March 6, 2002

‘13’

SECOND INDO-US SCIENCE FORUM GOVERNING BODY MEET

    The second meeting of the Governing Body of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum is proposed to be held here on the 18^th and 19^th of this month. This is to give further directions to the Forum for taking up future scientific activities. A round table of eminent scientists and representatives from Indian and US industry is also to be held on the occasion. The aim of the round table is to provide a focussed direction to the perspective of Indo-US interactions and charting out an effective role for the forum and facilitate bilateral scientific and technological collaboration.

    The Forum is slated to finalise a number of collaborative programmes during the year i.e. joint workshops and projects in genomics, IT-based long-distance learning, novel materials, digital library, molecular genetics of eye diseases as well as fuel cells. New initiatives to set up joint centres of excellence in Nano-materials, Nano-scintillators and Climate modelling will also be taken up during the period. Creation of a comprehensive electronic database on Indian Science and Technology diaspora and a series of lectures by distinguished scientists from both the sides, also form part of the activities of the Forum for the year.

    The first governing body meeting of the Forum with Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Scientific Advisor to the US Secretary of State as Co-chairmen was held in New Delhi in March last giving functional and scientific directions to the Forum. The Forum, which has six members from each side, identified certain emerging areas like, nano-technology, nano-computing, brain research, weather and climate modelling and ocean development especially, transmission and utilisation of ocean data required for modelling studies, for collaboration. The forum was set up during President Clinton’s visit to New Delhi in 2000.