Tag: Karnataka First

13th edition of ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO’ 2024 event: All you need to know

Theme: Nanotechnology for sustainability: Climate, energy, and healthcare.

The 13th edition of ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO’, the country’s flagship event in the Nanotech sector, will have the theme Nanotechnology for Sustainability: Climate, Energy, and Healthcare.

The three-day event which will take place from August 1st – 3rd, 2024 in Bengaluru is expected to attract 25 sessions, more than 75 speakers, over 700 delegates and 3,500 attendees. The event is being organised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). 

“Sustainability is now an impending necessity. The impacts of climate change are increasingly visible, manifesting in rising temperatures, natural calamities, and widespread displacement. Simultaneously, the world is grappling with severe economic and environmental consequences of energy crises. While industries are striving to develop green and clean energy solutions, these efforts alone may not be sufficient to achieve true sustainability. Health challenges, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have exposed critical vulnerabilities in healthcare systems globally. This pandemic was neither the first nor will it be the last; thus, our preparedness and resilience are of utmost importance,” observed N. S. Boseraju, Minister of Minor Irrigation and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka. 

Nanotechnology has the promise to deliver small-sized but high-impact solutions, which can potentially revolutionise our approach to these global issues, he added. 

The event will have speeches and engaging panel discussions by eminent experts from around the globe and the conference will address cutting-edge developments in nanotechnology and its applications in climate, energy, healthcare, electronics and semiconductors. 

Professor Pulickel Ajayan – Chair, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Balajee Sowrirajan – Managing Director, SSIR;  Professor Neetu Singh – Professor & Head, Center of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Professor Dhirendra Katti – Director, Indian Institute of Technology Goa; Professor Nitash Balsara – The Charles W. Tobias professor in Electrochemistry, University of California, Berkeley besides others will be the main speakers at the conference. 

Pre-conference Tutorials will offer in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in various aspects of nanotechnology, catering to both beginners and seasoned professionals. The Pre-conference Tutorial will delve into topics such as Nano Fabrication and Nano Characterisation, The Poster Showcase at the event is expected to give an opportunity to more than 175 young researchers from academia and research institutions to display their research posters. The exhibition at the event will showcase the latest innovations, products, and technologies from leading companies, research institutions and startups in the field of nanotechnology. More than 50 organisations will also be showcasing their Nanotech products & services. 

It was announced that the event will also witness the bestowing of the  ‘Prof. C.N.R. Rao Bengaluru INDIA NANO Science Award’ for making meaningful contributions to Nanoscience.

Additionally the ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO Innovation Award’ will be presented for Innovative and Disruptive Technology Development in Nanotech.

There will also be other awards such as the Nano Excellence Award- to the best researchers in the realm of Nanoscience; Best Poster- The Best Students for revolutionary research; and Exhibitor Awards- For the best showcase across various categories during the event. 

There would also be the National Nanotech Quiz which will feature participation of students from across the country. The first 2 rounds of the Quiz will be held digitally while the final showdown will take place in person at the event for the first time. The event will also host an array of programmes such as NanoSparX- a startup pitching initiative, as well as B2B partnering meetings. 

source/content: theweek.in (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: AUTHOR: Mangaluru girl Reshel Bretny Fernandes authors book on ‘Bharat @2047 – Role of youth’

Reshel Bretny Fernandes, a young author, writer, and orator who has achieved acclaim at international, national, and other levels, has published her second book, BHARAT @2047 – Role of Youth.

Released on the occasion of Independence Day, this book is published by Taneesha Publications and delves into the vital role of youth during India’s Amritkal, as the nation approaches its 100th year of independence. Fernandes is the first young author to tackle such a significant topic, exploring how the contributions of youth in the past and present shape the future across various fields.

The book, spanning 376 pages, serves as a tribute to her grandfather, SGT Alex Monis Moodbidri, who served in the Indian Air Force for 36 years and participated in major conflicts such as the last phase of World War II, the Indo-China conflict of 1962, the Indo-Pak conflicts of 1965 and 1971, among other services.

Rajesh Padmar, a lecturer, author, and thinker from Bengaluru, has penned the foreword, praising Fernandes for inspiring youth through her insightful thoughts and ideas.

Fernandes has been honored with the Rabindranath Tagore Literature Award and the Bharatiya Sahitya Sanmaan by Dawn Research and Development Council, along with other prestigious awards from various organizations.

The book is available worldwide and in many libraries and will be released at different platforms and locations.

Fernandes, the daughter of teachers Ronald and Nancy Fernandes, who have always encouraged her literary pursuits, completed her schooling at DPS MRPL Mangaluru, her PU studies at Ladyhill PU College, and her graduation from Sri Mahavira College. She is currently pursuing an LLB at SDM Law College, Mangaluru, and has also completed a BA in Hindi from Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Madras.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: BOEING’s LARGEST : PM Modi inaugurates Boeing’s largest campus outside US in Bengaluru

Boeing’s new campus will also serve as the hub for Indian startups and universities.

While inaugurating the Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Bengaluru is a city that connects aspirations with innovation and achievement.

“Bengaluru connects India’s technological capability with global demand,” said PM Modi in Bengaluru.

This is Boeing’s largest centre outside the US, built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crore which is also Boeing’s largest such investment. Modi also launched Boeing’s Sukanya Program that aims to support the entry of more girl children from across India into the country’s aviation sector. The program will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

Boeing’s centre in Bengaluru will house engineering, test, research and technology teams, performing advanced high-quality aerospace engineering works. It includes support in structural and systems design, manufacturing, aircraft testing system development, and digital solutions that drive sustainability in aviation. The centre will also work in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet-of-Things, Cloud Solutions, Model-Based Engineering, and Additive Manufacturing to enhance quality, safety, and productivity.

Boeing’s new campus in Bengaluru will also serve as the hub for Boeing’s work with Indian startups and universities. Currently Boeing has collaborated with seven incubators, including Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – IIT Mumbai, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer – IIT Delhi, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center – IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Madras Incubation Cell, Society for Innovation and Development – IISC Bengaluru, T-Hub Hyderabad, and Technology Business Incubator – KIIT Bhubaneshwar. Together, they host the Boeing University Innovation Leadership and Development program (BUILD) annually in India.

The Boeing’s Sukanya Program was launched in the backdrop that India leads the world with women comprising 15 percent of all pilots, exceeding the global average of 5 percent. The Indian aviation sector is also witnessing a surging demand for pilots. More than a doubling of the current roster of 9,000 pilots will be required. Under this program Boeing is establishing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Labs in girls’ schools, especially in tier 2 and 3 towns, to expand awareness, knowledge, and exposure to careers in aviation.

With around 150 locations planned, local program managers will engage with as many as 75,000 students through these STEM labs, with the intent of reaching 60 percent of the young girl students. The initiative will support learning through various digital products, including Virtual Procedure Trainer, Virtual Airplane, and Private Pilot License ground school courses. Boeing will also provide scholarships for training, covering aspects such as foundation, jet bridge, type rating, and more.

Besides this Boeing will have full-flight simulator capacity to support the women’s pilot program and collaborate with customers to ensure candidates are airline-ready. These investments – both hard assets, and Competency-based Training and Assessment (CBTA) courseware aim to produce a large pipeline of female pilots entering the airlines annually.

During the inauguration PM Modi was joined by the Governor of Karnataka Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition – Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka and Stephanie Pope Boeing’s Chief Operating Officer, along with other senior Boeing executives. 

source/content: theweek.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: IISc designs device to make infrared light visible, with diverse applications in defence and optical communications

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have fabricated a device to increase or up-convert the frequency of short infrared light to the visible range. This up-conversion of light has diverse applications, especially in defence and optical communications, said IISc.

“The human eye can only see light at certain frequencies (called the visible spectrum), the lowest of which constitutes red light. Infrared light, which we can’t see, has an even lower frequency than red light. IISc researchers have now fabricated a device to increase or up-convert the frequency of short infrared light to the visible range,” IISc said.

2D material used

The institute added that in a first, the IISc team used a 2D material to design what they call a non-linear optical mirror stack to achieve this up-conversion, combined with widefield imaging capability. The stack consists of multilayered gallium selenide fixed to the top of a gold reflective surface, with a silicon dioxide layer sandwiched in between.

It said that traditional infrared imaging uses exotic low-energy bandgap semiconductors or micro-bolometer arrays, which usually pick up heat or absorption signatures from the object being studied.

However, existing infrared sensors are bulky and not very efficient. They are also export-restricted because of their utility in defence. There is, therefore, a critical need to develop indigenous and efficient devices.

The method used by the IISc team involves feeding an input infrared signal along with a pump beam onto the mirror stack. The nonlinear optical properties of the material constituting the stack result in a mixing of the frequencies, leading to an output beam of increased (up-converted) frequency, but with the rest of the properties intact. Using this method, they were able to up-convert infrared light of a wavelength of around 1,550 nm to 622 nm visible light. The output light wave can be detected using traditional silicon-based cameras.

Going forward, the researchers plan to extend their work to up-convert light of longer wavelengths. They are also trying to improve the efficiency of the device by exploring other stack geometries.

Worldwide interest

“There is a lot of interest worldwide in doing infrared imaging without using infrared sensors. Our work could be a game-changer for those applications,” said Varun Raghunathan, associate professor, Department of Electrical Communication Engineering.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: WIND ENERGY: Karnataka ranks 02nd in All-India Wind Power Generation

The event highlighted significant advancements and achievements in the wind energy sector across the nation.

Karnataka secured second place in the all-India wind energy generation capacity commissioned for the year 2023 -24. The state stood second after Gujarat, while Tamil Nadu ranked third, a release said on Wednesday.

Karnataka was honoured by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as part of Global Wind Day celebrations in Delhi on June 15, with the central theme of ‘Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India’. The event highlighted significant advancements and achievements in the wind energy sector across the nation.

As per data from the energy department, the commissioned capacity for wind power generation for financial year 2023- 24 is 724.66MW. Gujarat’s commissioned capacity is 1743.8MW, while Tamil Nadu’s is 586.37MW. KP Rudrappaiah, managing director, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) received the award from Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik and MNRE secretary Bhupinder S Bhalla.

Reacting to this, Energy Minister KJ George said Karnataka’s significant strides in the wind energy sector reflect its dedication to renewable energy and its vision for a sustainable and prosperous future.

Gaurav Gupta, additional chief secretary, energy department, said the achievement reflects the commitment towards sustainable energy and efforts to harness wind power.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: SPACE: IN-SPACe launches Pre-Incubation Entrepreneurship for youngsters

Applicants should not have received any grants, funding, or monetary support from private or government schemes and all submissions must be original work to qualify.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has launched the Pre-Incubation Entrepreneurship (PIE) Development Programme to support and nurture early-stage space startups. The programme aims to cultivate and empower the next generation of space tech innovators, providing them with the tools and guidance necessary to transform their space ambitions.

The 21-month programme will guide aspiring entrepreneurs through a comprehensive journey divided into different phases such as ideation, innovation, and prototype development. The programme will ensure that budding entrepreneurs receive structured support at each critical stage of development.

PIE aims to target students in technical courses or those with a strong interest in space technology, expected to graduate in 2024, or pursuing Master’s or Doctorate programmes and early-stage start-ups focusing on space technologies and aiming to develop entrepreneurial ventures.

Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, said, “India’s space sector is poised for exponential growth, and young entrepreneurs are crucial to driving this expansion. PIE will provide them with a launch pad, equipping them not only with technical expertise but with the business acumen needed to navigate the complexities of space industry.”

Applicants should not have received any grants, funding, or monetary support from private or government schemes and all submissions must be original work to qualify.

Star-ups registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on or after July 1, 2022, are classified as early-stage start-ups.

For more details, visit www.inspace.gov.in

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: SPORTS/ CRICKET: Shubha Satheesh, The First Woman Cricketer From Mysuru Playing For India

‘Want to do well for Team India in T20, ODI and Test’.

When we talk about cricket, the conversation often centres around the men in the game. However, the women who have taken up the sport have repeatedly proven their worth. Be it Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, or Rajeshwari  Gayakwad, all have grown to become inspirations not just for young girls but for boys as well.

Mysuru, a hub of cricket for decades, has also contributed to Indian cricket. Until now, the legendary Javagal Srinath was the only player from Mysuru to play for the Indian team.

Joining him now is Shubha Satheesh, the 24-year-old all-rounder who made her debut for the Indian Women’s Team against England in the only Test match played at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai last year.

Shubha was also part of the triumphant Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team that won the Women’s Premier League recently. She will be joining the Indian team camp to prepare for the upcoming home series against South Africa.

Shubha is the daughter of M. Satheesh and K. Thara, residing in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in the city. Star of Mysore caught up with the talented cricketer during her recent visit to Mysuru. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): When did you start playing cricket and what inspired you to take up the sport?

Shubha Satheesh: I started playing cricket in 2011. I used to play with boys in my locality, and one day, I was invited to play at BEML, where my father works. That’s when one of my father’s friends mentioned women’s cricket. Later, my father took me to Bengaluru, where I joined a cricket club and started playing professionally.

SOM: How did you feel when you entered the Indian dressing room?

Shubha Satheesh: It was an amazing feeling, very difficult to express. Everyone was so relaxed and supportive. I got to learn from my seniors and everyone who was part of the team.

SOM: There are players like Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Shreyanka Patil from Karnataka playing for the country. How did you feel joining them?

Shubha Satheesh: We have been playing together for years now. It felt like a continuation of the game for us as we already knew each other.

SOM: You were also a part of the RCB team. What do you have to say about that experience?

Shubha Satheesh: It was a great feeling to play alongside some of the best players, including those from different countries. Besides being a part of the team, the moments with RCB fans gave me a unique and wonderful experience at the stadium.

SOM: Now that you have made your debut for India, what is your next goal?

Shubha Satheesh: My goal is to continue doing well for Team India in all three formats (T20, ODI and Test). With the home series coming up against South Africa, we will be camping in Bengaluru to prepare for our matches. Later, our target is to win the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup to be held in Bangladesh later this year.

SOM: What was the reaction of your parents when you were selected for the Indian team?

Shubha Satheesh: They were very happy when they heard about my selection. My parents have always told me, and continue to tell me, to play good cricket and do well for the country. —VNS

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA gets five Union ministers. Nirmala Sitharaman, HD Kumaraswamy, Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje & V Somanna

Though the saffron party members won from the coastal region, they are all first-time MPs and have not been included in the ministry.

As Karnataka has elected 19 National Democratic Alliance MPs, the highest from South India, it was on Sunday rewarded with five ministerial posts in the Modi 3.0 cabinet. Of the five ministers, including Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Sitharaman, two are women.

Apart from Nirmala, the four other ministers are Pralhad Joshi, JDS state president HD Kumaraswamy, Shobha Karandlaje and V Somanna. While Nirmala, Joshi and Kumaraswamy have cabinet rank, the other two are ministers of state. Interestingly, Kumaraswamy was among the first few MPs to take oath in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Of the 293 NDA MPs, the state’s contribution of 19 MPs constituted over 6 per cent and the number of ministries too is above that mark, considering that the Modi cabinet has 72 ministers.

Even among these five ministers, the representation to the Old Mysore region is more. Kumaraswamy represents Mandya, Shobha Bangalore North and Somanna Tumkur. Joshi, who has been reinducted, is the only MP from North Karnataka. This could be because of the lacklustre performance of BJP in these parts. Though the saffron party members won from the coastal region, they are all first-time MPs and have not been included in the ministry.

Joshi, who has the Sangh Parivar background and is the fifth time MP, had served as Law and Parliamentary minister in the previous government. Shobha, the first-ever woman MP from Bengaluru, had served as a minister of state.

Somanna, who was with Congress and JDS, joined BJP in 2009 and has stayed with the party since then. After suffering a defeat from two constituencies in the last Assembly polls, he won the parliamentary polls this time from Tumkur. His loyalty to the party has paid off with a ministerial berth.

Kumaraswamy, who is JDS state president, became a chief minister for the first time in 2006, thanks to his party’s alliance with BJP. But as per the power-sharing agreement between the two parties then, he refused to transfer power to BJP’s BS Yediyurappa in 2007, ending the coalition. The fallout was ugly and the two parties had kept their distance since then. But the 2023 Assembly polls were a wake-up call to the regional party as it won mere 19 seats. Fearing a complete meltdown, the party tied up with BJP for the Lok Sabha polls and Kumaraswamy helped BJP get a good number of seats in the Old Mysuru region.

Breaking down the caste equation, two Brahmins (Joshi and Nirmala), two Vokkaligas (Kumaraswamy and Shobha) and one Lingayat (Somanna), have made it to the Modi ministry.

Sources from BJP said that though two Vokkaligas have been given the honour, only Shobha is originally from BJP. Asked why former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar were not inducted, they said, “Since both are former CMs, they cannot be made ministers of state.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA : HISTORY: Historian and Epigraphist Gunda Jois remembered for making world know about Keladi dynasty

Gunda Jois’ son Dr Venkatesh Jois, Dr G V Kallapur and others are carrying forward his work.

A renowned historian and epigraphist Keladi Gunda Jois passed away on June 2. He was 94. The fraternity of ancient history and epigraphy in the state said, “We have lost a legacy of a scholarly research cum resource person who informed the world about the tiny dynasty of Keladi of Shivamogga district.”

Gunda Jois of Sagar taluk, popularly known as “Keladi Gunda Jois”, earned the prefix Keladi for his dedicated research and study of the dynasty.

His passion for the dynasty’s history made him set up an exclusive museum at Keladi village of Sagar taluk in 1960. For those visiting the Sri Keladi Rameshwara temple, a peep into the museum is a must.

Gunda Jois collected historical manuscripts, sculptures, paintings, coins, arms and ammunition, copper plaques, and documents of the dynasty and displayed them at the museum. Most of these were found by him in the Malnad region.

Interestingly, he joined an MA course in Ancient History and Epigraphy when he was over 50 years old. He translated the work ‘Nrupa Vijaya’ in Halagannada (old Kannada) to Hosagannada (New Kannada) and helped historians understand the history of Keladi dynasty.

“Jois was an authority on ‘Modi lipi’ and Tigalari dialect of Havyaka Brahmins of Malnad region. He taught many of his students to study it and helped carry forward the knowledge,” said Dr SG Samak, a research student of Jois.

Also an Indologist, Jois learnt how to read palm leaf inscriptions that was in Modi dialect.

Gunda Jois’ son Dr Venkatesh Jois, Dr G V Kallapur and others are carrying forward his work.

Gunda Jois had been presented with Rajyotsava and other awards. He has written 30 historical books.

The Keladi dynasty came into existence at the end of 1499. Keladi Nayakas, who were once part of Vijayanagara empire, ruled Ikkeri and Keladi, and picked, Keladi, a small town, as their capital. Their rise started with the decline of Vijayanagara empire, whose preeminence began to erode after their loss at the Battle of Talikota in 1565.

Keladi rulers fought against the Mughal army, which had set out to capture Raja Ram — son of the Chhatrapati Shivaji, who had taken shelter at Keladi. The dynasty was in power from 1499 to 1763. 

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA / SPORTS : Cheppudira Arun Machaiah Appointed As Joint Chief Of Karate India Organisation (KIO). First Kannadiga to achieve Highest Post of KIO.

Former MLC and International Karate expert from Kodagu, Cheppudira Arun Machaiah has been appointed as the new Joint Chairman of the Technical Commission of Karate India Organisation (KIO).

Director of World Shitorio Karate Council and President of All India Shitorio Karate Organisation, Arun is the first Kannadiga to achieve the highest post of KIO.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)