Manoj Godara, Chandigarh, October 27: Internationally renowned scientist, Professor Ajay K. Sood, recipient of over a score of prestigious national awards and a number of national and international fellowships was today honoured by the Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.C. Sobti by bestowing on him Visiting Professorship of the university. Prof. Sood was honoured in the presence of two former Vice-Chancellors of the Panjab University Prof. R.P. Bambah and Prof. K.N. Pathak at the Golden Jubilee Hall packed with a gathering of students, faculty and other important persons. The Vice-Chancellor informed the audience that the eminent scientist, an alumnus of this university, would be felicitated by conferment of the Vigyan Rattan Award on him at the forthcoming Convocation about which the Syndicate and Senate has already accorded approval. Professor Sood is currently a senior scientist at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Prof. Sood, a speaker at the distinguished lecture series being organised by the university under the DST PURSE programme of the union government focused his talk mainly on “Nano-Avatars of Carbon” and discussed development of newer forms of carbon, nanotubes and their properties. The scientist explained qualities of Raman spectroscopy which has proven a boon for nanotechnologists. Revealing important properties of graphene and its electronic structure, Prof. Sood said the material could be of immense value in X-ray diffraction and electrical measurements. Interacted with water, nanotubes can convert mechanical energy into electrical. Sensors can also be devised to measure human breath. Prof. Sood talked of “artificial noses” which could be developed for the detection of explosive materials by the defence and security personal
Thanking the versatile scientist, Prof. Sobti said there was an answer to many health problems like cancer, arthritis etc. in nanotechnology and the work of the noted scientist was a sure bet. Prof. A.S. Ahluwalia, Dean, Faculty of Science and Prof. J.B. Singh, Director, Central Instrumentation Laboratory of the University, the chief organizers were also present.