A 'practical' experience by a researcher

Updated on: Monday, February 06, 2012

I have been pursuing my research in material chemistry for the last three years at Central College, Bangalore University . I am working under the guidance of Prof P Vishnu Kamath and we work on the structure of layered materials. A typical example of layered material is graphite where the layers of carbon are stacked one above the other.

I came to know about the research visit when I was attending the Nobel Laureates' Meet in Lindau in 2010 as a student representative from India. This programme was initiated in 2010 by DFG (The German Research Foundation), which offers an opportunity to participants from India attending the Nobel meet.

Since 2001, every year, after the meeting in Lindau, during the second week, participants are taken around to various German research institutes. After the visit, they are asked to choose one of the laboratories that could be relevant to their work. Accordingly , they are required to submit a proposal.

Soon after the visit from the Nobel Laureates' meeting, I submitted a research proposal to DFG. As to why I got selected, I feel that my proposal reflected a lot of intersecting points between my research and the work that is being done at the German host's lab.

From 2011, DST and DFG have been jointly sponsoring up to a maximum of five Lindau alumni wanting to do further research in Germany. They can apply under 'Initiation and Intensification of Bilateral Cooperation.'
The lab I visited in Germany, has researchers specialising in cationic clays, which are clay minerals where the layers are negatively charged. Their expertise is extended in the fields of pillaring of clays (a long chain of molecules is inserted so that they can act as pillars) and de-lamination of clays (layers stacked one above another, with a weak interaction, are set apart).

My stay in Germany has been a learning experience both academically and personally . The visit has helped me in developing my personal skills such as the technical and communication skills. To sum up, the experience will help me in my future scientific endeavours.

An advice to my Indian counterparts, unfortunately , there is a lack of awareness and most research scholars are unaware of the opportunities available. While young scholars should make it a point to interact with other research students to find out about such initiatives, they should also regularly look up for updates on the DST (Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India) website.

Times of India

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12