On Har Gobind Khorana’s 100th birthday we remember him: born in pre-partition India, worked in England, Switzerland, Canada, and the US. A popular account of his life and early work is an article by his friend and colleague Uttam RajBhandary in Resonance. ias.ac.in/article/fullte… Khorana went to Berkshire, England on an agriculture ministry scholarship for his Ph.D. to study insecticides and fungicides, but the positions were already taken by returning war veterans.

Professor G. N. Ramachandran was born OTD 99 years ago. It will be fitting if he were to get formal recognition now for his many contributions. Doing so will elevate the awards, as this great scientist’s work is already widely recognized in India and abroad. An obituary written by his colleague Professor M. Vijayan (nature.com/articles/35079…) is a pithy summary of one aspect of a full scientific life that will take a tome to elaborate and understand in its fullness and diversity.

1/n Please disseminate, and importantly, implement and help others implement. Let's make sure masks of quality are available and used well. Distancing and ventilation enabled. Essential supplies made available with no congregation at shops. Facilitate while being considerate. 2/n The virus spreads through saliva and nasal respiratory discharge. Mutations can make new ‘variants of concern.’ Some variants may have higher transmission and infection rates. Transmission of variants too can be crushed if we rigorously follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

Points repeatedly highlighted yesterday need to be headlined. All must work *together* now, address urgent, immediate, needs. This is vital. Reduce, crush pandemic by following *appropriate behaviour now* rigorously everywhere. The virus spreads through us. We must, can stop it. 2/n Repeat: This a time for us to all work together and ensure that we, India and the world, get out of this pandemic. Analysing the past and predicting the future are useful. But, we should also not get our eyes off the task at hand.

Thread "The pandemic has led to a compact between scientists and people. Now we must not go back to the 2019 mindset" My op-ed in today's @htTweets
hindustantimes.com/opinion/covid-… The conclusion: 2/n Investment in science must, and will, grow. This is an insurance policy for future crises, both foretold and unforeseen. Here, India must lead and increase our commitment to science and, very importantly, its ease of functioning.

With the passing of Khadg Singh Valdiya we have lost a Himalayan scholar and a scholar of Himalayan proportions. Born in Myanmar he returned to his native Pithoragarh and then studied at Lucknow University where he completed his Ph.D. Valdiya was a geologist focusing on sediments and tectonics. His research interests were wide. He helped establish and grow the best geology institutions in the country and found a welcoming research abode after retirement @jncasr where he continued to be productive.

Thread. With Professor Govind Swarup’s demise, the world of astronomy has lost a great scientist, institution-, and telescope- builder. Ever-smiling, not one to take a no for anything he wanted to be done, he took on many impossible tasks, inspired colleagues to accomplish them.1 There is much to know about this life fully lived. In a tribute to Govind on his 90th birthday, last year, Wayne Orchiston and Sudhir Phakatkar recount his scientific journey old.narit.or.th/en/files/2019J… … a must-read. Excerpts from this in quotes below. 2/n

@DrRPNishank जी, आपकी टीम और आपके नेतृत्व को, राष्ट्रीय शिक्षा नीति 2020 के लिए बधाई। यह शुरुआती चरणों से समावेशी, गुणवत्तापूर्ण शिक्षा का मार्ग दिखाता है। मैं और मेरे सहयोगी अब इसके सभी पहलुओं पर काम करने के लिए तत्पर हैं और नए राष्ट्रीय अनुसंधान फाउंडेशन को भी आगे ले जा रहे हैं @DrRPNishank திரு நிஷாங்க் அவர்கலை தேசிய கல்வி கொள்கை 2020 க்கு உங்கள் குழுவினருக்கும் உங்கள் தலைமைக்கும் வாழ்த்துக்கள். இந்தக் கல்விக் கொள்கை ஆரம்ப கட்டங்களிலிருந்து உள்ளடக்கிய, தரமான கல்விக்கான பாதையை காட்டுகிறது.

Thread: The passing of Professor C. S. Seshadri is a great loss to mathematics in particular and to science and teaching in general. He was among those who built the TIFR School of Mathematics to global acclaim. 1/5 Not content with his extraordinary and widely recognized contributions through research, he established the Chennai Mathematical Institute, now a recognized powerhouse of undergraduate education, and research. 2

Today’s Cabinet approved reforms in the space sector are an important step in expanding India’s space-related capabilities, by inviting and enabling the private sector to participate. (1/n) pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa… ISRO has built capabilities in the country, inspiring generations of Indians by its extraordinary achievements over the years. Innovations in telecommunications and remote-sensing have enriched our lives for decades, without us giving much thought to the tech behind it. 2/n

A morning well spent at the @CSIR_IND Science centre, under the tutelage of @desiastronomer and team, Shakeel and Shishir @sparkastronomy, who brought their 6" reflecting telescope, Dobsonian mount. Aryan setting up the telescope, a simple device (we should manufacture here.) At 11:51:43 with Arayan's SLR attached to the telescope.

Important. Increasing the number of testing labs. Testing for the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19 typically involves four-steps: Sample collection, isolation of the viral genetic material, performing the RT-PCR test, and documenting the results and conveying them. Over the years many ministries, departments and science agencies, have invested in creating a science infrastructure of a scale and depth we should all be proud of. This infrastructure can, today, be used for setting up many more testing sites for COVID-19 across the country.

Thread. As we go forward with our efforts against COVID-19, this is the time for concerted action and unity. Views that principally pivot on action through science are very necessary and welcome. All other differences are best set aside now. We are in this together, must work together. Facilitate, collectively, the implementation of decisions. In matters relating to protecting our communities, there can be no room for flexible interpretations that dilutes effectiveness. Scientists must convey this clearly, resolutely

Thread AarogyaSetu App. This epidemic has to be stopped by intelligence and speedy action. For that, we need to use the best and most appropriate technology to empower all our people. Aarogya Setu is the bridge that connects you, in this epidemic, to our health system. 1 It is fast, it is efficient and its pan-India reach allows preventive action to reach every corner fast. It has been created with speed and quality by our brightest young engineers. By using AarogyaSetu we look after each of us and our future.

Many have asked about what scientists in India are doing on COVID-19. What does their work mean for our current-management during and after the lockdown? What are the treatments that could emerge, and is a vaccine likely? 1 There are two requirements for success. The first is a shared sense of purpose with our people, all humanity, particularly the poor and vulnerable. The second is the ability to take well-thought-out steps. Both are needed to pushback the disease. Our scientists have both. 2

The press-briefing by @MoHFW_INDIA @ICMRDELHI @ProfBhargava was calm, professional, comprehensive, reassuring, The process of attending to international travelers, quarantine, symptoms, and testing; attending to those who test positive, were outlined. 1 Testing resources have been greatly expanded. Further, detailing of isolation-hospitals, beds, of ventilators, and other hospital-equipment requirements, etc., have been carried out both by the GoI and by State Governments. Cabinet Secretary met State Chief Secretaries on video.2

In India’s efforts against the SARS-CoV2 and the Covid-19 disease the Government in general and the Ministry of Health and ICMR in particular has used scientific evidence and tools for planning and action. Our fullest support to them and all our healthcare professionals. India’s scientists are with them in thought and through action.

1/n Thread. Science and Covid-19. You are all aware of the measures the Government is taking on COVID-19. These efforts coordinate all sections of our Central and State Governments and include public and private agencies. Your views, suggestions always receive careful attention. 2/n The government’s steps are routinely communicated by the @drharshvardhan @MoHFW_INDIA @ICMRDELHI The efforts of our clinicians and health workers will benefit greatly by effective and speedy inputs from science, technology, and innovation (STI).

Happy Women’s Day, everyone. There are many, many women whose lives we celebrate today while we, very importantly, introspect on what we need to do in our institutions to have a truly inclusive workplace. #IWD2020 Pix: from @TIGS_India Here are two women who have risen in their fields, while changing their institutions. They are inspiring to all of us in their demonstrated ability to handle quagmires and pull others up. Ms. Sonali Kadam and Lt. Gen Madhuri Kanitkar. #IWD2020

1/n Thread. Cabinet approved a 12-Member Technology Group (TG) with the Principal Scientific Adviser as Chair. 6 Secretaries from Technology and Science Departments as members. The TG will invite other Secretaries, 5 (industry and academia ) experts as needed. 2/n The TG will examine technologies valuable for the economy and society, and advice on their procurement and deployment in the most efficient manner. On this, the TG will get inputs from the PM-STIAC, and act in a complementary manner.

1/n “..There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, 2…from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” Charles Darwin. His (and Alfred Russel Wallace’s) field observations transformed our understanding.(They were big-data scientists, ahead of their time).Pix BennyShilo