“Data driven discoveries have become the mainstay in this world. Our lives are now intricately connected to tools of technology. It is good; it makes lives more efficient and spreads the benefits to a larger cross-section of society, ”  said  Prof. B.J. Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad (UoH), who delivered the 80th CSIR Foundation Lecture at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, on September 26, 2021.

Prof. B.J. Rao said use of technology has increased immensely in the past one year due to COVID imposed lockdowns, while on the other hand it has also created a great gap.  He stressed researchers to address bridging this ‘gap’ created by technology. He said Covid-19 has made education much more complex.

“We must constantly and intimately engage with the society in order to bring out idea exchange,” he said. He encouraged an exchange of information to improve the quality of research between academicians and researchers working in laboratories such as CSIR-IICT. Prof Rao urged researchers, teachers and academicians to collectively evolve mechanisms for effective knowledge transitions.

“I am now in the Mecca of Chemistry,” he said while recounting his association with IICT. Prof Rao said as a student he was inspired by listening to lectures delivered by Nobel laureates in the very same hall back in 1977. He called CSIR a ‘crown jewel’ in our motherland, as its laboratories spread all over the country are continuously specialising on various initiatives for the welfare of the society.

Dr.N V Satyanarayana, Acting Director of CSIR-IICT, in his welcome address acknowledged the role of scientists who graduated from UoH in mentoring the students at CSIR-IICT. He credited them for being the brand ambassadors for both the institutions. Dr. M. Chandrasekharam, Senior Principal Scientist, introduced Prof B.J. Rao, who was the chief guest of the function.

Prof B.J. Rao, Dr. M.V. Satyanarayana, Dr. M Chandrasekharam, and Mr Vinod Dubey formally inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp.

Contributed by Ms. Sahela Jay, Department of Communication, UoH

The complete lecture can be viewed on the below link: