Foundation Day of Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore was celebrated on February 19, 2021
The 38th Foundation Day of Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore was celebrated on February 19, 2021 in on-line mode using e-Meeting platform developed in the Centre. Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India was the Chief Guest of the function. He graced the occasion through video conferencing.
Prof. VijayRaghavan, in his Foundation Day address, touched upon various facets on how science and technology would move in the post-2020 world. Starting with a brief history of evolution of mankind, leading to the invention of tools, development of various technologies and the industrial revolution, he elucidated how the humans who once struggled to survive are now stewards of the planets. He highlighted the importance of distributed small manufacturing centres and high tech industry all across the country in the time to come. He lauded the efforts made by the Department of Atomic Energy towards the generation of energy and mentioned that going together with the nuclear and clean & renewable energy will be the mantra in going ahead.
Shri Debashis Das, Director, RRCAT presided over the function. He presented highlights of activities and major accomplishments of the Centre during the last one year. Shri Das, in his talk, mentioned that the post-lockdown performance of Indus accelerators, operating in round-the-clock mode, has been brought back to the its level before the lockdown. Besides the researchers from all over the country, R&D units of pharmaceutical industries are also using the facility for drug characterization. Shri Das also informed about the progress made in the Agricultural Radiation Processing Facility and the developments in the proton linacs, material science, various lasers and their societal as well as scientific applications. He informed that an Incubation Centre has started functioning in RRCAT to take these technologies from lab to land.
Many eminent personalities, former Directors, former senior colleagues and RRCAT employees joined the celebrations in online mode and through the live streaming at various locations in RRCAT. Prof. VijayRaghavan interacted online with the dignitaries and the audience. A short video highlighting Centre’s strengths was also played in the function.
Dr. Anil Rawat, Director, Technology and Support Group introduced the Chief Guest to the audience. Shri S.V. Nakhe, Director, Laser Group and Materials Science Group proposed a vote of thanks. Shri Rakesh Kaul, Associate Director, Materials Science Group coordinated various activities in organizing this function. The function was organized following the COVID-19 related guidelines.
