam Narasimha Receiving his PhD at CALTECH

Photo Courtesy – Bhavana - RNCaltech-007-web.jpg (423×560) (bhavana.org.in)

Reunion: From left to right:  Anatol Roshko, Gary Brown - his Caltech colleagues.   And Hans Liepmann –PhD Supervisor

Roddam Narasimha Extreme Left - Aeronautical Engineering Department IISc

Prof Roddam Narasimha and Team at Balasore

Monsoon Experiments

Prof Roddam Narasimha @ IISc

Prof Roddam Narasimha receiving the Bhatnagar Prize from

Vice President B D Jatti

Prof Roddam Narasimha receiving the Padma Vibhushan from

President Pranab Mukherjee

Prof Roddam Narasimha and Wife Mrs. Dr. Neelima Narasimha

Prof Roddam Narasimha and Wife Mrs. Dr. Neelima Narasimha

at the IISc Archives Exhibition on the Open Circuit Wind Tunnel

From Left - Prof Roddam Narasimha, Prof Satish Dhawan, Prof S Ramaseshan and Mrs. Nalini Dhawan  - Farewell Function to Prof Satish Dhawan at the IISc Gymkhana 31-07-1981

With Defence Minister P V Narasimha Rao – LCA – 1985

With Colleagues at the Experimental Cloud Tank Chamber at JNCASR, JAKKUR, BANGALORE, INDIA

FAREWELL PROF RODDAM NARASIMHA

CARTOON BY

 

B G Gujjarappa/Bulletin of Sciences

Bhavana.org

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GANDHJI AT IISc

 

GANDHJI AT IISc

SPEECH AT INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, BANGALORE [July 12, 1927]¹

I was wondering where do I come in? There is no place here for a rustic like me who has to stand speechless in awe and wonderment. I am not in a mood to say much. All I can say is that all these huge laboratories and electrical apparatus you see here are due to the labour—unwilling and forced—of millions. For Tata’s thirty lakhs did not come from outside, nor does the Mysore contribution come from anywhere else but this begar² world. If we were to meet the villagers and to explain to them how we are utilizing their money on buildings and plants which will never benefit them, but might perhaps benefit their posterity, they will not understand it. They will turn a cold shoulder. But we never take them into our confidence, we take it as a matter of right, and forge that the rule of “no taxation without representation” applies to them too. If you will really apply it to them, and realize your responsibility to render them an account, you will see that there is another side to all these appointments. You will then find not a little but a big corner in your hearts for them, and if you will keep it in a good, nice condition, you will utilize your knowledge for the benefit of the millions on whose labour your education depends. I shall utilize the purse you have given me for Daridranarayana. The real Daridranarayana even I have not seen, but know only through my imagiation. Even the spinners who will get this money are not the real Daridranarayana who live in remote corners of distant villages which have yet to be explored. I was told by your professor that the properties of some of the chemicals will take years of experiments to explore. But who will try to explore these villages? Just as some of the experiments in your laboratories go on for all the twenty four hours, let the big corner of your hear remain perpetually warm for the benefit of the poor millions.

                                                                 

I expect far more from you than from the ordinary man in the street. Don’t be satisfied with having given the little you have done, and say, ‘We have done what we could, let us now play tennis and billiards.’ I tell you, in the billiard room and on the tennis court think of the big debt that is being piled against you from day to day. But beggars cannot be choosers. I thank you for what you have given me. Think of the prayer I have made and translate it into action. Don’t be afraid of wearing the cloth the poor women make for you, don’t be afraid of your employers showing you the door if you wear khadi. I would like you to be men, and stand up before the world firm in your convictions. Let your zeal for the dumb millions be not stifled in the search for wealth. I tell you, you can devise a far greater wireless instrument, which does not require external research, but internal— and all research will be useless if it is not allied to internal research— which can link your hearts with those of the millions. Unless all the discoveries that you make have the welfare of the poor as the end in view, all your workshops will be really no better than Satan’s workshops, as Rajagopalachari said in a joke. Well I have given you enough food for thought, if you are in a reflective mood, as all research students ought to be.

In concluding, he [said that] they must keep the lamp of their love for the motherland and her children always bright, trim, and steady. And as they did that, so they deserved the knowledge and the advantage they were deriving from the Institute.¹

1.This paragraph is from The Hindu , 13-7-1927

2. Forced labor 21-7-1927

^{The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Pages, 210-211, Vol 39, 4 June, 1927-1 September, 1927}

Young India, 21-7-1927

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IISc ALUMNUS PAYS A PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO PROF SATISH DHAWAN ON HIS 100TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

                                         SEPTEMBER 25, 1920 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Prof Prabhakara V Choudary PhD FRSC (IISc Alumnus, MCBL), Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA. 

 

 

                                                                  Prof. Satish Dhawan

                                               IISc Centenary Commemorative Stamp

EXCERPTS:

Thank you for kindly reminding me about the happy occasion of Professor Satish Dhawan’s 100^th Birthday! I enjoyed reading Jyotsna Dhawan’s fitting tribute to him – an illustrious story, very well narrated by Prof Dhawan’s adoring daughter!

 

Several people associated with Prof Dhawan, especially the young ones of that era, share a deep sense of admiration for him. I happen to be one of them, with very fond memories of Prof Dhawan as my hero and role model! I have yet to meet a person that could match Prof Dhawan’s on-the-spot problem-solving ability, superb leadership qualities, administrative acumen, and love for and dedication to IISc, his colleagues and the IISc community at large, regardless of rank. He was “One of a Kind, Indeed!”

 

Given his extremely busy schedule as both a scientist and an administrator and his many responsibilities that entailed extensive travel around the world meant frequent and long absences from home, IISc. Upon his return, Prof Dhawan would promptly take a walk around the campus, be it early morning or late evening, sometimes with a short cane in his hand – probably as a pointer I would suppose, invariably accompanied by Mrs. Dhawan and/or the Estate Officer. During these inspections, he would recommend necessary changes/modifications/repairs as and where required. Implicit in his instruction is that the assignment be completed ASAP so that he could review and make changes as the work progressed. He was extremely accommodative and open-minded, taking suggestions for the long-term benefit of IISc’s sylvan surroundings for the community at large.

 

I tumbled upon my first opportunity to experience, first hand, Prof Dhawan’s dynamic management style, in the context of the construction of a new building to house the offices and classrooms for the just-established Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), led by the legendary scientist, Professor G N Ramachandran. Within a few short months, a brand-new building came up in the parking lot across the main street in front of the then Microbiology and Cell Biology Laboratory (MCBL) building, and lo and behold - our parking space was lost!

 

As a short-term solution, Prof Dhawan had instructed the Estate Officer to designate the front port of our department building as a ‘temporary’ parking space for two-wheelers and prepare the land on either side of the port for parking of four-wheelers, until a permanent parking lot could be developed on the vacant land adjacent to the new BMU Building on the same side of the street. However, neither the Director nor the Estate Officer was aware that  the MCBL Seminar Room-cum-Library was located directly above the porch and that the noise from kick-starting two-wheelers would disrupt on-going academic activities in the room above.

 

As expected, everyone in MCBL was annoyed by the disturbance, following which I volunteered to broach the subject with department officials, alas, in vain! It was then that I decided to seek a meeting with the Director on this matter. My colleagues did point out that – “We’re not too sure you’ll get an appointment”! Nevertheless, I went ahead, met the Personal Assistant (PA) to the Director and explained to him the reason for my seeking a meeting with Director. I. of course, never got the appointment to meet the Director, but lo and behold, our grievance was resolved. The following morning, two-wheelers looking for parking in the MCBL porch were greeted with a “SILENT ZONE’ signboard, which also directed them to an alternate parking facility nearby. This is just one small example of Prof Dhawan’s quick thinking and decision-making, based on facts, even though it meant reversing his earlier orders.

 

There are several such examples that illustrate the rare qualities of Prof Dhawan that set him apart from the rest of IISc “Scientist-leaders” of comparable stature. In my opinion, it would be worthwhile to reminisce at an opportune time our collective experiences with Prof Dhawan and compare them with our experiences with some of his successors, and a predecessor, Sir CV Raman. 

  

The last time I have had the pleasure of seeing my revered friend and mentor was in 1988, at his home. As usual, he was very gentle and kind, readily recognized me, enjoyed recollecting our shared experiences, and promised to let me know whenever he was in Delhi next, prompting that he was no longer a frequent traveler. Unfortunately, I left India soon afterwards and hence could not see him again.  Nonetheless, I will always remember and cherish my good fortune of my association with the proud and distinguished Son of India, Prof Satish Dhawan, the ever-smiling personality, brimming with confidence and encouragement!

 

With these delightful memories, I join you and the millions of his admirers to celebrate Prof Dhawan’s Birth Centennial.

  

 

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NATURE’S STUNNING SHOW PIECE - THE SCARLET OR RED JADE VINE

NATURE’S STUNNING SHOW PIECE

THE SCARLET OR RED JADE VINE

RED JADE VINE

 

Breathtaking, Stunning, Spectacular, Showstopper, is one of Nature’s Stunning Climbers: The Scarlet or Red Jade Vine, currently blooming in Namma Ooru Bengaluru.

The New Guinea Creeper or Red Jade Vine is an exotic and magnificent tropical climber with amazing clusters of Chandelier like bright orange-red flowers. The cascading flower trusses look magnificent in any garden and is undoubtedly a SHOW STOPPER This unique flower attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

• Botanical Name: Mucuna bennettii (syn.: Mucana albertisii, Mucana novoguineensis).
• Common Names: New Guinea Creeper, Scarlet Jade Vine, Red Jade Vine.
• Family Name: Fabaceae.
• Etymology: The genus Mucana is the Brazilian vernacular name for cow-itch which is Mucana pruriens.
  The specific epithet bennettii is named after A.W. Bennett, a British botanist.
• Origin: Native to Papua New Guinea. It is popularly cultivated worldwide. 

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NEW CHEMISTRY - DOUBLE DELIGHT - A GAS SENSOR AND A PROTECTIVE COATING

NEW CHEMISTRY - DOUBLE DELIGHT -

A GAS SENSOR AND A PROTECTIVE COATING

 

“Science is an adventure into the unknown, entering an uncharted territory of astonishing beauty, surprises and amazing perspectives”, said Nobel Laureate, Prof. Ben L. Feringa, at the 61st Anniversary of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

It is in this spirit of adventure that Prof Anjana Devi, Inorganic Materials Chemistry, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany and her student Lukas Mai, have developed a novel process for the deposition of ultra-thin films of Zinc Oxide that can be used as: Nitrogen Dioxide Sensors and as protection for plastics used by the food and the pharmaceutical industry.

                   Lukas Mai - Reflected in a Thin Film and Prof Anjana Devi

                                               © RUB, Marquard     

Hitherto the method of producing thin films of Zinc Oxide involved the use of difficult to handle, pyrophoric materials, that were hazardous, corrosive and required special protective and safety equipment, besides the need to store them under an atmosphere of inert gas.

In order to make these coatings, simpler, safer, affordable and non-toxic, the interdisciplinary research team at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) has now established a new fabrication process based on a non-pyrophoric zinc precursor, which can be processed at temperatures low enough to allow plastics to be coated.

Professor Anjana Devi’s team used Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to apply ultra-thin ZnO layers on sensor substrates, which can eventually be used to produce a sensor for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂).

The Ruhr University scientists have published their research work in the June 4, 2020, issue of the international journal Small.

                COVER PAGE - Journal SMALL June 4, 2020, ZnO, RUB

“The key for the development of a safe alternative ALD process for ZnO at RUB was to develop a new, non-pyrophoric precursor that is safe to handle and is able to deposit ZnO thin films of the highest quality,” explains Lukas Mai, lead author of the study. “The challenge was to find alternative chemistries to replace the pyrophoric compounds that are generally used in the industry for ZnO.”

The unique aspect of the new process is that it can be performed at very low process temperatures, thus facilitating deposition onto plastics. Consequently, the new process can be used not only for the manufacture of gas sensors, but also of gas barrier layers. In the packaging industry, such layers are applied on plastics to help protect degradable goods such as food or pharmaceuticals from air.

“The chemistry behind ALD processes is therefore essential and has a huge impact on the resulting thin films,” points out Prof. Anjana Devi.

 

Prof. Anjana Devi

                                      Prof Dr.Anjana Devi, RUB, Bochum

In a glittering career of two decades and more at the Inorganic Materials Chemistry Department, Ruhr University, Prof Anjana Devi has carried out pioneering work in research areas encompassing: Precursor development – Metal organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) as a precursor for deposition of thin films using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques. The main focus of her research is on the transformation of metalorganic precursors into nanostructured thin films of various functional materials for device manufacturing and eventual applications as - photo anodes; transparent electrodes, thin film transistors (TFTs) and transparent conducting thin films for solar cell applications, sensors, optoelectronics, etc.

Prof Anjana Devi and her group collaborate with scientists from various disciplines, be they, Physicists, Chemists or Engineers and their goal is to develop nanostructured materials for different applications ranging from – Microelectronics, Sensors, Dielectrics, barrier coatings, catalysis and much more.

                                  GROUP PHOTO - DEC 2019

Publishing her research work in international high impact scientific journals, Prof Anjana Devi has notched up over 190 papers and counting.

She has graduated in all, Twenty Two (22) B.Sc Students; Thirty Three (33) M.Sc Students and Seventeen (18) Ph.D students in her career so far.

Besides, the Best invention Prize – 2005, she received from her University, she is the recipient of numerous other awards and has been on the editorial board of several prestigious scientific journals. Prof Anjana is on the international advisory board of the ALD and CVD community and has led several national and international research projects.

 

Honorary Doctorate in Technology – 2020, Aalto University, Finland:

On being conferred the Honorary Doctorate in Technology -2020 by the prestigious Aalto University, Finland, Prof Anjana Devi in all humility says, “Hard work always pays off….” That is probably her mantra for success.

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A FLOWER INSIDE A FLOWER

A FLOWER INSIDE A FLOWER

The credit for the title of this blog goes to a friend whom I had sent images of this rare flower of the Elephant Apple Tree. The friend replied, Wow, it looks like “A Flower inside a Flower” and indeed, it is.

The tree is currently blooming in the beautiful 400-acre wooded campus of the Indian Institute of Science, IISc, Bangalore.

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Presenting to you a Botanical Wonder - THE ELEPHANT APPLE TREE flower.

Botanical Name:  Dillenia indica. 

The Tree is native to India.

Elephant Apple is an evergreen large shrub or small to medium-sized tree growing to 15 m tall.

The leaves are 15-36 cm long, with a conspicuously corrugated surface with impressed veins, like potato chips.

The magnolia like fragrant flowers are large, up to 5 inches across, with five white petals and numerous yellow stamens. Flowers arise solitary at the ends of the twigs, facing downward. The sepals are rounded and yellowish green. Flower pollinators are birds and bees.

 

The tree blooms during June/July, and then bears fruit from October to December.

 

Postal Stamp by Indian Post - Elephant Apple Tree Flower 

Issued in 2006

                                                 

Common name: Elephant Apple, Indian catmon, Hondapara Tree, Ma-tad

Kannada – Betta Kanagalu - Hindi: चलता Chalta, Karambel • Sanskrit: Avartaki •Bengali – Chalta, Marathi – Karmal, Malayalam – Chilta, Tamil – Uva/Kurukatti Telugu – Uva.

 

The fruit of the tree is much sought after by elephants, hence the name, Elephant Apple Tree.

 

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