Chairperson of Indian Space Research Organisation and Space Commission A.S. Kiran Kumar has stressed on the need for “flexibility” to adapt scientific and technological innovations to remain competitive in the fast changing world of technological advancements.
Addressing the a gathering of academicians, educationists, entrepreneurs, administrative and business leaders and meritorious students at the 15th annual convocation of the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) here on Friday, he quoted former President and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who once remarked: “Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us… In this world, fear has no place, only strength respects strength.”
Portraying how innovations in science and technology were playing catalytic role in steering country’s economic growth and social development, he said globalisation had unleashed an era of competition amongst countries to grab the emerging opportunities and advantages. This meant that the countries need to produce cost-effective products and services with the help of scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Mr. Kumar said the Indian space programme was essentially demand-driven, oriented towards development of the nation. ISRO had designed and developed indigenous systems and applications for the benefit of society. Today, India had been rated as one of the top six countries having the end-to-end capability in space technology:
“We have shown to the world how the advances in space technology and applications can be tailored to take care of common problems. ISRO is carrying out operational disaster management support programme addressing natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, landslides, earthquakes, agricultural drought, forest fires, etc. with the help of space-based images,” he said.
He said a constellation of 13 Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites were in the orbit, covering the whole globe and providing data to cater to various applications ranging from agriculture, water resources, bio-resources, urban planning, environment monitoring, study of earth sciences and ocean and atmosphere, navigation, etc.
To students, he advised them to work hard and relentlessly strive for knowledge and acumen to excel in their chosen spheres of life.
He later said that ISRO was embarking on developing the next generation heavy lift launch vehicle – GSLV Mk III. This will establish ISRO’s indigenous capability in launching four-tonne class communication satellites. The first experimental flight of GSLV Mk III was on December 18, 2014, which validated the complex atmospheric regime of flight and demonstrated its integrity.
Governor and Chancellor of VTU Vajubhai Vala conferred degrees to the students and presented gold medals to the rank holders on the occasion. Acting Vice-Chancellor V. Sridhar and Registrar (Evaluation) H.G. Shekharappa were present.
