Public Lectures
Bicentennial Commemorative Public Lectures
2009 (3rdApril: 5.30 PM) Prof. Madhav Gadgil:Major Transitions in Evolution
2007 (2ndMarch) Prof. Obaid Siddiqi : Biology of Learning and Memory
2003 Prof. M.K.Chandrashekaran: Biological Clocks in Bats, Mice and Humans
2002 Prof. N. Kochupillai : Neuro-endochrinology: Linking Body, Mind & Consciousness
2001 Prof. N. Mukunda : Pancharatnam, Bargmann and Berry Phses
2000 Prof. V.K. Gaur : Natural hazards: prediction and mitigation of their impacts
1999 Prof. Michele Leduc : Imaging the Human Lungs by Magnetic Resonance with Polarised gases
1998 Prof. Sir Arnold W. Wolfendale : Comets, Climate and Cosmic Rays
1997 Prof. Dan Peter McKenzie : Inside and Outside Venus
1996 Prof. S. Ramaseshan : Chandrasekhar - Some Reminiscences
1995 Prof. Virendra Singh : S.N. Bose and the Problems of Blackbody Radiation
1994 Prof. R. Penrose : Non-Computability and the Mind
1993 Prof. D. Balasubramanian : Studies of Cataract and the Transparency of the Eye-lens
1992 Prof. P.N. Tandon : Brain and its Surgery
1991 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam : Rocket Technology and its Streams
1990 Prof. Yash Pal : Towards a Planet Assurance Program
1989 Prof. C.N.R. Rao : Superconductivity Today
1988 Dr. A.P. Mitra : Aeronomy Research in India: Problems and Prospects
1987 Prof. M.G.K. Menon : International Cooperation in Science
Vainu Bappu Memorial Lecture
Beginning 2007, a new lecture series has been instituted by IIA, named after the Founder-Director, M K Vainu Bappu. The Vainu Bappu Memorial Lecture will be delivered each year by an eminent astrophysicist on a topic of broad interest. The First Vainu Bappu Memorial Lecture was delivered by Professor E N Parker of the University of Chicago on January 4, 2007 at the IIA Auditorium. The theme of Professor Parker's lecture was 'The Sun, Space, Cosmic Rays and Climate'.The 2nd Vainu Bappu Memorial Lecture was given by Professor Douglas Gough, FRS
Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow ,
University if Cambridge, U.K on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 18:30 hrs, Titled "What is a sunspot?"
3rd Vainu Bappu Memorial Lecture: Time, Einstein, and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe
By
William D. Phillips,Nobel Laureate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD, USA
Abstract: At the beginning of the 20th century Einstein published three revolutionary ideas that changed forever how we view Nature. At the beginning of the 21st century Einstein's thinking is shaping one of the key scientific and technological wonders of contemporary life: atomic clocks, the best timekeepers ever made. Such super-accurate clocks are essential to industry, commerce, and science; they are the heart of the
satellite navigation system that guides cars, airplanes, and hikers to their destinations. Today, atomic clocks are still being improved, using Einstein's ideas to cool the atoms to incredibly low temperatures. Atomic gases reach temperatures less than a billionth of a degree above Absolute Zero, without solidifying. Such atoms enable
clocks accurate to better than a second in 80 million years as well as both using and testing some of Einstein's strangest predictions.
Founder's Day Lecture
Founder's Day
The Founder-Director of IIA, Professor M K Vainu Bappu, was born on August 10, 1927. Vainu Bappu died in harness on August 19, 1982. Since 1983, IIA has been celebrating Vainu Bappu's birthday as the Founder's Day. In 2007, a special feature was added with the institution of a Founder's Day Lecture. The Founder's Day Lecture this year will be delivered on August 10, 2009 by Professor Govind Swarup.
Experimental Astronomy in India: Some Lessons
G. Swarup, F.R.S.
(Former Centre Director, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics)
&
(Former Project Director, GMRT)
August 10, 2009 (Monday) : 5 PM
Auditorium, IIA, Bangalore
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, astronomers have built and continue to build many large facilities in India, in almost all windows of the electromagnetic spectrum. I plan to summarize these endeavours in the fields of radio, infra-red, optical, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-ray and space astronomy. Optical astronomy has over 100 year old tradition in India that got a fillip by the indigenous construction of a 2.3 m optical telescope at Kavalur by the great pioneer Vainu Bappu. Subsequently, an imported 2 m optical telescope at Hanle by IIA and at Girawali by IUCAA has provided new facilities. A 3.6 m optical telescope is to be imported by ARIES. The upcoming 50 cm solar telescope at the Udaipur Solar observatory and the proposed 2 m solar telescope by IIA would provide challenging facility to solar astronomers. In the field of radio astronomy, the group at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research has built indigenously two truly world class radio telescopes, namely the Ooty Radio Telescope and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. IIA and Raman Research Institute (RRI) have built large arrays at Gauribidanur and Mauritius for observations in the decametre and metre wave length range. RRI’s millimeter wave radio telescope is also noteworthy. The ambitious ASTROSAT project would provide an important facility for X-ray and ultraviolet astronomy. BARC's 21 m gamma-ray telescope would open a new window. ISRO's endeavours in space astronomy are also commendable. I would like to enquire as to why India has not been able to build a world class optical telescope, optical astronomy being central to all areas of astronomy. Further, unfortunately manpower development has not kept pace with the growth of the above astronomical facilities, particularly because Indian research institutes have become islands with nil or little connection to Universities. I would like to conclude by suggesting some new initiatives for manpower development that would benefit not only astronomical facilities and industries but also provide faculty in Universities and several new centres of education.
The Founder's Day Lecture in 2008 was delivered on August 11, 2008 by Professor C N R Rao, Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore. Professor Rao spoke on `Doing Science in India : Personal Reflections'
Abstract of the Lecture
The scientific scenario in India has changed markedly in the last few years. Those of us who have worked here for decades cannot forget the early days after independence when we had little but strived hard. Today, we seem to have more funds and facilities, but the challenges are more severe and the competition more keen. The struggles of scientists in India in the early days are different from those faced by us today. It is becoming increasingly difficult to carry out work which gets due international recognition in a given field. At the same time, others outside India, specially some of our neighbours, seem to be doing more and of higher quality. Where do we go from here? How do we compete? How do we excel? The talk is based on my own experience over the past five decades, and my reflections on the present situation and future prospects.
Report in 'The Hindu'.