Punjab Post Daily Online Newspaper & Print Media
Amritsar, February 20 (Punjab Post Bureau) – A seven days National workshop on “Radiochemistry and 
Application of Radioisotopes” was inaugurated in the Guru Nanak Dev University. This workshop is being organized by the Department of Physics of the University in association with the Indian Association of Nuclear Chemists and Allied Scientist (IANCAS), whose Head Quarter is at Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center ( BARC) Mumbai. As many as 45 faculty members from various universities & colleges of India were short listed to attend this workshop.
Dr. P. C. Kalsi the Coordinator of the workshop gave details about the various conferences held in collaboration with this university by DAE-BRNS. He said that Dr. Arnab Sarkar, another coordinator would conduct practicals alongwith technical lectures on experiments to experience radioactivity. He said that the purpose of the workshop is to popularize the subject of Nuclear Sciences and applications of Radioisotopes among Indian Universities and Colleges.
Dr. P.K Pujari, Director Radiochemistry & Isotope Group & Vice President of IANCAS and Sh. Vivek Bhasin, Director, Nuclear Fuel Group, BARC were the guests of honour on this occasion. Dr P. K. Punjari gave an excellent review about the activities of the IANCAS such as National workshops being organized in India from Kashmir to Kanaya Kumari, the various bulletins brought out and prizes given annually & biannually to research scholars , teachers and scientists in the field of Nuclear Sciences and applications of Radiosisotopes.
He said that the IANCAS also give the best thesis awards to the research scholars working in the field of nuclear sciences. Even the life time achievement awards are also given to the senior scientists and teachers who have contributed outstandingly in this field. He hoped that this programme will play a crucial role in motivating students towards research in the field of nuclear sciences. Sh. Vivek Bhasin from workshop spoke about Nuclear Reactors and their safety aspects.
Dr. Sarabjit Singh Chahal a renowned Agriculture Scientist and former Vice Chancellor of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur; Desh Bhagat University, Punjab; Sr. Vice President RBEF (Apex body for management of Amity Universities) and Professor Emeritus, Panjab University, Chandigarh presented their views about radioactivity origin and its wide range of applications in different fields like biological, agricultural and Physical Sciences. He suggested young minds should be vigilant & alert regarding the societycal issues.
Prof. Hardeep Singh, Dean Students’ Welfare assured the dignitaries that the University will provide the best facilities to the IANCAS team and the BARC team for organizing such workshop, which are quite beneficial for the teachers, scholars, students and society in general.
Keynote address on Radioactivity was given by Prof H.S. Virk, the founder Head of Physics Department and a renowned scientist in the field Nuclear Physics & Solid-state nuclear track detector (SSNTD). He also thrilled the audience with his rich experience and enthusiastic talk.
Prof Bikram Jit singh Bajwa, Dean Sciences and Director of the workshop introduced about the workshop and the seven resource persons who came from the from Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC). He said that this workshop is being a part of DAE-BRNS-IANCAS, will be providing a great forum for mutual interaction among BARC Scientists and the Faculty Members. He said that effects of radiation in Punjab will also be discussed alonwith precautions during this workshop.
