Six-day BARC Workshop on Application of Radio-isotopes kicked off at USTM
01st Oct, 2018 129Six-day BARC Workshop on Application of Radio-isotopes kicked off at USTM
9th Mile, October 1, 2018: A team of eight scientists from the Indian Association of Nuclear Chemists and allied Scientists (IANCAS), Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai has kicked off a six-day long workshop here today with the aim to impart nuclear science education to academicians through hands on training. The workshop is being organized by the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya and is sponsored by Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, Department of Atomic Energy, BARC. More than 50 academicians from institutions across the North East have participated in the workshop.
Addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, Dr AC Kataki, Director, Dr B. Barooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati said that one of the purposes of the workshop is to sensitise the people about various uses of radio-isotopes, nuclear energy and oncology in common life. He said that almost 80 per cent patients at B Borooah Cancer Institute are treated with radio-isotope therapy and nuclear medicines. “There is acute shortage of human resources to work in the field. Students should come up to study courses in this areaâ€, he added.
In his address as the Chief Guest, Dr. B. C. Goswami, Vice Chancellor, Cotton University said that use of radioactive is very important in research and development. Its potential for destruction is enormous and its use for economic development unlimited. It is this co-existence of fear of annihilation and hope for the progress of human welfare through its application that has ushered us into this Atomic Age.
Speaking on the occasion, M Hoque, Chancellor of USTM said that the workshop will provide an excellent platform for the participants to receive hands on training from the eminent scientists which will help them update their knowledge and understanding of the latest developments in the field of Radiochemistry and Radioisotopes. He said that USTM is always dedicated for the development of science and technology education in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. P. K. Pujari, Associate Director, Radiochemistry & Isotope group, BARC and Vice-President IANCAS said that teaching a teacher acts like force-multiplier since a teacher will teach many other students and thus knowledge can be spread widely. He requested all the teachers to become brand ambassador of BARC and spread the message among the masses.
Sujoy Bhattacharya, Director, Reactor Project Group, BARC also addressed the gathering and said that India has only 3 per cent of nuclear reactor used as electric power and this will increase up to 6 per cent in 2030. Earlier, the theme of the workshop was explained by Dr. AC Deb, Coordinator & Scientific Officer, Fuel Chemistry Division, BARC.
The workshop will cover different aspects of nuclear Physics and Chemistry with emphasis on radioisotopes and its applications in Health Care, Industry, Agriculture, Food and Research. Certificates will be issued to all the participants that will be recognized as short term course and may be accounted towards API as per UGC norms. The technical sessions will be supplemented by laboratory experiments and hands on training which will be of immense benefit to the participants. In addition, special sessions will be held on research funding opportunities in Basic and Nuclear Sciences for the benefit of the participants associated with teaching and research.
On completion of the workshop, a set of latest equipment will be donated by BRNS-IANCAS to USTM Research Lab which includes NaI (Tl) Scintillation Detector for Gamma (ɣ) Rays Spectrophotometry along with the required accessories to measure the energy of ɣ radiation and in due course of time USTM will be an active partner in transferring the Technology from Laboratory to common people by developing requisite infrastructures under the guidance of BARC.
