Bio-Asia 2011
Scientists told to improve life of common man
Photo: G. Krishnaswamy
Top-notcher: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan giving away Dr. YSR Innovation award to Reddy Chaitanya at valedictory of Bio-Asia 2011 on Thursday. Also seen is Prof. D. Balasubramanian of LV Prasad Eye Institute.
HYDERABAD: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan has asked bio-technologists and scientists to ensure that the fruits of research and development touched the lives of common man and bring about visible improvements.
In his valedictory address at Bio Asia 2011 that concluded here on Thursday, he said the world awaited major breakthroughs in the biotechnology domain at affordable costs. The twin challenges before agri-bio scientists and technologists today were shrinking land and a burgeoning population. In the field of medicine, the challenge was coming up with products that had the efficiency to hold off attacks from virus and improve longevity at costs within the reach of the common man, Mr. Narasimhan said.
Director of Research, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, D. Balasubramanian said 45 per cent of the world's vaccines were from Hyderabad and explained how the city had become a BT hub. He took the audience, comprising delegates from 38 countries and students from the State, on a 60-year journey of biotechnology, with development of vaccines and medicines for various diseases, its inputs in the green revolution and development of high-yielding crop varieties.
Ambassador of Georgia, Zurab Katchkatchishvili said his country would participate in the prestigious event when it was held next. “We will be present to share our modest success in the sector and learn a lot from India's experiences,” he said.Bio Asia's Convenor B.S. Bajaj said that for the first had the event had attracted delegates from China, apart from having a 20-member group from Iran. The Iranian stalls got the Best Trade show award. The YSR Innovation Award was bagged by Reddy Chaitanya, a young student of dentistry from Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram for her invention of a ‘manually-operated mobile air compressor' to help in dental procedures, while the Bio Asia Young Minds award went to Vignesh Sridharan, a student of Class XII in Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Chennai
