Chennai:  SRM University on  Thursday  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) for academic and research collaborations and for establishing meteorological tower in the University Campus.

Talking to reporters after the MoU function, IGCAR Director Dr Baldev Raj and SRM University Chancellor T R Pachamuthu and Vice-Chancellor Prof P Sathyanarayanan said as part of the MoU, a micro Meteorological Tower would be set up to check weather conditions and pollution levels.

The 15 metre high tower would be built by the IGCAR in the SRM premises at suburban Kattankualthur.

This tower would be the first of its kind in Chennai and it was being built as part of IGCAR’s atmospheric and environment monitoring programme.

The Micro Meteorological Tower would help in establishing surface, air and water pollution levels apart from helping urban planners on proper use of land space, Dr Baldev Raj said.

''Setting up of the tower, which will become functional in three months with an initial investment of Rs 20 lakh, will make industries and educational institutions, including schools, able to monitor pollution levels in the environment.' ''A prototype of the tower (15 metre high) would first be built. Later the actual tower, measuring 50 metre height, will be set up'', Dr Raj said.

The IGCAR was also planning to collaborate with research and educational institutions on designing a kit that would make it possible for even school children to test pollution levels. The kit would be made available at a cost of about Rs 10,000.
 
Earlier, speaking at the functon, Dr. Baldev Raj said atomic energy and material science had immense potential in touching the lives of people and for nation building. It could help in improving quality tests of fruits, vegetables and flowers exported from India, better diagnosis of cancer and diseases caused by inflammatory tissues and it was also possible to bring robust technologies at lower cost in the field of health care.

Dr Baldev Raj said India was second to none in establishing sodium-cooled fast reactors and that it was the first to master this technology ahead of the US and France. This not only speak volumes about the Indian scientific community's talent, but also proved that Indians could work as a team, he said, dismissing as myth, the criticisms that Indians could not work as a team.

''India has taken a lead. Tomorrow we want to be world leader in this technology. For this synergy is required and the national facility like IGCAR can be used as much as possible through such agreements'', he said.

In this context, he referred to the successful launch of Chandrayaan-I and said it was a classic example of team work.

Dr Baldev Raj also warned the students that science was not an easy subject.  He said ''on the contrary, science is a very difficult subject.

Being a scientist is not an easy job. You will have to work round the clock and throughout the year to achieve something. Then only you can realise your dream. Science is like climbing a mountain, which you love as you go up step by step'', he said.

Observing that addiction to Science was not bad, he said he wanted to make students get addicted to science and IGCAR was ready to enhance the students holistic education in science, which was relevent in all spheres of activity.

Vice Chancellor Prof Sathyanarayanan said SRM would soon introduce subjects in nuclear science and technology as electives before offering a full-fledged course at the post graduate-level.

Chancellor T R  Pachamuthu, speaking on the occasion, emphasised the importance of research, either by the faculty or the students, and said any University would be known by the level of research it was doing  and SRM University is trekking the path of research.

Earlier  Pro Vice Chancellor  Dr. T P Ganesan  welcomed the gathering  and highlighted the SRM University's strides to the gathering and Prof.  Sethuraman Registrar  proposed a vote of thanks.