India became an independent nation 75 years ago today. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of India@ and the close bilateral relationship between Australia and India, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has partnered with the Academy to share the story of the close ties of scientific research between the two countries .
The result is a series of six videos showcasing an exciting cohort of Indian and Australian scientists and the diverse and valuable research they are undertaking. These videos tell how these researchers appreciate science and its importance for our future.
Academy Fellows Professor Mahananda Dasgupta (ANU), Dr. Surinder Singh (CSIRO) and Professor Veena Sahajwalla (UNSW Sydney) are Indo-Australian scientists at the forefront of groundbreaking research and are featured in the video “Science “Australia and India, who create a better future.”
From new technologies revolutionizing cancer treatment to developing sustainable omega-3 oils and green steel, their work is changing the world.
For Professor Sahajwalla, her passion for recycling waste – which led to the invention of sustainable materials – stems from her upbringing in Mumbai.
“It’s one of those things that, once in your DNA, never leaves,” she says.
Similarly, Dr. Singh was selected for India’s National Science Talent Program during his studies and used his innate curiosity to lead him into a career path in science, especially in plant molecular biology.
Nuclear physicist Professor Dasgupta also cannot separate his past in India from his successes in Australia.
“I always carry India with me because of the fundamental principles and perspectives that it instilled in me,” says Professor Dasgupta.
Other videos in the series detail collaborative research projects, including improving water quality, mapping wildfire-prone areas, and slowing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. The benefits of this research will be felt in Australia, India and around the world.
Drought protection crops in Australia and India
Dr. Gupta Vadakattu is a Senior Research Fellow at CSIRO Food and Agriculture, researching ways to improve crop health and ultimately yields.
Australian science tackling Ganges water quality
Dr. Anu Kumar is a Principal Investigator at CSIRO Land and Water. Her team examines the impact of chemicals from sewage and industry on our health and the environment. The research is an example of scientific collaboration between Australia and India to help address global health and environmental challenges.
Better data to fight fires in Australia and India
Scientific cooperation between Australia and India is strengthening bushfire adaptation efforts in both countries. Dr. Chandrama Sarker is a scientist on @CSIRO’s wildfire adaptation team. She understands how Australia can better map bushfire-prone areas and mitigate their impact.
Australian technology to slow the spread of dengue fever
Dr Prasad Paradkar is a senior research scientist at CSIRO’s Australian Center for Disease Control. His team is working to genetically engineer mosquitoes to prevent the transmission of diseases such as dengue and Zika.
Indo-Australian scientist to improve predictions of climate and air quality
Dr. Ashok Luhar works at @CSIRO’s Center for Climate Science, where he has studied the impact of greenhouse gases and air pollutants for over 30 years. His pioneering work has helped improve climate models in Australia and around the world.
The series was funded by DFAT and produced by the Australian Academy of Sciences. He would like to thank CSIRO for participating in the production of this series of content.
For more information on In[email protected] celebrations in Australia, please visit the DFAT website.