IITians in Canada observe day-long fast for Anna Hazare

Toronto: IITians in Canada went on a day-long fast here on Wednesday in support 

of Anna Hazare's crusade for a tougher Lokpal Bill to combat corruption in India.

Members of the IIT Alumni Canada (IITAC) observed fast in their corporate officesand working places.

"We didn't gather at one place in a demonstration. Dozens of us observed the fast in our offices in our individual way. In all, 56 IITians, their spouses and friends were involved in this gesture in support of Anna Hazare's crusade,'' Chander Dhawan, former president of IITAC, told the sources.

He said, "IITians are very happy that Hazare has begun a revolution in India. We are demonstrating our support to his efforts to eradicate corruption from India's public institutions. Though he has ended his fast, only a part of the problem has been addressed. Now we need to support Hazare to get the law enacted and implemented in its true spirit.''

Describing IITs as India's best brand, Dhawan said, "By fasting, we IITians in Canadawant to uphold leadership position we have taken on issues impacting India's public life. Arvind Kejriwal, who is involved with Anna Hazare's campaign, is a proud IITian who played a crucial role in ushering the right to information (RTI) Act in India.

"You may also recall Satyendra Dubey of IIT Kanpur who gave his life in his quest for not allowing corruption in the construction of India's national highway.''

The Canadian IITians said, "We understand that this awakening is just the beginning with many obstacles, including resistance from the current generation of politicians. But we are confident that right thinking Indians with the support of Indo-CanadianDiaspora will continue the struggle till India can hold its head high among the nations of the world with high standards of governance. Let the old India with high moral fibre re-emerge.''

The Canadian IITians are sending a signed memorandum to Kejriwal in support of Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption. IANS

Source: http://indiaedunews.net/International/IITians_in_Canada_observe_day-long_fast_for_Anna_Hazare_13831/

Symposium on trends in biochemistry inaugurated at AMU

Aligarh: Inaugurating a National Symposium on 'Current Trends in Biochemical, Biomedical andEnvironmental Sciences' organized by the Department of Biochemistry, Vice Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) said that it is quite appropriate in the present day scenario where interdisciplinary research is the norm and boundaries between various disciplines are getting blurred.

Prof. Azis said that the Department of Biochemistry has produced distinguished scientists and entrepreneurs and these alumni are working in theUnited States. He pointed out that AMU had decided to establish central instrumentation facilities with modern equipment to boost more research activities. 

Prof. Azis emphasized that the university needed biomedical, bio-engineering and environmental sciences departments and urged the faculty members to submit proposals for the same to theUniversity Grants Commission (UGC). 

He hoped that the symposium will promote scientific exchange and also encourage more collaborative and inter-disciplinary research at AMU. 

Organizing Secretary of the symposium Qayyum Husain, in his welcome addresses said that the first batch of M.Sc. Bio Chemistry passed out in 1959. "Since, then 56 students have obtained M.Sc. and more than 200 candidates awarded have gone to developed countries on post-doctoral assignment," he said.

He further added that the research activities of the department have been founded by national and international funding agencies. 

Faculty of Life Sciences Dean Masood Ahmed said that teaching of biochemistry had regained and affirmed the status of a foundation course on medical sciences. Health and disease of living organisms including human beings as well as of ecosystems are empirically assessed by biochemical parameters. 

He said that the product of the department has proved its worth in the developed world including USA, Canada, England, France and Germany and this department is considered as flagship department of this university. 

Prof. Rajiv Bhatt of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said that AMU is a vibrant campus. He said that Bio Sciences will be leading the future.

Prof. Bilqees Bano, Chairperson of the Department of Biochemistry proposed a vote of thanks and Ms. Maria Salman conducted the inaugural session. A large number of delegates from all parts of the country participated in the deliberations.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Uttar_Pradesh/Symposium_on_trends_in_biochemistry_inaugurated_at_AMU_13577/

Old friends, old memories at Panjab University's alumni meet

Chandigarh: Rather nostalgic about the times gone by, walking down the memory lane, and cracking jokes, the old-timers of the Panjab Universitymarked their first university-level meet at its campus here.

"It is always good to be back," the alumni repeated this line every time someone asked them about their feelings at the first-ever get-together in recent times.

An air of reminiscence filled the air, as alumni from 1970 batch and previous years were honored on Saturday with a memento and a shawl to be draped over shoulders.

The oldest alumnus present during the meet was 86-year-old Kuldeep Kaur.

Kaur did her matriculation from the girls' school in Lahore's Lyallpur district in 1943.

Despite health problems, she made it to the alumni meet in her wheel chair with enthusiasm. She was helped by her grand-daughter.

"During our times, teacher-student relation was sancsupreme. But now it has drastically changed," Kaur told the sources.

"We religiously did whatever our teacher directed us to do; there were no 'ifs' or 'buts'. This sanctity of the relationship is now missing. I was hopeful to meet some of my old classmates, but nobody has come here," Kaur said.

Motivating female students, Kaur said, "They should keep their focus clear in mind. I was engaged while I was in class eighth and was married while doing my graduation. But I continued my studies and achieved my goal. My father, who himself was a teacher, was very supportive."

Kaur had topped in MA Punjabi in 1958.

Harbans Lal Sawhnie (73) was another former student attending the event.

"My teachers and Panjab University played a dynamic role in shaping my career. I owe everything to them," Sawhnie told the sources.

Sawhnie did his graduation and post-graduation in 1957 and 1959 respectively, from the Government College in Ludhiana.

"Though I did not meet any of my old friends here this time, I hope they will come next time. I am really happy that the university authorities come up with this unique idea to honor old alumni," said Sawhnie, who had retired as general manager from the State Bank of India.

The Punjab University is also the alma mater of many senior bureaucrats and senior politicians, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh not only completed his post-graduation in Economics from the university, but also started his teaching career here.

Manjit Mann (70), an elated alumnus, said, "I spent around four-and-half years of studies at PU. Studying at the varsity proved a turning point in my career. After passing out from here, I taught at different colleges for over 33 years."

Mann did her post-graduation in zoology from PU in 1964.

"These days I am very busy in traveling in Punjab, Shimla and Canada, but I spared some time to come to the PU to attend the alumni meet. It's all very nostalgic," she added.

Keshwa Nand Munjal (76), another former student, said, "It is a great feeling, meeting college friends after so many years. It's always good to be back. I cannot express it in words. I want more such events in the coming years."

Munjal did his bachelor's in commerce from University College of Commerce in Jalandhar in 1957.

The Punjab University was established in 1882 in Lahore, now in Pakistani part of Punjab province. It was shifted to the present campus in Chandigarh's Sector 14 in late 1950s. The university is now spread over an area of 550 acres in sectors 14 and 25.

The university has 75 teaching and research departments as well as 15 centres and chairs at the main campus.

The PU has 188 affiliated colleges across Punjab and has three regional centres in Muktsar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur. It also has one regional rural centre in Punjab.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Punjab/Old_friends,_old_memories_at_Panjab_University's_alumni_meet_13561/

OECD: Pre-school pupils are still better readers aged 15

Children who have been in pre-school education are likely to be much better readers when they are aged 15, reveals a study of international test results.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published an analysis of tests taken by pupils in developed countries - looking at the long-term impact of pre-school education. This showed that 15-year-olds who had attended pre-school were on average a year ahead of those who had not. This advantage was particularly strong for pupils in the UK.

The study is based on international tests taken by pupils in industrialised countries known as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The most recent results were published in December, based on tests taken in 2009 by 15-year-old pupils in 65 school systems.

The latest study looks at the links between achievement in these tests and pupils' first experiences of education. It found that in almost all countries taking part in the tests, pupils who had attended pre-school, such as nursery or children's centres from the age of three, outperformed those who had not. This gap remained after different social backgrounds had been taken into account.

Since pre-school education is more likely among better-off families, this can create an early social divide between pupils.

The research also suggests that disadvantaged and immigrant families can gain above-average benefits from early education.

There are considerable differences between countries in how much children are advantaged by pre-school education.

Denmark along with countries such as France, Israel, Italy, Switzerland and the UK, is where there is the most marked advantage in having attended pre-school.

At the other end of the scale, there are a group of countries in which there is relatively little connection between attending pre-school and later performance – including Estonia, Finland, Ireland and South Korea.

The study shows there are substantial differences in the numbers of pupils in pre-school education.

In France, Japan and Belgium it is described as near-universal, while in Canada, Ireland and Poland less than 50 per cent of children attend pre-school.

source:http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=1511&theme=educationforall&country=global

Geology, a career for outdoor enthusiasts!

Geology is gaining popularity in line with the growth in the demand for fossil fuel and discovery of new reserves.
Fast Facts
Best Schools: Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Jadavpur University, University of Madras, Ranchi University.
Qualification: BSc, MSc in Geology
What you become: Marine geologist, Petrologist, Mineralogist, Geohydrologist, Hydrologist, Paleontologist, Seismologist
Recruiters: Geological Survey of India, Central Ground Water Board, ONGC, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mineral Exploration Authority, Indian Space Research Organisation
How do mountains rise? How are rocks created and destroyed? These questions can be answered if we study Geology, a field-oriented, scientific discipline, which investigates the properties of the earth, its substances, shapes, processes and history. Geology is a multi-disciplinary subject, which includes study of minerals (mineralogy), rocks (petrology), the structure of the Earth (structural geology), volcanic phenomena (volcanology), landforms and the processes that produce them (geomorphology and glaciology), study of fossils (paleontology), the development of sedimentary strata (stratigraphy) and the evolution of planetary bodies and their satellites (astrogeology).
By studying the history, composition, changes that occur on the earth, geologists foresee how events, processes of the past influence the future, says Prof. Mallickrarjun Joshi, Professor, Department of Geology, Benaras Hindu University (BHU). A geology class all starts with rocks and minerals, which are not just stones but stories. For instance, the knowledge on the age of the rock would help a student of geology to identify the type of mineral. The study of rocks, minerals, mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes, rivers, glaciers, landslides and floods fall into this broad field.
What a geologist does
A geologist’s job involves two main functions: Exploration and Research. Exploration: Involves detailed identification of structures (mountains, rivers, rocks), investigation of the resources of a region (drilling into the ground to locate water, mineral, energy resources), predict future geologic hazards like earthquakes, floods, landslide.
Research: Compiles the data into a geological map, which shows the distribution and relationship of the properties. It is supplemented by laboratory investigation, where a geologist uses microscopic, electronic equipment and computing techniques to analyse samples collected from the field. After the analysis (which includes calculations) a geologist prepares a report.
A geologist’s work significantly includes - field activity, office-based data processing, report writing and project planning. The scope of the job depends on the work area of the company or organization, you work for. For instance, Pranjal who works as a Geologist with ONGC’s Oil Exploratory Division in Gujarat monitors the oil wells to locate how much oil can be extracted for developing process.
According to Soma Sengupta, Senior Advisor (Geology) at Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, majority of the geologists working in the petroleum and oil industries are involved in both exploratory and laboratory work. “Working in the field may mean spending long hours outdoors, doing exploration, surveying and production,” she said.
Entering the field
To kickstart your career as a geologist you must have completed an MSc in Geology. Most universities across the country offer a Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhDs in Geology. You must have completed 10+2 in Science to enrol for a BSc in Geology.
“A Master’s degree is enough for any entry-level positions. But an advanced degree like PhD will help you enter colleges to teach,” says Joshi.
BSc
A BSc focuses on the basic concepts of Petroleum Geology, Marine Geology etc.
MSc
It comprises both pure and applied geology, which focuses on the advanced learning of the fields. It builds upon the foundation laid during a BSc, by building a strong theoretical and practical framework. Writing a dissertation is one of the general requirements. According to Amit Sarma who works in the petroleum industry as a geologist in Noida, the theory learnt during his MSc helped him to put concepts into practice.
Further specialisation
After MSc, one can also opt for MSc (Tech)/MTech for specialisation in Geotechnical and Geo-environmental engineering etc., which are parts of Civil Engineering field. In order to be eligible, one must have a GATE score.
An added advantage for these students is that all institutes offer scholarships of at least Rs. 8,000 per month with a contingency fund of Rs. 10,000 per annum. Due to the increase in the demand of oil and natural gas and also because of new findings of reserves, the most recent trend spotted in many colleges is the rush towards taking up MSc Petroleum Geology/MTech Petroleum Exploration.
Qualities required for the job
* Ability to visualise
* Good scientific/technical skills
* Audacious as an explorer
* Physical fitness
* Ability to interpret statistical and graphical information
* Attention to detail
* Report-writing skills
Field trips
Since geology is related to environment, a large portion is taught outdoors. So, field work becomes an integral part of all degree programmes. It may include collection of geologic data, constructing a measured section, interpreting geologic structures and geologic mapping.
Geology and the environment
Geologists have an important role in preserving and keeping the environment clean as they assess natural disasters and its effects. Their activities include - monitoring waste disposal sites, preserving water supplies and minimising the threat to communities at risk from geologic hazards like earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes and tsunamis. Geological maps are important inputs for the generation of hazard maps. It helps the mitigation team to engage in disaster management in an efficient manner.
Geology meets engineering Geologists play an inevitable role in engineering projects. The meeting point of engineers and geologist is in the irrigation, nuclear power and communication projects like bridges, tunnels, roads etc. Every civil engineer has to get well-equipped with geology. According to Dr K.S Rao, Professor, IIT, Delhi, there is a wide application of geological principles in the areas like Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental, Hydraulics, Structure and Transportation Engineering. Prior to any building construction, an engineer has to determine the properties of soil. “To determine the stability of the structure, the engineers work closely with geologists to identify the type of bedrock at building sites,” he stressed.
Opportunities galore
Geology prepares you to be part of varied areas, right from resource management and environmental protection to mineral and oil exploration.
They can specialise in innumerable fields. A geologist can work in engineering and consulting firms, government agencies, mining companies, petroleum companies, museums. The UPSC conducts exams for placement in GSI, Central Ground Water Board etc. They also have an option to take up IAS/Forestry Service. PSUs like ONGC, Hindustan Zinc Ltd conducts All India Entrance exam for hiring Geologists.
With an advanced degree, a geologist will qualify for supervisory/ research/ teaching positions through NET in Universities or institutes.
Demand for geologists often mirror the price of geological commodities such as fuels, metals and construction materials. As rise in international oil price directly relates to Geology. The oil companies become more viable for exploration and this creates a major demand for Geologists in the market.
Kinds of geologists
Marine Geologist
Studies marine environment. With the help of remote sensing they locate old rocks and vegetations and effects on sea and atmosphere.
Petrologist
Conducts explorations for new oil and gas fields both the onshore and offshore activity. All types of survey like geophysical and seismic surveys are carried out before drilling.
Mineralogist
Identifies useful mineral in rocks and sea beds. It’s mostly work in the underground.
Geohydrologist
Locates and assesses sources of water and also find threats which can pollute the water.
Hydrologist
Studies underground sources of water and all related parameters to it like infiltration and pollution threats.
Paleontologist
Works with fossils (dead remain of creatures and plants). They estimate their age and try to find how the earth was at that time and what lead to their deaths.
Seismologist
Works with movement of Earth’s tectonic plates, which causes earthquakes.
Surveyor
Collects data about land and sea and maintain a database and keep monitoring the changes in data with past and present values.
They hire geologists
* Geological Survey of India (GSI)
* Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
* Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM)
* Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)
* Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
* Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
* National Geophysical Institute (NGRI)
* Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun
* Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Public Sector Undertakings * Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC)
* National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC)
* National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
* Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC)
* National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)
* State Mining Corporation (SMC)
* National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
* NALCO
* Hindustan Zinc Limited
* Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
* Theri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)
* Mineral Exploration Authority Private sector companies
* Broken Hill
* Rio Tinot
* De Beers
* Cairn Energy
* Reliance Energy
* Shell
* Service providers - Schlumberger, HLS
Money talk
Government jobs (GSI, CGWB) offers you a decent living style, while public sector (ONGC, HPCL, IOC ) offers handsome salary with good perks and better working conditions.
In both the private and public sector, a fresher with an MSc in Geology can expect a salary between Rs. 25,000-38,000. It will vary also based on the location of your work (metropolitan cities, areas prone to harsh weather conditions etc).
Opportunities abroad Besides the USA, Australia, Canada, the need for geologists is rising in developing countries. Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan require geologists for civil works such as the construction of highways, airports, dams, pipelines etc. “The Middle East, the goldmine for oil, is a paradise for geologists,” says Amit.
The flipside As a field geologist you may be placed in situations that will test you in every possible way. Be prepared to work in remote terrains and travel widely as project requirements dictate. There are instances when you might get dehydrated or injured, and most of the time you are not close to the city where you can get aid. Also, working in vulnerable areas (earthquake, flood prone) could be dangerous if he/she is not prepared for it. A geologist has to cope with potential problems which may occur during the construction of tunnels, dams and other gigantic projects. In the tunnels, inaccessibility to proper ventilation, radio connections, traffic lights would lead to accidents.
Filling the jobs in offshore oil fields is proving to be a major challenge. There are several reasons for reluctance: Not many people are willing to live in the middle of the ocean on an oil rig, extremes of temperature - either extremely cold (most deep ocean oil rigs) or extremely hot, sometimes both. If all these pitfalls do not scare you too much, then the field becons you with open arms.

source : http://in.education.yahoo.com/news/yeducareers360/geology-career-outdoor-enthusiasts-20110131