Records, Karnataka – Page 31

KARNATAKA: ROBOTICS – PETROLEUM INDUSTRY/ TECHNOLOGY: Start-up ‘Beta Tank Robotics’ Specialised in Hydraulic Robots for the Petroleum Industry Wins the ‘Best Startup Award’ at India Energy Week 2023

The start-up is developing specialised hydraulic robots for the petroleum industry.

City-based start-up Beta Tank Robotics Pvt. Ltd., which is developing specialised hydraulic robots for the petroleum industry, has won the best start-up award at the India Energy Week 2023, which was held in Bengaluru last week.

The robot can operate in oil tanks in petroleum refineries, and thereby eliminate risks to human beings.

It was incubated at IIT Guwahati, and the project was funded by State-owned Oil India Ltd.

The specialised robot can go from one taker to another, and it does the job similar to a vacuum cleaner. The robot at present is undergoing safety assessment as there are very stringent standards set by the oil industry.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL : NATIONAL: KARNATAKA Showcases Ecotourism Hotspots to G20 summit Delegates from 30 countries

G20 summit delegates from 30 countries visited the Bannerghatta Biological Park, Kalkere Arboretum, and the Jungle Lodges and Resorts as part of the series of events organised by the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG).

During this excursion, curated by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, the state showcased its models for the restoration of forest ecosystems and the different types of forests curated at the arboretum, stated in its official release.

At Bannerghatta, the delegates visited the famous butterfly park and a short animal safari curated for them, where they were able to learn about the state’s sustainable ecotourism model. The Globally acclaimed “Wild Karnataka” movie was screened for the delegates at Jungle Lodges and Resorts.

The visit is part of India’s efforts to shift focus to the climate-change challenges and towards sustainable models of development such as eco-tourism, which can play a vital role, and will balance the needs of the growing economy with necessary measures for protecting the environment.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. V. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Director, Karnataka Tourism said, “Karnataka has an abundance of natural beauty, including the Western Ghats, a site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This mountain range is renowned for its great diversity of flora and fauna. The state has 35 wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks. It is also home to over 100 species of animals, and 600 species of birds, including 524 tigers and over 6000 elephants, making Karnataka, truly India’s wildlife capital.

On Thursday, the G20 delegates were given a short insight into the state’s rich biodiversity and stunning wildlife during the excursion”.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: Writer Irene Pinto Awarded the ‘Konkani Lekhak Sangh Annual Award 2023’

Irene Pinto has authored several Konkani books, published over 25 short stories, and broadcast several stories over All India Radio, Mangaluru.

Eminent Konkani writer Irene Pinto has been chosen for the Konkani Lekhak Sangh annual award 2023 in recognition of her immense contribution to the language and literature.

The award, carrying a purse of ₹25,000, would be presented to Ms. Pinto on February 25 at 6.30 p.m. at Sandesha Foundation, Bajjodi, said Sangh convener Richard Moras. Former editor of ‘Raknno’ weekly Rev. Fr. Francis Rodrigues and Radhakrishna Bellur, Kannada professor with Government College, Kasargod, would attend the programme.

Established in 2018 to promote Konkani language and literature, the Sangh decided to honour a Konkani writer for her/his contribution to the language and literature from 2022, Mr. Moras told reporters in Mangaluru on February 7 in the presence of Sangh members Dolphy F. Lobo, J.F. D’Souza, Gerald Pinto and Titus Noronha.

Born on November 11, 1945 to Francis Pinto and Piad Mary Pinto in Bejai, Mangaluru, Ms. Pinto is married to Vincent Castelino and has three children. She did her BA at St. Agnes College and B.Ed at St. Ann’s College of Education, both in Mangaluru. She has authored several Konkani books, published over 25 short stories, and broadcast several stories over All India Radio, Mangaluru.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: 4 IISc Researchers get INSA Young Scientist Awards

The award by INSA is given every three years to scientists for the best research paper published in a reputed journal.

Four faculty members of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have been selected for the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Medal for Young Scientists. Dr Srimonta Gayen, Dr Subhojoy Gupta, Dr Mohit Kumar Jolly and Dr Venkatesh Rajendran are among the 42 scientists selected from across India for the medal. The INSA Medal for Young Scientists is awarded annually by INSA to scientists under the age of 40 for their contributions towards Science and Technology. Dr Gayen is an assistant professor at the Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG) Department.

INSA stated that his work could help in enhancing the success rates of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) as well as provide a clinical strategy to help prevent the prevalence of gender bias against IVF-born babies. Dr Gupta, an assistant professor at the Department of Mathematics, was awarded for his work on Riemann surfaces.

Dr Jolly, assistant professor at the Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE), is working on minimising cancer metastasis and preventing drug and therapy resistance on cancer cells. Dr Rajendran of the Department of Mathematics specialises in Kac-Moody algebras and their representations. Meanwhile, IISc also announced that Dr Karthik Sunagar, assistant professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), was one of two recipients of the Professor Har Swarup Memorial Award.

The award by INSA is given every three years to scientists for the best research paper published in a reputed journal. Dr Sunagar published a paper on the geographical variations of venom in snakes that could render antivenom ineffective depending on the location. The paper, titled ‘Biogeographical venom variation in the Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja) underscores the pressing need for pan-India efficacious snakebite therapy’ was published in the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases scientific journal.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: JNCASR Scientists Develop Brain-like Computing with Industry Compatible Nitride Semiconductors

They used scandium nitride (ScN) to develop a device mimicking a synapse that controls the signal transmission as well as remembers the signal.

A team of scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have used scandium nitride (ScN) and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility to develop brain-like computing.

This invention can provide a new material for stable, CMOS-compatible optoelectronic synaptic functionalities at a relatively lower energy cost and also potential to be translated into an industrial product.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, the JNCASR team led by Dheemahi Rao who were working on nitride-based materials used their background for developing hardware for neuromorphic computing. They used ScN to develop a device mimicking a synapse that controls the signal transmission as well as remembers the signal.

“The JNCASR team demonstrates an artificial optoelectronic synapse with ScN thin films that can mimic synaptic functionalities like short-term memory, long-term memory, the transition from short-term to long-term memory, learning–forgetting, frequency selective optical filtering, frequency-dependent potentiation and depression, Hebbian learning, and logic-gate operations,” states the department.

Compared to the existing materials used to demonstrate optoelectronic synapse, ScN is more stable, CMOS compatible, and can be seamlessly integrated with existing Si technology. It can act as a platform for both excitatory and inhibitory functions. The industrial processing techniques of ScN are similar to the existing semiconductor fabrication infrastructure. Response to the optical stimuli also has the advantage of possible integration with photonic circuits known for higher speed and broader bandwidth than electronic circuits.

“Our work enables neuromorphic computing research with a stable, scalable, and CMOS-compatible III-nitride semiconductor that exhibits both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic functionalities. Unlike the previous works on all-electronic synapse, our work shows an optoelectronic synapse with a large bandwidth, reduced RC delays, and low power consumption,”said Dr. Bivas Saha, Assistant Professor, JNCASR.

Apart from JNCASR, researchers from the University of Sydney (Dr. Magnus Garbrecht and Dr. Asha I. K. Pillai) also participated in this study published recently in the scientific journal Advanced Electronic Materials.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA : World Konkani Centre announces 2 New Awards from this year

The World Konkani Centre, Shakthi Nagar, in Mangaluru has instituted two new awards from this year in the name of its chief patron. Each award carries ₹1 lakh in purse and a plaque.

It has chosen Ajit Ganapat Shenvi Kerkar for the P. Dayananda Pai Vishwa Konkani Ranga Shreshta Puraskar 2022 considering his lifetime contribution to the field of theatre and their contribution to the cause of Konkani.

Vidya Pai has been chosen for the P. Dayananda Pai Vishwa Konkani Anuvada Puraskar 2022 considering the enormity and impact of her translation work of Konkani literature in to English resulting in worldwide exposure for the Konkani literature, according to Nandagopal Shenoy, president, Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan, World Konkani Centre.

The awards will be presented during the Vishwa Konkani Awards Ceremony to be held on February 9, 2023, in the presence of chief patron P. Dayananda Pai and other dignitaries, he said in a release.

The selection is based on the nominations submitted by the public and evaluation by two jury committees comprising of eminent personalities.

The jury for Ranga Shreshta Puraskar comprised of G.G. Lakshman Prabhu as the Chairman, and Muralidhar Shenoy from Kochi, John Permannur from Mangaluru and Sanjiv Verenkar from Goa as members.

The jury of Vishwa Konkani Anuvada Puraskar had Payyanur Ramesh Pai as Chairman and Gokuldas Prabhu, Kiran Budkuley and Melvyn Rodrigues as members.

Mr. Kerkar, 72, has served the Konkani theatre for the past 54 years in Goa. He still continues to be in the field of Konkani theatre by acting, directing and designing the sets for Konkani dramas. So far, he has acted in 89 productions and directed 43 production of dramas with innumerable shows across Goa and Maharashtra. He was instrumental in the success of 143 theatrical productions.

He is the only actor in Goa to have won the State-level best actor award for seven times including 4 times in a row.

Ms. Pai lives in Kolkota. She has translated 68 Konkani short stories and seven novels in to English and published them in reputed publications all across the world. A PhD thesis has been written based on her work and Konkani literature has received much needed attention in the literary world due to her work, the release said.

source/contents: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE SERVICES: Woman Naval Air Operations Officer Lt Commander Disha Amrith to Lead Indian Navy’s Contingent at 2023 Republic Day Parade

Navy officials said three women and five men Agniveers will also participate in the parade at Kartavya Path.

Lt Commander Disha Amrith, a woman naval air operations official posted at a strategic base, will lead the Indian Navy’s Republic Day contingent of 144 young sailors and its tableau will showcase the ‘Nari Shakti’ in force.

Navy officials said three women and five men Agniveers will also participate in the parade at Kartavya Path.

Besides Amrith, another woman officer — Sub Lt Valli Meena S — will be among the three platoon commanders of the naval contingent.

A Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from BMS College of Engineering in Karnataka, 29-year-old Amrith was part of the National Cadet Corps’s Republic Day team in 2008 and harboured the dream of being part of the marching contingents of one of the three services at the celebrations in Delhi.

“Since 2008, I was nurturing this dream of being part of the Republic Day contingent of the armed forces. It is an amazing opportunity that the Indian Navy has given me (to lead the naval contingent),” she said.

The officer, who hails from Mangaluru, got into the Navy in 2016 and has been posted at a key naval facility in the Andaman and Nicobar islands after completing her training in 2017.

“I am an aviator for Dornier aircraft and have been carrying out sorties in the plane,” she told PTI.

Last month, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said the Navy is looking at opening all its branches for women from 2023.

Sharing her experience, Amrith said she always wanted to be part of the armed forces and it was partly inspired by her parents as well.

“My father also wanted to be part of the services but could not. I am proud to be part of the Navy and will continue to serve the Navy with full zeal and dedication,” she said.

Asked about the challenges that women face in the forces, Amrith said, “I became stronger physically, emotionally and I am now more self-driven.” The renowned brass band of the Indian Navy of 80 musicians will be led by M Antony Raj, playing the Indian Navy Song ‘Jai Bharti’.

The theme of the naval tableau would be ‘Indian Navy — Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof,’ said Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, the Controller Personnel Services (CPS).

He said the tableau is designed with an aim to showcase the multi-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy as well as highlight key indigenously designed and built platforms.

“The tableau also aims to highlight ‘Nari Shakti’ in the Indian Navy,” he told reporters.

The forward part of the tableau will showcase a woman aircrew of Dornier aircraft (flying overhead), highlighting the all-women crew of a surveillance sortie undertaken last year.

The main section of the tableau will illustrate the ‘Make in India’ initiatives of the Navy and model of the new indigenous Nilgiri class ship with a Dhruv helicopter deploying marine commandos will take the centre-stage. On the sides of the main section, cut out models of indigenous Kalvari Class submarine will be depicted.

In the rear section of the tableau, three models of autonomous unmanned systems being developed indigenously under IDEX-Sprint Challenge will be displayed.

The Indian Navy aims to induct at least 75 technology/product as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The sprint initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Naval Innovation and Indignation Organisation Seminar in July last year.

These products are being developed under the innovation for defence excellence scheme of the Ministry of Defence and Technology Development Acceleration Cell of Indian Navy, the official said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / MANUFACTURING : Pratt & Whitney opens new India Engineering Center in Bengaluru

The IEC is co-located with Pratt & Whitney’s India Capabilities Center, which was opened in 2022 to provide integrated global supply chain support, and the recently inaugurated Collins Aerospace Engineering and Global Operations Center.

U.S. aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney opened its new India Engineering Center (IEC) in Bengaluru on January 19. At present, the IEC has more than 50 employees while an additional 450 jobs will be filled in the next four years.

According to the aerospace manufacturer, work performed at the IEC will encompass elements such as aero, mechanical and control systems for various products in Pratt & Whitney’s broad portfolio of large and small commercial engines. It will extend across the entire product life cycle from development to field support and sustainment.

Geoff Hunt, senior vice-president, Engineering, Pratt & Whitney said that the work conducted by the IEC will support cutting edge technology. “The Indian aviation market is growing at a rapid pace, and Bengaluru is a hub for that growth. The work conducted at the IEC by some of India’s best and brightest minds will support cutting edge technology that will drive the future of flight,” he said.

Paul Weedon, vice-president, Engine Development, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., said that the IEC will fully integrate with the company’s existing global engineering footprint across Canada, Puerto Rico and Poland to advance technology such as turbofan and other sustainable propulsion solutions.

Pratt & Whitney has one of the largest footprints for any engine manufacturer in India with more than 1,500 engines and auxiliary power units in service.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: AIRPORTS & AVIATION / TRAVEL & TOURISM: Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2 Starts Operations

Star Air was the first airline to begin flights from T2. Other domestic and international airlines are expected to start their services to and from the new terminal in a phased manner.

The Terminal 2 (T2) of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) started domestic operations on Sunday, with Star Air being the first airline to begin flights from the new terminal.

The inaugural Star Air flight to Kalburgi took off from T2 at 8.40 a.m., and the turnaround flight from Kalburgi landed at 11.25 a.m.

Other domestic airlines are expected to start their services to and from T2, followed by international airlines, in a phased manner over the next few months, BIAL said.

“We welcomed customers of Star Air at KIA’s new terminal T2, today. The terminal will soon welcome passengers of other airlines as well. This will be done in a phased manner when the facilities and processes for the smooth transition of airlines from T1 to T2 are completed. The opening of T2 has been much awaited not just for us at the airport, but also for Bengalureans and passengers travelling from different cities. We want to make passenger journeys truly memorable by offering the best experience to them,” said Hari Marar, MD & CEO of Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) which operates the airport.

Access to T2

Air passengers at the Terminal 2 (T2) of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) which began domestic operations in Bengaluru on January 15, 2023. | Photo

The KIA expansion plan included the construction of T2 and the associated infrastructure such as access roads and utilities. To provide easy accessibility to T2, a 4.4 km-long additional access road called the Terminal Boulevard was inaugurated earlier this week.

It connects to T2 departures and also leads to T2 arrivals, allowing for a comfortable drive without any traffic signals. Passengers arriving at T2 can be picked up by their cars at the parking area. Complimentary shuttle services are also available between T1 and T2 at regular intervals.

Referred to as the Terminal in a Garden, T2 is a tribute to the Garden City of Bengaluru. BIAL said that the terminal is meant to be a “walk in the garden”, with passengers travelling through 10,000+ square metres of green walls, hanging gardens, and outdoor gardens built through indigenous technology. Located on the north-eastern side of Terminal-1, T2 spans 255,661 square meters of area and is equipped to handle 25 million passengers annually.

Staff at Terminal 2 (T2) of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which began domestic operations, welcome air passengers in Bengaluru on January 15, 2023. |

“T2 promises to provide travellers with a unique terminal experience, offering them the highest level of comfort and enjoyment. These facets make the newly inaugurated terminal a valuable addition to the airport, not only as a transit hub but also as a memorable destination in itself,” BIAL said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: EXHIBITIONS & TRADE FAIRS: Army Stalls, Adventure Sports attract huge crowds at the ’26th National Youth Festival’, Hubballi

The army has set up two stalls, one to provide information on various employment opportunities for the youths in the armed forces and the other one is where a few of the arms and ammunitions used by the armed forces are on display.

Army stalls, adventure sports, water sports and various food stalls at the 26th National Youth Festival have drawn the attention of visitors.

At the ‘Know your Army’ stall set up on the campus of Karnatak College in Dharwad, a team of army personnel are providing information on all the recruitment opportunities including the newly launched ‘Agniveer’ scheme.

In the second stall, various arms and ammunitions including few used during the ‘Kargil War’ are on display. On Saturday, January 14, Havaldar Ravindra Pal Singh of Rajputana Rifles and others were seen enthusiastically explaining about various arms, their range, firing capacity and damage that they could cause to the enemy camp. They were assisted by Havaldar Sanjiv Kumar from Madras Regiment (a native of Bidar), who explained the visitors the same in Kannada.

Those on display include A.K. 47 rifle, Single Assault Rifle 7.62 mm, M.M.G. Rocket Launcher, Sniper DSR and others. Equipments and gadgets used for surveillance during night are also on display.

Adventure Sports

Adventure sports have also drawn attention of the crowd. Keerti Pais, Advisor to the Commissioner of Sports and Youth Empowerment said that for the first time at the National Youth Festival, crash courses were being conducted in association with General. Thimayya National Academy of Adventure. He said these crash courses were for registered NYF participants and had seen good response.

Mr. Keerti said that the adventure sports like rock climbing and water sports were open to the public during afternoon and evening hours, while it was restricted to NYF participants in the morning.

Desi games

Manjunath M.R., Advisor to Thimmaiah Academy said that the ‘desi games’ at RN Shetty stadium had evoked great interest among the visitors to NYF. So far around 1,200 participants had taken part in the desi games and they were assisted by 60 volunteers of ‘Kreeda Bharati’ organisation. Along with these, eight teams among the NYF participants would be displaying their native games at the youth festival, he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)