KIIT University honours 2 prominent Bengalureans

0
120

Use Your Education to Solve Global Problems: Nobel Laureate

ENARADA, Bhubaneshwar, November 7, 2015

Two prominent Bengalureans; Padmashri Shri A S Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and yoga Guru Dr HR Nagendra were  felicitated with honorary doctorate by India’s top university-KIIT University during its 11th Annual Convocation at Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Shri A S Kiran Kumar who is also secretary, Department of Space, Govt. of India said the honorary doctorate was not an individual recognition, but recognition to ISRO, which was striving to apply space technology for the benefit of people for more than last five decades. Shri Kumar is a highly accomplished space scientist with a career spanning over four decades in ISRO.

11th Annual Convocation of KIIT University. 7-11-2015, Pic WWW.E
Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, KIIT University; Padmashri Dr. Bibek Debroy, Member, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India; Padmashri Dr. Sekhar Basu, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India & Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission; Prof. N. L. Mitra, Chancellor, KIIT University; Professor Sir John E. Walker, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry , U.K.; Prof. em. Dr. Hans Hengartner, ETH and University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland; A. S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) & Secretary, Department of Space, Govt. of India; Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor, S-VYASA University, Bengaluru and Prof. P. P. Mathur, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University during 11th Annual convocation of KIIT University at Bhubaneshwar on November 7, 2015. Photo by WWW.ENARADA.COM
[hr]

He was conferred the honour in recognition of his great contribution in the field of space science and research. Along with Shri Kiran Kumar, Dr. Nagendra was also was conferred D.Sc. honoris causa in recognition of his service to mankind as an illustrious yoga teacher and a distinguished Ayurvedic therapist.

Dr Nagendra, who is well known as yoga Guru to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “It is an achievement for my entire team. S-VYASA University is working to translate Swami Vivekananda’s vision into reality.” He congratulated Dr. Samanta for establishing KIIT University, which is a great contribution to this part of the world.

The duo received the Honoris Causa Degree of D.Sc along with Nobel laureate (Chemistry-1997) Prof. Walker, Prof. em. Dr. Hans Hengartner, ETH and University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland and Padmashri Dr. Sekhar Basu. A total of 4612 students of 2014 – 15 graduating batch of KIIT University received their degrees. Eminent economist Padmashri Dr. Bibek Debroy, Member, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India was honoured with Honoris Causa Degree of D.Litt.

 Delivering the convocation address, Prof. Walker said, re-emergence of infectious diseases, declining quality of life in older population and global warming are the major challenges facing the mankind today. Rampant misuse of antibiotics has resulted in drug resistant strains of pathogens. Citing example of tuberculosis, which was brought under control earlier, he explained, the disease has made a comeback, killing about two million people every year. While life expectancy has risen, quality of life of older people has declined due to neurodegenerative disorders. There are at present very few opportunities to control and manage these diseases, Prof. Walker informed.

Burning of fossil fuel for energy releases a vast amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing the temperature to rise. Global warming will have serious consequences on the planet, he warned, while advising students to use their education to contribute in solving these burning issues. Expressing gratitude for the honorary D.Sc. degree, the Nobel laureate said, “I am greatly impressed by the progress made by this young University in such a short time and for this I offer my respect and admiration to its founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta”. Prof. Walker, whose landmark crystallographic studies of the F1-ATPase won him Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997, is presently Emeritus Director of MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Cambridge.

Accepting the honorary D.Sc. degree, Prof. em. Dr. Hans Hengartner stated, “I am involved with KIIT University and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) for last seven years and I am impressed to see how the two institutions have developed fantastically over the years.” He advised students to set realistic goals and work hard to achieve them. The honour was conferred to him in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of human medicine and immunology.

Expressing gratitude to KIIT University for the honour, Padmashri Dr. Sekhar Basu said, enthusiasm of faculty and students of KIIT University in the area of research is impressive. Work done by Dr. Samanta to establish this institution will take the country forward, he added. Dr. Basu was given the honour in recognition of his outstanding research and stupendous contribution to India’s Nuclear Programme.

Padmashri Dr. Bibek Debroy was conferred D.Litt. honoris causa in recognition of his outstanding research in Indian Cultural Heritage and contribution to India’s economic growth. “I receive it on behalf of all those who have contributed in my journey”, he said in his acceptance speech.

Expressing best wishes to the graduate students, Prof. N. L. Mitra, Chancellor, KIIT University, in his presidential address, said that this is the third consecutive convocation in KIIT University addressed by Nobel laureates, creating a noble hat-trick in motivating researchers. Entire nation is now expecting high achievement and excellence from KIIT University in years to come, he added.

Earlier in his report, Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. P. Mathur informed that the University is home to around 25,000 students from different states of the country and abroad. Faculty members of the University have actively involved themselves in research and consultancy projects from various industries, he said, adding that currently 103 research and consultancy projects funded by various national and international funding agencies are ongoing.

Manisha Priyadarshini (B.Tech.C.Sc. & MBA – Dual Degree), Payel Giri, M.Tech. (C.E.) and Preeti Kumari (B.Tech) won Founder’s Gold Medals for their outstanding all round and academic performance. Similarly, 15 students were awarded Chancellor’s Gold Medal, while 25 students got Vice Chancellor’s Silver Medal. P.K. Bal Memorial Gold Medal, PPL Gold Medal and Nanibala Memorial Gold Medal were also given away on the occasion. Thirty nine research scholars were awarded Ph.D. degrees.

Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, proposed the vote of thanks.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

*

code