Category: Amazing Feats

* HAL signs MoU with Safran to extend cooperation on chopper engines

The ground-breaking ceremony for a new facility of Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt Limited (HE-MRO), a joint venture of HAL and Safran, a French aerospace firm, was held at Sattari in Goa.

According to a release from HAL, an MOU was signed to extend their cooperation and explore opportunities for new helicopter engines in civil and military markets, reflecting their commitment to the Indian Government’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” towards achieving self-reliance in defence technologies and MRO.

R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL, Franck Saudo, CEO, Safran Helicopter Engines and senior officers from the Indian Armed Forces and HAL were present on the occasion.

source/content: thehindu.com

India’s first digital water bank sets up shop in Bengaluru

India, and possibly the world, got its first digital water bank, an initiative to aggregate water resources under a single platform, on Monday. 

Science and Technology Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, who inaugurated the water bank in Bengaluru, extended the state government’s full support for the initiative, undertaken by AquaKraft Ventures, a company that specialises in sustainable initiatives to provide drinking water and sanitation to all. 

source: newindianexpress.com

* 27 films win awards at BIFFes

The awards were presented for films released in 2020 and 2021

The 13th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BiFFes) drew to a close on Thursday with 27 films winning awards in three categories – Asian, Kannada and Indian. The awards were presented for films released for two years, 2020 and 2021, as the festival was not held last year due to the pandemic. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot presided over the event and presented the awards. 

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* IISc-Bangalore develops paper sensor to detect hydrogen peroxide

Researchers from the Department of Organic Chemistry at the IISc have developed a paper-based sensor for detecting tiny volumes of hydrogen peroxide, a chemical used widely in household and healthcare products like hand sanitiser as a disinfectant, in rocket fuel as a propellant, in biological cells, and also as a starting material in peroxide-based explosives. 

* Professor of Mahajana PG Centre receives Award of Excellence in Mysuru

University of Mysore has presented this year’s Award of Excellence to Dr. Mahadesh Prasad, Professor in Department of Biochemistry, Mahajana Post Graduate Centre, Mysuru, in recognition of his research work in “vaccine development for Corona viruses and Flavi viruses”. 

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Mangaluru: Fr Ronald Serrao honoured with Victor Rodrigues Konkani Literary Award

“The contribution of the Catholic Church in the development of Konkani language in this region is commendable,” opined Dr Edward Nazareth, renowned Konkani literate and Professor of Orthopaedics at Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences, while felicitating Fr Dr Ronald Serrao, Rector of St Joseph Seminary who was bestowed upon Victor Rodrigues Konkani literary award 2021.

The award ceremony was organized at ‘Matha-Kripa’ hall of Samanvaya at Grurpur-Kaikmaba on Sunday February 27. Fr Antony Lobo, parish priest of Gurpur-Kaikamba parish was the chief guest.

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* Kalaburagi artist for Jordan

Kalaburagi-based artist Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel will participate in a three-day International Art Festival titled Colours of the World organised in collaboration with Amman Greater Municipality and SMD Foundation at Ras Al Ain Art Gallery, Amman in Jordan.

The festival will be inaugurated under the patronage of Anwar Halim, Ambassador of India in Oman, on Saturday.

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SCIENCE : Scientists of IISc, India and QBI, Australia have devised new Math Model to predict Coronavirus Vaccine Efficacy

A mathematical model that predicts how antibodies made by COVID-19 vaccines protect against symptomatic infections has been developed by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) in Australia.

A paper about the study was published in Nature Computational Science.

** ISRO inspires Channapatna rockets as engineers collaborate with artisans

The Indian Space Research Organisation offers its achievements in a language that connects, just in time for National Science Day, with DIY rocket models, Mangalyaan jigsaw puzzles, T shirts and more

“What we do is rocket science,” proclaims a tee-shirt. Created by Indic Inspirations for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the tee -shirt is a part of its Vyom collection. Most of the products, which include jigsaw puzzles based on Mangalyaan, rocket collectible matchboxes, mySpace PSLV notebooks and fridge magnets, come with a storyline.

“This collection is about ISRO’s achievements in space science and technology. We had to create a line that would interest a child and adults alike,” says Yogesh Dandekar, architect and chief product designer of Indic Inspirations. “India is doing a lot of work in space technology and people should know about this.” He adds that minute details on the models build up curiosity.

** New tech comes to Bengaluru cancer hospital

The Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SSCHRC) has added True Beam STX and Da Vinci technologies to the Radiotherapy and Robotic Surgery sections. Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Dr MK Ramesh, who was present at the inauguration, said SSHRC provides a high level care at lower rates.

“Hospitals like SSCHRC must train nurses as they will be exposed to quality training. They must increase the intake of nurses. Installation of state-of-the-art surgical system and Trubeam STX is a crucial step towards bringing sophisticated medical technology to patients from all over South India.” Dr BS Srinath, head of the institution, said, “The two machines make cancer care targeted and precise. The patients get to access the latest surgical solution that is globally available.” Robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that helps patients return to their daily routine faster. True beam STX emits photons for treating cancers and is accurate, giving physician confidence to treat small tumours.