December 21, 2011
Amritapuri Campus
 

“The wireless sensor system developed by Amrita University and successfully tested at Munnar in Kerala to forecast natural disasters like landslides can be replicated in similar disaster-prone areas elsewhere in the country,” stated Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, while inaugurating the International Conference on Wireless Technologies for Humanitarian Relief (ACWR 2011) at Amritapuri on December 19.
 

“People in the Himayalan region, for instance, also face frequent landslides. The system could be tailored to the conditions prevailing there to save many lives,” he added.
 

Dr. Chidambaram, accompanied by other senior scientists, visited the deployment site at Munnar on the day prior to the inaugural function.
 

Complimenting scientists of Amrita University for using advanced technology to aid the common man, he said that all technologies needed to become more citizen-centric.
 

“There is a strong disconnect between research, development and delivery in our country,” he noted.
 

“Academic institutions focus on research, but not on development or deployment. Industry focuses more on development and deployment. That is why greater interaction is needed between industry and academia,” he added.
 

The Principal Scientific Advisor referred to the National Knowledge Network that seeks to connect 1500 universities in India and implement virtual classrooms. Ultimately the network will bring together stakeholders from higher education, science and technology, healthcare, agriculture and e-governance.
 

Describing the connectivity provided by the network using optical fiber cables, he said, “The last mile connectivity, in many cases, will require wireless technologies.”
 

Dr. Paula Bohr, grand-daughter of Nobel laureate and renowned atomic scientist Neils Bohr, and daughter of Nobel laureate Aage Bohr, also spoke at the inaugural function. In her address, she fondly recalled memories of her grand-father and her father, emphasizing that the two great scientists were also spiritual seekers.   Read More »
 

In his benedictory address, Swami Amritaswaroopananda Puri elaborated on the relationship between science and spirituality. “Indian religion has never shied away from science. On the other hand, it has always embraced it, seeing it in some ways, as the counterpart of spirituality,” he observed.
 

Dr. Venkat Rangan, Dr. Maneesha Sudheer and Dr. Balakrishnan Shankar also spoke at the inauguration.
 

Together they emphasized that the objective of the conference was not only to share their experience of successfully deploying and testing what was the world’s first sensor network system to predict landslides, but also to learn from other experts in the field.
 

“With the passion for wireless technologies coming together with the compassion of humanitarian relief, many applications for societal benefit will result,” they stated.
 

SEE ALSO
Wireless Technologies for Humanitarian Relief
Dr. Venkat Welcomes ACWR 2011 Delegates
Dr. Paula Bohr at ACWR 2011
Swamiji’s Address at Inauguration of ACWR 2011
ACWR 2011 Delegates Meet Chancellor Amma
Panel Discussion on Wireless in Healthcare
Disaster Relief at ACWR 2011
Keynote Speeches at ACWR 2011
ACWR 2011 Concludes