The 82nd Foundation Day of CSIR was celebrated at the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTech) with a prestigious Foundation Day lecture delivered by Prof. Rudra Pratap, Vice Chancellor, Plaksha University, Mohali, on “Education and Research in the Age of AI” that called for preparedness for radical changes in education and research in the face of enormous possibilities due to Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Prof. Pratap, in his talk, made some important reflections on how the first two decades of the 21st century have ushered in tectonic shifts in how the world operates through rapid changes brought by digital technologies. In his address, he outlined that breakthrough technologies of AI shall power the coming decade and be a dominant force in all aspects of research.

Dr Ashwani Kumar, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-IMTech, who has been recently conferred the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award for the year 2022, in the field of Biological Sciences, also delivered a talk on his research findings. This award has been given for his significant contributions to TB pathophysiology, especially the role of biofilm-induced infections.

Dr Sanjeev Khosla, Director, IMTech, while welcoming the guests and faculty to CSIR's Foundation Day, apprised the audience of CSIR’s service to the nation in the last eight decades and how scientific and technological interventions from CSIR have helped society. In his welcome address, he highlighted the synergistic partnerships that have strengthened the CSIR system through inter-lab collaborations and helped promote interdisciplinary research.

As part of the celebrations, CSIR-IMTech also felicitated its retirees and employees who have completed 25 years of service. The institute also awarded mementoes to wards of its staff for their outstanding performances in various sporting events held at the state and national levels.