50 Years of NAL's Journey into Aerospace
Golden Jubilee Conference Archives June2008 - May2009
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Golden Jubilee Inaugural Function 6 June 2008
On June 6 2008 at a function organized in the S R Valluri auditorium, NAL’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations (GJC) was flagged of by Prof S K Brahmachari, DG, CSIR. As a part of the GJC NAL has planned a number of S&T events including international/national conferences and seminars from June 2008 to May 2009.
The celebrations commenced with a melodious invocation by Jyothi and Kshama. Dr A R Upadhya, Director, NAL welcomed the august gathering of distinguished invitees, scientists, engineers and former directors. He said “Fifty years is a milestone in the life of any institution, not just counting years passed, because that will naturally happen to any institution with four strong walls and a leakproof roof, but taking into account outputs and contributions towards the mission, goal and objectives of institution.” In his speech he briefly traced NAL’s history stating that the 60s saw the foundations being laid, not just of the buildings, but of many R&D facilties and technologies, 70s saw a consolidation and growth, 80s was noteworthy for involvement in more number of practical applications including the first flight of NAL’s LCRA, 90s was epoch making in its own respect due to HANSA and the last decade saw a fruition of many efforts resulting in SARAS.
Prof S K Brahmachari, Director General, CSIR lit the traditional lamp and launched NAL’s GJC website. Prof Brahmachari in his lecture referred to NAL as a performing organisation. He further said it is time to relook at what we are doing, what can we do tomorrow? and how CSIR can remain relevant in future? He told the scientists to enter the third quarter with dreams and new ideas; reach to the 800 million Indians with technology focus on common man’s needs. Dr S R Valluri, former Director, the great visionary who served NAL as its longest Director during its formative years presided over the inaugural function of the GJC. He released NAL’s Annual Report. In his presidential remark Dr Valluri said when he joined NAL on 23 Nov 1965, he had definite ideas about his responsibilities of being a trustee of the public goods. He complemented his successors for their outstanding job of building on the foundations laid by Dr Nilankanatan in a multitude of ways. He walked through the history of Indian aeronautics in the last 50 years. The chief guests distributed NAL Outstanding Performance Awards, prizes to children of NAL employees for excelling in the field of sports, academics and extra–curricular activities and golden jubilee mementoes. The function concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr M R Nayak Adviser (M&A).
CSIR Foundation Day 26 September 2009
CSIR celebrated its 66th Foundation Day in NAL on the 26 Sep 2008 at the S R Valluri auditorium. Dr A R Upadhya in his welcome address thanked his ‘good friend and long time associate’- Dr Subramanyam who agreed to deliver the CSIR Foundation Day lecture at a very short notice. He spoke about CSIR’s mission which he said is To provide scientific industrial R&D that maximises the economic, environmental and societal benefits for the people of India. He further described CSIR as a multi dimensional, multifaceted institution enabling to perform and deliver and constantly contributing to all the labs in their achievements. He said CSIR is a multi locational institution which covers the entire spectrum of Indian Science. CSIR is constantly working on diverse areas to bring close synergy. He concluded by saying today is special day for us to rejoice in the success of our mother institution. He also reminded Prime Minister’s aspirations “CSIR has to work for the 800 million people of India, for upliftment of the living conditions of the majority of Indian population”. He formally introduced the chief guest Dr P S Subramanyam, DS & Director, ADA as a distinguished scientist and a DRDO system specialist.
Dr P S Subramanyam released the Suvarana Sadhana, a booklet of NAL’s 50 achievements. Dr Subramanyam, the chief guest spoke on 50 years of DRDO and its partners and 25 years of ADA. He gave a broad outline of the major systems that were inducted and are in the pipeline, infrastructure and facilities, DRDO industry partnership and technology roadmap. He spoke at great length about 25 years of LCA. 'Don’t think that Rs 5000 crores were spent to build 15 birds, it is the money invested in the aeronautical technology and infrastructure upgradation in the country' was his observation.
Dr G K Suryanarayan delivered the eleventh CSIR Foundation Day Business Lecture on Augmentation of National Trisonic Aerodynamic Facilities. His lecture covered the benefits gained from the programmes completed thus far and future enhancements.
The chief guest distributed prizes to children of NAL’s employees for excellent achievements in the field of academics and sports. NAL honoured scientists for their patents and copyrights by presenting them with IPR certificates.
The function concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr M R Nayak, Adv (M&A). Dr M N Sathyanaraya compered the programme.
OPEN DAYS 26 - 27 September 2008
As a part of the Golden Jubilee Programme NAL Open Days were organised on 26 and 27 September 2008 (Friday & Saturday).
On Friday 26-Sep-08 family members of employees were invited. Around 900 family members visited NAL between 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm. The exhibits from various Divisions from Kodihalli were displayed at ACD bay. The video shows on SARAS, HANSA and NAL facilities were shown at S R Valluri Auditorium. Museum was kept open for the visitors.
At Belur, the exhibits from various Divisions were displayed at SARAS & HANSA Hangar. The Micro Air Vehicle display was displayed at cricket ground and the mini helicopter at Belur Hangar and visit to Wind Energy Division. There was also an exhibition by Agasthya Foundation at ACD bay. All these programmes were scheduled for both the days.
On 27-Sep-08 (Saturday) about 1100 students from 9 rural schools, 14 urban schools and 2 colleges participated in the Open Day programme. The programme started at 9.30 am and concluded at 5.30 pm. These students were taken around both Kodihalli and Belur campuses.
An aerial display of HANSA by AVM (Retd.) A S Lamba was arranged on 27-09-08 at 1 pm and 3 pm at Belur. A science model exhibition had been arranged for school children. School children exhibited their models in ACD.
The prizes for the following students were distributed for the best models and the participating schools in the evening. A five member committee was setup to view the models Chaired by Prof. Sarala Upadhya, Dept of Mechanical Engg, UVCE, Bangalore.
Sl No.
Prize
Student Name, School
1. 1st Prize - Mr. Jagadish & Mr. Balram Govt. High School, Pandavapura
2. 2nd Prize - Mr. Sriharsha K V, NAL
3. 3rd Prize - Mr. Greeshma J M K V, NAL
4. Consolation Prize – 1 Mr. Rohit Dey, K V, NAL
5. Consolation Prize – 2 Mr. Ravali K V, NAL
The certificate was issued to the following Divisions for the best exhibits from NAL. Dr. M R Nayak, Adv (M & A) and Dr. Vidyadhar Y Mudkavi, Head, CTFD judged the exhibits at SARAS Hangar, Belur and at ACD bay in Kodihalli respectively.
Sl No.
Division
1. Advanced Composites Division
2.
Structural Technologies Division
3.
Centre for Civil Aircraft Design and Development
Feedback from the students
Many of the students expressed their happiness that the programme went on very well. Students said that they could not find even an iota of mistake during their visit to NAL. Feedback have been received from KV, NAL students.
Many students expressed the view that the exhibits were very educative, informative and thought-provoking. Few students said that the programme was meticulously planned and well organised.
NAL, with a view to make this programme a grand success, arranged local hospitality, transportation and all other arrangements to these students.
The children enjoyed the experience, especially the HANSA flight and the micro air vehicle shows.
Report on CPYLS Programme held during 11-12 December 2008
NAL conducted two-day CPYLS Programme during 11-12 December 2008. This was the TENTH CPYLS programme at NAL. The top 75 students from State, CBSE and ICSE boards were invited to NAL. The programme included lectures by eminent scientists and visits to the various Divisions to get acquainted with the R&D activities of NAL.
Dr. M N Sathyanarayana, Joint Head, Knowledge and Technology Management Division (KTMD) and CPYLS Coordinator, welcomed the august gathering and gave introduction about the CPYLS programme.
Dr A R Upadhya, Director, NAL introduced the Chief Guest Dr N G K Karanth, Former Head, Food Protectants and Infestation Control, CFTRI, Mysore as a distinguished scientist and a great academician. In his opening remarks Dr A R Upadhya advised the young achievers to take Science & Technology to greater heights by looking at what the nation needed and work on those projects relentlessly.
Dr N G K Karanth gave a very inspiring lecture on Brimming Opportunities in Science for Building Borderless Minds. He talked about science heritage, Indian science, traditional knowledge and impact of globalisation. He concluded his lecture stating, “CPYLS is the boon for capacity building and a novel model proposed by CSIR. Desire to do science and enjoy the thrill of doing science are propelled by research and innovations. Therefore the young people have to be modulated to manage the changes and bridge the private, public and academic interests”.
Dr Ramesh Sundaram, Scientist, Advanced Composites Division spoke on “Why Composites for Aircraft Structures”. The talk dealt with concept of composites with an emphasis on its applications and on future implications.
The second day of the programme was marked with lecture by Dr Ranjan M, Head, Knowledge & Technology Management Division. He spoke on “Acoustic Testing of Satellites”.
The young students had the opportunity to visit our R&D divisions like FRPD, SID, FMCD, MT, ATF, 4ft Trisonic Wind Tunnel and C-CADD (F) where they enjoyed the chance to see the 14-seater SARAS and 2-seater trainer HANSA aircrafts.
The valedictory function of CPYLS was arranged on 12 Dec 2008. The session was interactive where students, parents and teachers shared their experience about the programme. The students thanked the management for providing them the opportunity to see some of the Asia’s best facilities. Dr Karanth, the Chief Guest, Dr.Ranjan M, Head, KTMD, Dr.Ramesh Sundaram, Scientist, ACD, Dr M R Nayak, Adviser (M&A) and Dr M N Sathyanarayana, Joint Head, KTMD answered the queries raised by the participating students.
National Science Day 27 February 2009
National Science Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the discovery of the “RAMAN EFFECT” by Sir C V Raman. This year at NAL, National Science Day was organized as a part of the National Conference on Recent Advances in Surface Engineering (conference was a part of NAL’s golden jubilee celebrations) at the S R Valluri Auditorium, NAL on 27 Feb 2009. Dr M R Nayak welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest Prof H P Khincha, Vice Chancellor, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum.
Prof Khincha, the Chief Guest delivered the National Science Day Lecture on Creativity and Entrepreneurship in Education. He spoke like a true academician enumerated the dilemma and contradiction of the university system of education. His lecture focused on creativity, inspiration for innovations and entrepreneurship culture. He said Higher education is the market place of ideas, we need to hunt for new science, new technology, new innovation processes, new technology transfer and connect science and technology.
Dr A R Upadhya, Director, NAL in his presidential remarks said Prof Khincha is at the helm of affairs of the largest technological university so he is the right person to talk about Creativity and Entrepreneurship in Education . He further said University is a store house of knowledge where the Creativity and Innovation spirit builds up.
The programme concluded with vote of thanks by Dr M N Sathynarayana, Jt. Head, KTMD
International Women's Day 15 June 2009
Mar 8 International Women's Day has assumed a new dimension for women. It’s the time to reflect on progress made and celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history. At NAL we invited Ms Flavia Agnes a Legal scholar, Feminist Activist, Women’s Rights Lawyer and Writer to deliver the the Women’s Day lecture on 15 June 2009. Ms Flavia Agnes has been actively involved in the women’s movement for the last two decades. She has written extensively on issues of domestic violence, feminist jurisprudence and minority rights. Currently she co-ordinates the legal centre of MAJLIS.
Ms Flavia Agnes spoke on Women and Legal Rights. Ms Agnes kept the audience rapt in attention with a passionate lecture that came straight from her heart. Ms. Agnes started her speech narrating the landmark Mathura case that sparked the Indian Women’s movement. She elaborated on the origins of the modern women’s movement in India. Then she went on to another issue of concern the violence against women and dowry deaths. She said although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961, it remains a strong institution. When the dowry amount is considered insufficient or is not forthcoming, the bride is often harassed, abused and made miserable. This abuse can escalate to the point where the husband or his family burns the bride. She narrated another true life story of Rakhmabai a victim of child marriage who personified the credibility of resistance refusing to go to her husband. Ms Agnes candidly confessed about her own difficult beginning. She was a victim of domestic violence herself, and her path breaking story demonstrates her immense strength and belief in herself. Her autobiography-‘‘My Story, Our Story ...of Rebuilding Broken Lives”, is a pioneering work on domestic violence that provides crucial insights into the dilemmas faced by victims of domestic violence. Her dedication, passion and courage have made her the success story that she is today.
Ms Flavia Agnes distributed prizes to two girl children of NAL employees for excelling in the field of academics.
Dr Girija Gopalarathnam, Chairperson welcomed the gathering.The programme was compered by Ms Gomathy Sankaran and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Anjana Jain.
National Conference on Scientific Achivements of SC/ST Scientists and Technologies 14-16 April 2009
On 14 April, 2009 at the National Aerospace Laboratories’ Kodihalli campus, nearly 400 delegates and invitees had gathered in the specially decorated Dr SR Valluri Auditorium to celebrate the 118th Birth Anniversary of Bharath Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and for the inauguration of the first ever National Conference on Scientific Achievements of SC/ST Scientists and Technologists (NCSCST-09), as a part of CSIR-NAL’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations (1959 – 2009).
The theme of the conference was “Aerospace Science and Societal Contributions in Scientific Fields”. Mr M A Venkataswamy, Scientist, NAL and Convener, NCSCST-09 welcomed the gathering and gave a brief overview of the conference. Dr M R Nayak, Advisor (M&A), NAL and Chairman-NCSCST 09 delivered the welcome address and introduced the distinguished Chief Guest and the Guests of Honour to the audience. Dr AR Upadhya, Director, NAL, in his presidential address, observed that the day was important and special for NAL because it was an occasion for three-fold celebrations; the first and foremost, it was the 118th birthday of one of the greatest sons of modern India, Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar, the second was that the day was a part of CSIR-NAL’s Golden Jubilee events and the third was that it was the inauguration of a historic conference. Dr Upadhya said that it was most appropriate that a person of eminence like Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar, Member Planning Commission, who had professional contributions of the highest order to his credit in his specialized field of Economics and had been actively promoting welfare and uplifting of the under privileged and weaker sections of the society, was the Chief Guest of the function.
The Chief Guest, Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar , Guests of Honour, Dr Mandal and Mr Poongavanam, Dr A R Upadhya, Director, NAL and others on the dais paid their respects to the memory of Dr B R Ambedkar by offering flowers to his portrait. Dr Mungekar inaugurated the Conference by lighting the lamp and releasing the Conference Souvenir & Proceedings. Delivering NAL’s 16th Dr B R Ambedkar’s Birthday Lecture, he recounted the achievements and the multifaceted contributions of Dr B R Ambedkar to the country but lamented that he had been largely misunderstood by the country’s people. Dr Ambedkar was the chief architect of modern India; an India that assured creation of an egalitarian social order - free of exploitation, free from indignities, with liberty, equality and fraternity for all. It also assured affirmative action through reservation policies for SC/ST communities. Dr Ambedkar contributed to make India a just, equal, humanitarian society where human rights and human dignity were respected.
Guest of Honor, Dr AB Mandal, Director, CSIR-CLRI, Chennai delivered the keynote address on “How much we know about Self-assembled Systems? Paradigm shift from Chemical to Bio-processing of Leather, Helical mystery and Unwinding of triple helix and some Bio-material Systems”.
Guest of Honor Mr M Poongavanam, Director, BEML, KGF released the Directory of CSIR SC/ST Scientists and Technologists which was specially brought out on this occasion.
Every year, during the celebration of birthday of Dr B R Ambedkar, NAL recognized meritorious students who had secured the highest marks amongst those from the SC/ST community in the state in science subjects in the previous year’s Karnataka SSLC examination and also children of NAL’s SC/ST Employees who had secured the highest marks in SSLC or equivalent examinations. This year’s awards were presented to the students at the hands of Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar in the inaugural function.
The Inaugural programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr R Rajendran, President, NAL SC/ST Employees Welfare Association. The programme was compeered by Dr M N Sathyanarayana, Coordinator, NCSCST-09.
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