NANOTECHNOLOGY is the future, declares Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller (Research and Development), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has applications in fields ranging from health care and drinking water purification to missiles and computers. Nano biosensors implanted in the brain can tackle Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers and epilepsy. Pillai has embarked on a mission to convince universities in the country to start courses and conduct research in nanotechnology.
In Tamil Nadu, Bharathiar University in Coimbatore and Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) in Thanjavur have stolen a march over others in realising the potential of nanotechnology. Bharathiar University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on January 7, with the Institute for Nano, Micro and Neuro Electronics, Sensors and Systems, University of Arkansas, U.S., for establishing a nano facility centre at Coimbatore. The five-year agreement was signed by Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam and the Director of the Institute at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Vijay K. Varadan. The nano facility will be part of the Centre of Excellence in Life Sciences that Bharathiar University and the DRDO have jointly established at the university.
Nanotechnology is an emerging field with applications spanning all areas of science and technology, said Dr. S. Swaminathan, director, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, SASTRA. The most direct impact on human society will be in health care. SASTRA University was among the first to recognise the immense potential in this field and start a postgraduate [M.Tech.] programme in Nanotechnology in 2005, said Swaminathan, who has a Ph.D. in chemical and biological engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.
SASTRA University has introduced a five-year integrated M.Tech. course in medical nanotechnology from the current academic year (2007-08). It also offers a Ph.D. in nanotechnology, vice-chancellor R. Sethuraman said.
The Government of India has allotted Rs.200 crore in this years Budget for the development of nanotechnology, and the Department of Science and Technology is providing a focus to developmental efforts in the discipline.
The DRDO has established a facility for developing nano materials at the Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment, Kanpur. It has also entered into an agreement with the University of Arkansas for research in nano materials. There are 32 institutes in India engaged in nanotechnology research. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, under Prof. C.N.R. Rao and the Delhi University, under Dr. A.N. Maitra, have come up with important research findings in nanotechnology. In IIT Madras, a group is working on nanotechnology-based fuel cells. Many National Institutes of Technology are working in nanotechnology applications.
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, is starting an M.Tech. course in nanotechnology and an M.Phil. programme in nano science. Anna University has several collaborative programmes with foreign universities in nanotechnology and biotechnology. Research scholars from Anna University were undergoing training in Japan in nanotechnology, said Vice-Chancellor D. Viswanathan.
Sathyabama University, Chennai, is keen on starting courses in nanotechnology. The University of Madras is yet to catch up with its counterparts in India in nanotechnology and nano science.
T.S. SubramanianCOMMents
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