CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi, celebrated the 80th Foundation Day of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on 26 September 2021.
In her welcome address, Dr V. Saraswathy, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CECRI while welcoming the Chief Guests, elucidated to the audience the genesis of CSIR, its glorious past and the promising present. She felt extremely confident of a fruitful future for CSIR based on its rapid progress.
Dr N. Kalaiselvi, Director, CSIR-CECRI, in her presidential address quoted a recent article in the journal Nature which claims Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Intelligence (MI) are going to rule the entire world encompassing every aspect of Science and Technology which will also strengthen our self-reliance mantra. She also highlighted the flagship programmes of CSIR for farmers – Floriculture Mission, Aroma Mission, etc. enabling augmented incomes from agriculture.
She cited the technologies developed by CSIR-CECRI in the past concerning the strategic sector, such as the production of ammonium perchlorate which was used as fuel in rockets and electroplating on thrust chambers of cryogenic rocket engines. She fondly recalled the past visits of stalwarts of ISRO to CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi, for scientific and technical interventions in their strategic projects and hoped that this relationship would continue to flourish in the upcoming years as well.
She also appreciated the efforts of ISRO which is always thinking one step beyond the earth to excel in their space missions and remarked that ISRO is the first name that comes to everyone’s mind whenever there is a discussion on innovation, engineering excellence, patriotic fervour, etc.
Dr K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary, Department of Space, Bengaluru, was the Chief Guest of the event and delivering the 80th CSIR Foundation Day Lecture gave an inspiring speech sharing his journey in ISRO. He vividly recalled the training and guidance received from the pioneers in the space sector like Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr Satish Dhawan, Dr UR Rao, Dr MGK Menon, Dr Srinivasan, Dr Kasturirangan, Dr Radhakrishnan, Dr Madhavan Nair and Dr Kiran Kumar and how it moulded and helped him to overcome many obstacles in transforming many failures to success particularly the challenging GSLV Project.
Dr Sivan cited many success stories including SITARA — 6D trajectory simulation software which is the backbone of real-time and non-real-time trajectory simulations of all ISRO launch vehicles and the invention of “day-of launch wind biasing strategy,” which the whole world is trying to emulate now. He further stated that ISRO with its existing visions is also transforming its activities with industries in line with the Government of India’s Gaganyaan Mission, which would develop the space industry ecosystem resulting in higher revenue generation. He was optimistic that CSIR-CECRI will emerge as a major technology provider to ISRO in all its critical missions.
Er Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland Limited, Chennai, graced the occasion as a Guest of Honour. He claimed that CSIR-CECRI and Ashok Leyland have common passionate goals towards technological innovation. He talked about the future trends shaping the automotive industry and called for more industry-research-academia partnerships emphasising the concept of Create in India, Create for the World. He noted that the future of automobile industries would depend on green energy technologies and that the CSIR-CECRI’s role would be vital in the development of renewable energy sources especially in lithium-ion batteries.
On this occasion, the Annual Report (2020-21) of CSIR-CECRI was also released by the Chief Guest. The event concluded with the vote of thanks by Shri K.M. Sridhar, Controller of Administration, CSIR-CECRI.
