May 9, 2011
Amrita Center for Nanosciences, Kochi
“By sharing knowledge and experiences, we can prevent the flower that is this world from ever wilting and ensure that it remains eternally beautiful.”
“By bringing together diverse streams of knowledge, we can create a magnificent river.”
“May this great river of knowledge flow to caress the countries and communities of the world.”
“May it overflow the borders between people and countries.”
“May it impart the water of life to all of humanity, and thus nurture the blooming of culture throughout the world.”
Our Chancellor Amma spoke these historic words when the landmark Indo-US agreement was signed between top US universities and Amrita in 2005 to promote research and learning in India and the rest of the world.
Today, Amma’s words are the guiding light for collaborative efforts between Amrita and international universities. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Amrita Center for Nanosciences (ACNS) at the Health Sciences campus.
Faculty and student exchange is ongoing between the best US universities and this Amrita center. Now, ties are also being formalized with research institutions in other countries as well.
During May 2-5, Dr. Shantikumar Nair, Director, ACNS, accompanied a high-profile Indian delegation led by Sri. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Honorable Cabinet Minister for Science and Technology, to Seoul, South Korea.
The delegation included many Indian scientists viz. Prof. S. Sundar Iyer, IIT Kanpur; Dr. Dhathathreyan, Associate Director, ARCI, Hyderabad; Prof. G. D. Yadav, VC, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai; Dr. T. Rao, Scientist, ARCI, Hyderabad; Dr. P. S. Dutt, Deputy Director, National Environmental Research Institute, Nagpur; Dr. Anil Kumar Singh, Deputy Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Dr. Ashok Ganguly, IIT Delhi.
This trip was organized by the Indian Ambassador to South Korea, Shri Skand R. Tayal; it resulted in an MoU to facilitate scientific collaboration between the two nations.
Dr. Shanti represented India’s growing expertise in Nano-biotechnology. At a joint Indo-Korea Workshop on Energy and Environment in Seoul on May 4, Dr. Shanti also presented Amrita’s path-breaking research in nano solar.
Meanwhile, ACNS began a new Indo-Portugal joint research project titled Novel Targeted Chitosan-Based Therapeutic Polymeric Nanomedicines for Lung Cancer Applications with support from DST, India and FCT, Portugal.
The project will be led by Amrita Drs. R. Jayakumar and Deepthy Menon, in collaboration with the Dr. Bruno Sarmento, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal.
The three-year project will see student and faculty exchange between India and Portugal. The joint project is expected to result in a novel therapeutic nanodrug for lung cancer.
Just like Amma said, the river of knowledge is beginning to flow. It is overflowing the borders between people and countries, nourishing one and all with its life-giving powers.
