Blogs

On realizing the full potential of technology

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is notable not only because it made a forceful and convincing case for action on climate change, but because it also pointed out what needs to be done to address the challenge, and in particular the role of technology in doing so. ...
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Thursday,03 December, 2009 | Hits: 129

Climate Change hits poor hardest

Global warming threatens to make poverty the future for millions of people. The poor are the worst hit although they are the least responsible for climate change As we approach the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, one thing is clear: For millions of people around the world climate change is not simply a future threat, it is a current reality. ...
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Monday,14 December, 2009 | Hits: 293

Science, engineering and medicine should be brought closer: IISc chief

There is a need to push frontiers of scientific research into the realm of modern medicine by bringing the disciplines of science, engineering and medicine closer together, P. Balaram, Director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc).Inaugurating the ninth annual meeting of the Uveitis Society of India (USI) hosted by the Medical Research Foundation of Sankara Nethralaya, Dr. Balaram advocated building institutions that provided a platform for clinicians, scientists and engineers to collaborate on common problems. ...
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Friday,04 December, 2009 | Hits: 120

Groundwater around leak site is still contaminated: Report

‘Pesticide level 40 times over standard even 3km from plant’ Yet another report on the persisting disastrous effects of the gas tragedy has claimed that the erstwhile pesticide factory of Union Carbide, from where the toxic methyl isocyanate leaked 25 years ago, has been contaminating the soil and underground water in Madhya Pradesh’s capital ...
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Tuesday,01 December, 2009 | Hits: 128

Celebrating the Spirit of Understanding Science

Dear Friend, It gives us great pleasure for all of us here at LAKSHYA to forward this special issue of commemorative e – newsletter as a mark of tribute to one of the greatest scientist of our country Sir. C.V. Raman, remembering his contribution to science and his recognition as a Nobel laureate. As our country is celebrating the national science day to mark his contribution, 80 years later, we are here to salute Sir, Raman and refresh our memories by reflecting on his works and with commitments to work and reach newer heights for our country. In this special edition we tried to present few archival memories of Sir Raman and wish it will be a pleasure reading........ Life of Sir C.V. Raman Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born at Trichinopoly in Southern India on November 7th, 1888. His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics so that from the first he was immersed in an academic atmosphere. He entered Presidency College, Madras, in 1902, and in 1904 passed his B.A. examination, winning the first place and the gold medal in physics; in 1907 he gained his M.A. degree, obtaining the highest distinctions. His earliest researches in optics and acoustics - the two fields of investigation to which he has dedicated his entire career - were carried out while he was a student. Since at that time a scientific career did not appear to present the best possibilities, Raman joined the Indian Finance Department in 1907; though the duties of his office took most of his time, Raman found opportunities for carrying on experimental research in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at Calcutta (of which he became Honorary Secretary in 1919). Readmore The Nobel Prize in Physics 1930 Presentation Speech Presentation Speech by Professor H. Pleijel, Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, on December 10, 1930 Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen. The Academy of Sciences, has resolved to award the Nobel Prize in Physics for 1930 to Sir Venkata Raman for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him. Readmore Raman lecture Nobel Lecture December 11, 1930 The molecular scattering of light In the history of science, we often find that the study of some natural phenomenon has been the starting-point in the development of a new branch of knowledge. We have an instance of this in the colour of skylight, which has inspired numerous optical investigations, and the explanation of which, proposed by the late Lord Rayleigh, and subsequently verified by observation, forms the beginning of our knowledge of the subject of this lecture. Even more striking, though not so familiar to all, is the colour exhibited by oceanic waters. Readmore Courtesy: archive of NOBEL FOUNDATION, Sweden We take this opportunity to thank you for your continuous support and good wishes to us towards our commitment for a better world. With commitment Uzzwal Madhab President / Executive Director LAKSHYA Foundation, New Delhi , INDIA An Initiative of Lakshya Foundation, ...
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Saturday,27 February, 2010 | Hits: 110

1E Editorial Issue Talking Green

" TALKING GREEN " weekly e-Newsletter of My GREEN CHANNEL, an initiative of LAKSHYA [ Editorial issue February 2010 ] Dear Friends, It is indeed a very happy moment for us to initiate a new format of reaching you and share our thoughts towards bringing CHANGE ! Today we are initiating our monthly editorial issue of TALKING GREEN where we plan to share with you the most important aspect of environment of the month /time. Hope you will be there to support our initiative as you have been doing to us since last year’s …. When I look back I feel very happy to get associated with you through our e newsletter and interact with you and dream and share wider collective visions ……. Development is a comparative phenomenon……… its sometimes so important to review ourselves through the viewfinder of a third eye for whom perspectives of development may have a different meaning as compared to the development and strengthening of our basics. Hopes are always available in FREE market, and they are ineffective till the time we understand the basics of strengthening our governance system and step forward. Enjoy reading ……… . THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD Crisis of Governance and Right to info If powerful means are not found to address weak governance and pervasive corruption in scores of developing nations, new international efforts to fight environmental degradation, global warming and poverty may prove tragically ineffective. In India, a prospective solution to this global challenge has sprung from the impoverished village of Devdungari. Funding from the federal and state governments to promote development only reached Devdungari in sporadic trickles when at all and villagers did not even receive the minimum wages due to them for their labor in government poverty relief programs. In the early 1990s a grass roots movement called the MKSS (the Hindi acronym for “Labor Farmer Strength Organization”) worked with the villagers to obtain information on the diverted funds. The refusal of local and Indian government authorities to release information was rooted in both bureaucratic culture and law – including the 1923 British colonial Official Secrets act, which India borrowed nearly intact. Readmore We take this opportunity to thank you for your continuous support and good wishes to us towards our commitment for a better world.. With commitment Uzzwal Madhab President / Executive Director LAKSHYA Foundation, New Delhi , INDIAA [The views expressed by the writer doesn’t reflect the views of this organization, our effort has always been to provide platform to the expressions of common man and contribute towards science communication and science education movement in India] ...
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Thursday,31 December, 2009 | Hits: 84

THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD - Crisis of Governance and Right to info

If powerful means are not found to address weak governance and pervasive corruption in scores of developing nations, new international efforts to fight environmental degradation, global warming and poverty may prove tragically ineffective.In India, a prospective solution to this global challenge has sprung from the impoverished village of Devdungari. Funding from the federal and state governments to promote development only reached Devdungari in sporadic trickles when at all and villagers did not even receive the minimum wages due to them for their labor in government poverty relief programs. In the early 1990s a grass roots movement called the MKSS (the Hindi acronym for “Labor Farmer Strength Organization”) worked with the villagers to obtain information on the diverted funds. The refusal of local and Indian government authorities to release information was rooted in both bureaucratic culture and law – including the 1923 British colonial Official Secrets act, which India borrowed nearly intact. ...
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Saturday,13 March, 2010 | Hits: 376

Nissan Claims to Have 56,000 Preorders for LEAF Electric Car [Updated]

Photo: Nissan Correction: It looks like BusinessWeek was wrong. A representative from Nissan contacted us and 56,000 is not the number of pre-orders, but rather the number of people who have signed up on their website for more information about the LEAF once it is released. Incidentally, that number is now 71,000, and while it is a good sign for Nissan, it means a lot less for the future commercial success of the LEAF than actual pre-orders would. And That's Just for the United States... Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Nissan and Renault, isn't the kind of guy who j... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Friday,12 March, 2010 | Hits: 36

Bluecar EV to be Launched in the Fall of 2010

Photo: Pininfarina A Proving Ground for Lithium-Metal-Polymer Batteries? After some delays and problems, it looks like the Bluecar EV by Pininfarina and Bolloré is going to launch in the fall of 2010 if crash tests are successful and the car meets safety regulations. the fall target is for rental only, though. The Bluecar will go on sale at a later, yet unknown date.... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Friday,12 March, 2010 | Hits: 38

Humans Pushing Extinction Rates Up Faster Than Species Can Evolve - Will Hit 10,000x Historic Rates

photo: Kevin Walsh via flickr. You've probably heard the stat that extinction rates are currently somewhere between 100-1000 times historic levels, which is bad enough, but now the Guardian reports the head of the Species Survival Commission for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature says that we've "almost certainly" crossed the thresho... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Friday,12 March, 2010 | Hits: 36