CSIR-CGCRI NEWS LETTER
Volume 11 / No. 5 & 6 / December 2020 – March 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
DG, CSIR visits CSIR-CGCRI
2nd ICG-CGCRI tutorial 2021
Skill Development Initiative taken
72nd Republic Day celebrated
International Women’s Day observed
National Science Day Lecture 2021
Participation in IISF-2020
Industrial linkage with SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
IN FOCUS
DG CSIR, Dr. Shekhar C. Mande visiting CSIR-CGCRI
Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, Department of Science & Industrial Research visited CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata on February 27, 2021. Dr. Mande was received at CSIR-CGCRI by Dr. Suman Kumari Mishra, newly appointed Director, CSIR-CGCRI and was introduced to senior scientists.
Director, CSIR-CGCRI made a presentation at Atma Ram Committee Room on ‘Present activities and future goals of CSIR-CGCRI’ before DG to brief him about the Institute’s major activities. Selected seven technical talks by Dr. Subhadip Bodhak, Dr. Kaushik Biswas, Dr.Atasi Pal, Dr. Kaushik Dana, Dr. Sourja Ghosh, Dr. Somnath Roy and Dr. Mir Wasim Raja were also made to appraise DG about the development of recent CSIR-CGCRI technologies that are on the threshold of commercialization. Thereafter, Dr. Mande interacted with students during a poster presentation highlighting their research works. He also visited fibre laser bio marking facility, radome facility, laser glass clean room facility that are being recently developed to augment the R&D capability of the Institute. The visit was concluded with DG’s address to all staff members and students of the Institute.
2ndICG-CGCRI Tutorial 2021
The International Commission on Glass (ICG) and CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata jointly organized the 2nd ICG-CGCRI Tutorial 2021 on ‘Glass Science & Technology’ in virtual mode through MS Team during January 18 – 27, 2021. Inaugural programme of the 2nd ICG-CGCRI Tutorial 2021 was launched with the welcome address by Dr. Suman Kumari Mishra, Director, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata on January 18, 2021. Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, IISc, Bengaluru and Prof. Alicia Duran, President, ICG graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively. Presence of other overseas luminaries, such as Prof. R. Conradt, Prof. J. M. Parker and Prof. Ana C. M. Rodrigues of ICG brought the inauguration programme to a new height. The entire tutorial programme was envisaged to promote knowledgebase, networking and skilled human resource in the field of Glass Science and Technology. A total of 68 participants including 4 foreigners were enrolled in the 9 days long programme where 23 lectures on the various aspects of glasses like fundamentals of glass, thermodynamics, energy demands andheat-transport phenomena of glass melts/glass formers, the structuralaspects of glasses/glass-ceramics, bioactive glass and glass-ceramics,redox chemistry of glasses including conducting glasses, advanced testingand characterization techniques to evaluate various properties of glasses, glass-ceramics and other glass based composites, the futuristic glasses, etc were delivered by stalwarts like, Prof. R. Conradt (Uniglass AC GmbH, Germany); Prof. J. M. Parker (Sheffield University, U.K); Prof. Alicia Duran (CSIC, Spain); Prof. M K Choudhary (MKC Innovations LLC and The Ohio State University, USA); Prof. John Mauro (PSU, USA); Prof. R. Vacher and Prof. B. Hehlen (University of Montpellier, France); Prof. P. Florian (CEMHTI-CNRS, France); Prof. A. Varshneya (Saxon Glass Technologies, USA); Prof. R. J. Hand (Sheffield University, UK);
Lecture Sessions in progress (ICG-CGCRI Tutorial 2021)
Prof. Akira Takada (Asahi Glass, Japan); Prof. E. D. Zanotto (Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil); Prof. S. Tanabe (Kyoto University, Japan); Prof. A. R. Boccaccini (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany); Prof. Ana C. M. Rodrigues (Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil) and other distinguished experts from R&D Institutes, academia and Industries.In addition, 11 students’ projects were also allocated among participants to explore the new horizon of glass sciences and to address vital issues in connection with glass science and technology. Eventually, formal closure of this tutorial was announced by Mr. Sitendu Mandal, Organizing Secretary,ICG-CGCRI Tutorial 2021 and Chief Scientist, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata with an expectation to have a grand International Congress on Glass (ICG-2025), to be held in 2025 in Kolkata, India.
HAPPENINGS @ CSIR-CGCRI
MAJOR EVENTS
Participation in IISF-2020
The 6th India International Science Festival 2020 (IISF – 2020) organized by Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in association with VijnanaBharati (VIBHA), an integral part of India’s long term vision in developing and widening the spectrum of scientific temper in India and abroad was held through virtual mode during December 22 – 25, 2020. IISF offers a platform between scientists & researchers and students and citizens through lectures, dialogues, panel discussions and debates, demonstrations, shows, exhibitions, and workshops. Student science village consisting of 12 houses named by different eminent Indian personality in the field of academia is one of the components of IISF and it provides science exposure, particularly to the students of rural India and make them aware of India’s achievement in frontier areas of science and technology. The theme of the IISF – 2020 was ‘Science for Self-Reliant India & Global Welfare’. In IISF – 2020, several staff members including scientists, technical officers from CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata coordinated J.C. Bose House of the Student Science Village (SSV) programme.
Republic Day Celebration
Director, CSIR-CGCRI inspecting Republic Day parade
The 72nd Republic Day was celebrated in the Institute on January 26, 2021. The programme was initiated with the hoisting of National Flag by the Director followed by National Anthem. Later, Dr. Suman Kumari Mishra, Director, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata addressed the audience. The Republic Day celebration programme was concluded with distribution of sweet packets to the employees of the Institute and their family members.
International Women’s Day observed
International Women’s Day celebration
Like every year, International Women’s Day (IWD 2021)was celebrated on March 8, 2021at Meghnad Saha Auditorium of the Institute. The programme started with the welcome address by the Director, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata followed by the keynote lecture entitled ‘The contribution of woman scientists in the development of a nation’ by Dr. Vinita Sharma, Scientist G & Former Head, SEED, DST in virtual mode. A panel discussion on ‘Has Covid 19 widened the gender justice gap?’ was also arranged where a number of Institute staff members participated. Special attraction of this year’s IWD 2021 programme was short duration SKIT on social issues (Kanyadan, Aapkibeti, Deadline, Package system) performed by research students of the Institute
Webinar on Indian Standards for Glass and Glazing
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Glazing Society of India (GSI), CSIR– CGCRI, Kolkata and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) jointly organized the Second Webinar on ‘Indian Standards for Glass and Glazing’ on February 26, 2021. Keynote Address was delivered by Shri J.R. Chowdhury, Deputy Director, BIS. Other eminent personalities took part in the programme were Shri A.R. Unnikrishnan, Chairman, GSI, Dr.SumanKumari Mishra, Director, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata, Prof. (Dr.) S.A. Jayachandran, IITM, Dr. K. Annapurna, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-CGCRI, Shri Tariq Kachwala, Member (GSI), Shri A.K. Lal, Head – Chemical Dept., BIS and others.
Conference, Seminars and Workshops & Training
National Science Day Lecture 2021
Nirman Chakraborty and Karthiga Parthiban delivering NSD lectures
‘National Science Day’ is observed on 28th February each year. However, 28th February, 2021 being a closed day for the Institute, National Science Day was celebrated on March 1, 2021 at Meghnad Saha Auditorium of the Institute maintaining ‘COVID – 19’ protocol. Half day long National Science Day programme was planned and conducted entirely by the Institute student community. It was started with the introductory remarks by Dr. Suman Kumari Mishra, Director, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata followed by two short presentations entitled ‘Biography of Sir C.V. Raman & the greatest invention – The Raman effect’ and ‘Raman effect & its importance to modern science’ by Karthiga Parthiban, AcSIR student and Nirman Chakraborty, SRF (Inspire fellow) respectively. A science quiz competition was also organized where 16 groups (consisting of three student participants per group) participated.
National Seminar
National Seminar on ‘Propelling Innovations in Glass and Ceramics for Atmanirbhar Bharat’ was organised jointly by Indian Ceramic Society, Kolkata Chapter and CSIR-CGCRI at CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata during December 11-12, 2020. Two days long seminar was composed of seven technical sessions on topics ‘Glass & Glass-Ceramics’, ‘Refractory’, ‘Engineering Ceramics’, ‘Functional Ceramics’, ‘Ceramics’, ‘Functional Ceramics-2’ and ‘Energy and Environment’ in which four invited lectures and 43 contributory lectures were presented. Invited lectures were delivered by eminent personalities both from academic (Prof.Bikramjit Basu, IISc, Bangalore & Prof. Dibakar Das, University of Hyderabad) and industrial fields (Shri Pradeep Kheruka, Borosil Limited & Dr. Atanu Ranjan Pal, Tata Steel). In contributory lecture segment, major contributions came from various academic institutions across the nation while few were from industrial zone.
Popular Lecture
Shri. Jayant Shrikant Sahasrabudhe, National Organising Secretary, VijnanaBharati delivered a lecture entitled ‘Swami Vivekananda and Science’. The lecture was organized for some selected audience at Meghnad Saha Auditorium and was also transmitted through virtual mode for the benefit of others. The meeting took place on February 9, 2021.
Skill Development Training
Skill development training session in progress
CSIR-CGCRI has vast and strong expertise in the field of traditional ceramics, glasses, refractory, water technology and materials characterization. To inculcate these knowledgebase and expertise for the upliftment of rural growth, a skill development training program 2020-2021 under ‘CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative’ was organized at CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata through virtual mode during February 1 – March 18, 2021. Entire training programme was categorised into two activities: (a) Skill development training on chemical characterization of glass, ceramic and allied materials, and (b) Skill development training on ceramic membrane and water technology. Targeted audiences for this two months long free training programme were rural artisans working on glass and ceramic products and people associated with Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. About fifty participants enrolled in the above skill development programme.
Open Colloquium
(a) Shailendra Kumar Singh, a PhD student (AcSIR) of Fiber Optics & Photonics Division presented a talk on hisPhD thesis work entitled ‘Study and realization of nano-composite thin-film material based fiber optic sensor for the detection of gases and chemical species’in an open colloquium on March 12, 2021.
(b) Sakthi Prasad S, an integrated M. Tech & PhD student (AcSIR) of Specialty Glass Division delivered a talk on hisPhD work entitled ‘Formulation and development of thermally stable boron and fluorine incorporated antibacterial bioactive Gglasses’in an open colloquium on January 5, 2021.
Institute Internal Seminar
Recently a new initiative has been taken at Institute level to provide an open platform to discuss and share the ongoing R&D activities among scientists and students. In this context, bi-monthly Institute Internal seminars delivered by both students and scientists have been arranged from February, 2021. Under this initiative following talks were presented:
(a) First Institute Internal Seminar (IIS) on February 18, 2021
First IIS was delivered by Dr. Ashis Kumar Mandal, Principal Scientist, Specialty Glass Division on ‘Microwave heating: A novel energy efficient technique to alter glass properties’.
IIS lecture delivered by Dr. A K Mandal
(b) Second Institute Internal Seminars (IIS) on March 11, 2021
(i) ‘My journey in materials research’ by Dr. Kausik Dana, Principal Scientist, Refractory & Traditional Ceramics Division.
IIS lecture delivered by Dr. K Danal
(ii) ‘Simultaneous application of structure and electron mobilization in enhanced ethanol sensing by paramagnetic aluminium doped tin oxide nanoparticles’ by SRF-DST-Inspire fellow, Shri Nirman Chakraborty of Functional Materials & Devices Division.
IIS lecture delivered by Shri N Chakraborty
(c) Third Institute Internal Seminars (IIS) on March 25, 2021
(i) ‘An overview on moisture sensor activity in CSIR-CGCRI & future prospective’ by Dr. Debdulal Saha, Senior Scientist, Functional Materials and Devices Division.
IIS lecture delivered by Dr. D Saha
(ii) ‘State of the art and future trend in thermal barriercoatings’ by Ms. Karthiga P, JRF, Bioceramics and Coating Division.
IIS lecture delivered by Ms. Karthiga P
MISCELLANEOUS
Institute Internal Seminar
Annual sessions of Indian Ceramic Society (InCerS), All India Pottery Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA) and Indian Institute of Ceramics (IIC) were organized at CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata on December 10, 2020. Later, 33rdM. G. Bhagat Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof. Alexander Michaelis, Managing Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, Germany in virtual mode
Institutional Recognition received
Recently, an article entitled ‘Crucible for Innovations in Glass and Ceramic’ has been published in the March issue of Science India Magazine (Vol. 19, Issue No. 61, pp. 40 – 42) by VijnanaBharati where various cutting edge technologies from CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata in the fields of space to telecom, energy and healthcare sectors were highlighted bridging rural urban divide and pushing the Atmanirbhar Bharat narrative.
NEWS @ CSIR-CGCRI
Staff News
BUSINESS, PARTNERSHIPS & ALLIANCES
Memorandum of Understanding with SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
A MoU was signed between CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata and SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Aluva – 683101 on January 18, 2021 for development of high-power optical amplifier (1.0 – 5.0 W).
STRIDES IN R & D
CSIR (5)
|
Project title
|
Domain of work |
Duration
|
|
Synergizing marine ecology with bioprospecting: Harnessing marine living resources for products and bioprocesses “BIOPROSmar” |
Marine Bio technology
|
February 8, 2021 to March 31, 2023 |
|
Aerospace materials and technologies
|
Aerospace |
February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2024 |
|
Advancing technological leads for assuring safety of foods (ATLAS)
|
Health care
|
January 28, 2021 to March 31, 2021 |
|
CSIR – Virtual Laboratory (for school student)
|
Education Technology |
December, 2020 to March, 2021 |
|
CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative NWP 100
|
Skill Development |
December, 2020 to November, 2025 |
DST (5)
|
Project title
|
Domain of work |
Duration
|
|
Design and development of photoacoustic imaging system for clinical research
|
Health care
|
January 8, 2021 to January 7, 2024 |
|
Development and performance characterization of crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin polymer based thin-film composite nanofiltration ceramic membrane |
Membrane technology |
December 30, 2020 to December 29, 2023 |
|
Bioactive glass composites with in-situ electrical stimuli for accelerated bone growth and healing
|
Health care
|
December 28, 2020 to December 27, 2023 |
|
Functionalization of red mud for simultaneous remediation of fluoride, arsenic and iron contaminants from water and utilization of waste sludge therefrom in the development of Glass-Ceramic foam |
Water technology |
December 30, 2020 to December 29, 2023 |
|
Utilisation of toxic wastes as potential sources of colouring ingredient in glass making |
Specialty Glass |
December 30, 2020 to December 29, 2023 |
DRDO (1)
| Project Title | Domain of work | Duration |
| Development of indigenous process technology for the production of chalcogenide based infrared glasses for thermal imagers | Specialty Glass | December 30, 2020 to December 29, 2023 |
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (1)
| Project Title | Domain of work | Duration |
| CW/modulated thulium fiber laser (TFL) system for soft tissue vaporization/ablation | Optoelectronic | January 6, 2021 to January 5, 2024 |
KVIC, Ministry of MSME, GoI (2)
| Project Title | Domain of work | Duration |
| Skill Upgradation Training Programme for Terracotta |
Rural Development
|
January 2, 2021 to July 1, 2022
|
| Digital Academy for Terracotta | Education Technology | January 2, 2021 to September 1, 2022 |
NTPC Ltd. (2)
| Project Title | Domain of work | Duration |
| Development of an industrial grade FBG sensor based stator end winding vibration monitoring system |
Optoelectronic
|
April 21, 2020 to January 20, 2022
|
| Development of multiplexed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for temperature monitoring of four APH | Optoelectronic | April 21, 2020 to January 20, 2022 |
Tata Steel Ltd. (1)
| Project Title | Domain of work | Duration |
| Optimisation of FBG sensors requirement for locating the critical zone of blow pipe |
Optoelectronic
|
January 15, 2021 to January 14, 2022
|
Others (3)
|
Project title
|
Domain of work |
Project/Sponsor
|
Duration
|
|
Oil & Water separation unit for Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd.
|
Membrane technology |
Prism Johnson Ltd. |
December 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021 |
|
Upgradation of glazing technology & application skills of glazing artisans employed in bone china tableware industries for improving the export potential of this labour intensive sector |
Rural Development |
M/s. Clay Craft (I) Pvt. Ltd, Jaipur |
March 24, 2021 to September 23, 2022
|
|
Skill development advance training to terracotta artisans in Rajasthan |
Rural Development |
M/s. Clay Craft (I) Pvt. Ltd, Jaipur |
March 26, 2021 to May 25, 2022
|
SCI
NON SCI
TOTAL
Patents filed in India: 4
1. Title:A method for safe disposal of arsenic rich sludge obtained from treatment of contaminated groundwater and its utilisationin developing heat protective glass
Inventors: A.K. Mandal, S. Ghosh
Application No. & date of filing: 202011056180 & 23-12-2020
2. Title:Highly sensitive optical fiberbragg grating accelerometer for structural health monitoring
Inventors: N. Basumallick, P. Biswas, S. Bandyopadhyay
Application No. & date of filing: 202111003501&26-01-2021
3. Title: A novel metal oxide-polymer nano composite for ammonia sensing at temperatures below ambient including sub-zero temperatures
Inventors: S.Mondal, N. Chakraborty
Application No. & date of filing: 202111015506 & 31-03-2021
4. Title: A process for the fabrication of ZnO-graphene based flexible strain and pressure sensor
Inventors: M. Majumder, S. Samanta, M. Baral Narjinary
Application No. & date of filing: 202111014941 &31-03-2021
Patents sealed in Abroad & India: 9
1. Title:Animproved method for fabricating rare earth doped optical fiber using a new codopant
Inventors: R. Sen, A. Dhar, M.C. Paul, H.S.Maiti
Country: E.Union
Patent No. & date: 2411340 & 09-12-2020
2. Title:Animproved method for fabricating rare earth doped optical fiber using a new codopant
Inventors: R. Sen, A. Dhar, M.C. Paul, H.S.Maiti
Country: UK
Patent No. & date: 2411340 & 09-12-2020
3. Title: Animproved method for fabricating rare earth doped optical fiber using a new codopant
Inventors: R. Sen, A. Dhar, M.C. Paul, H.S.Maiti
Country: France
Patent No. & date: 2411340 & 09-12-2020
4. Title: Thermally cyclable glass sealant composition for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell and a process thereof
Inventors: B. Karmakar, R.N. Basu, A. Tarafder, N. Sasmal, M. Garai
Country: India
Patent No. & date: 354624 & 29-12-2020
5. Title: A solid oxide fuel cell stack
Inventors: R.N. Basu, J. Mukhopadhyay, S. Das, P.K. Das, A. Das Sharma, T. Dey
Country: India
Patent No. & date: 355835 & 14-01-2021
6. Title:An improved process for production of dense high alumina refractory aggregates from sillimanite sand
Inventors: H.S. Tripathi, U. Roy, A. Ghosh
Country: India
Patent No. & date: 357415 & 01-02-2021
7. Title:Energy efficient soda lime silicate glass compositions using borax pentahydrate
Inventors: B. Karmakar, A.R. Molla, A. Tarafder, R. Sen
Country: Turkey
Patent No. & date: 2958866 & 10-03-2021
8. Title:Energy efficient soda lime silicate glass compositions using borax pentahydrate
Inventors: B. Karmakar, A.R. Molla, A. Tarafder, R. Sen
Country: Germany
Patent No. & date: 2958866 & 10-03-2021
9. Title:Energy efficient soda lime silicate glass compositions using borax pentahydrate
Inventors: B. Karmakar, A.R. Molla, A. Tarafder, R. Sen
Country: E. Union
Patent No. & date: 2958866 & 10-03-2021
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
1. Gopal Chandra Bhattacharyya Memorial Award– Shri Sitendu Mandal, Chief Scientist, Specialty Glass Division was conferred with the Gopal Chandra Bhattacharyya Memorial Award in recognition to his notable contributions in the field of “Science & Technology Research Development and Social Welfare Activities” by the Science Association of Bengal on 27th February 2021.
Shri S Mandal receiving the GCB Memorial Award
2. Deokaran Award – 2020 – A. Halder, B. Mandal, S. Mahanty, R. Sen & A.K. Mandal, authors of the paper entitled ‘A comparative property investigation of lithium phosphate glass melted in microwave and conventional heating’ published in Bulletin of Materials Science, Vol. 40 (5), pp. 999 – 1006 (2017) were awarded Deokaran Award – 2020 by Indian Ceramic Society on December 10, 2020.
Last Updated on May 24, 2021
