Photonics Sensors Technologies for Environmental Monitoring and Homeland
Security Workshop, March 1-March 2nd, 2011 Delhi

The purpose of the project was to develop a long-term bi-lateral partnership plan and
create opportunities between several Canadian and Indian institutions in the area of
development of photonic and biological sensors as related to homeland security,
atmospheric/environmental sensing and life sciences research through the exchange of
technological expertise and leading to measurable economic benefits.
The workshop was organized with the purpose of building partnerships and identifying
new partners from academia and/or industry with the intent to build synergy, capacity
and charter the roadmap for long-term partnerships, as well as well-funded and selfsustained
research and development projects.
The lead organizer in India is SAMEER (Society for Applied Microwave Electronics
Engineering and Research) but the involvement of other organizations was essential to
the success of the workshop.

The workshop assisted in bringing researchers face to face from a large number of
different institutions in India and therefore allowed for the maximum number of
interactions between researchers, industry, business community and government
officials.

Achieved:
1. MOU agreement signed with the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras that will
include faculty exchanges, student exchanges and collaborative research
projects between Faculty of Science and Engineering at York University and IIT
Madras.
2. e-WARN project development plan has been proposed with the aim of a
functional system by late 2011. The major challenges in the technology have
been identified including the reduction in response time, which is currently at 7
seconds. In order to decrease the response time (between 0.5 and 1.5 sec), new
sensors will need to be explored including laser-, lidar-, biological-, and
photonics-base. The follow up will include the set up of joint committees to lead
each initiative. Dr. J. Kozinski, Ms J. Chande (SAMEER), and Dr. W.
Selvamurthy (DRDO) will appoint a leader for each committee to lead individual
sub-projects. SAMEER has been chosen to lead the sensor development.
Another important aspect of the e-WARN system focused on advanced modeling
of public health/security scenarios will be co-lead by York and DRDO. This effort
will be supported by the involvement of other education and research institutions
including McGill University, Concordia University, University of Saskatchewan,
and NRC – Biotechnology Research Institute (from Canada) and IIT-Madras, IITMumbai
and IISc (from India).
3. The panel discussed the proposal for the creation of a new Indo-Canadian
Consortium of Excellence (ICE), which would be a coordinating and an
integrating body facilitating interactions between Canada and India in the area of
Science and Engineering.
4. A strong research alignment and interests in the areas of sensor development,
advanced instrumentation and environmental monitoring, have been specified
between SAMEER and York researchers with the aim to sign an MOU during the
upcoming Canadian workshop.
5. A strong partnership has been established between York and ISRO researchers
with a mutual agreement for launch opportunities in India with a Canadian
payload. The focus is on micro- and nano-satellites.
6. Opportunities for collaboration in the broad area of life sciences were identified
including disease modeling, neuroscience, biomarkers, endocrinology,
bioinformatics, and infectious diseases. A plan has been developed to consider
these areas as a priority for the future workshop.
7. International exchanges of scientists, post-docs and post-graduate students were
discussed. They constitute an integral part of collaborations between all partners.
The need for an MOU was brought forward with the aim to sing one by the time
the workshop in Canada takes place (likely in June 2011).
8. Visits of several scientist from India have been confirmed including Dr.
Subrahmanyan (IIT – Madras), and Dr. Tripathi (INMAS). Both visits are
schedule for May/June 2011.

We made it to Delhi! Now, as promised, here are some photos from Mumbai (after the jump).

It's been another busy and fruitful day here in India.

A group of us started our 3rd day in India with a short flight from Channai to Mumbai. We were greeted at the TIFR, as Dr. Eckford described below. Afterward, we visited SAMEER prior to the dinner reception.

The team was greeted by a group of scientists and directors from SAMEER, who described their current research interests in several areas including instrument development for atmospheric studies and fiber-optic gyroscope designs. Dean Kozinsky also presented the current research initiatives at York University. The detailed discussion on specific projects will follow.

Regina

The teams joined today in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai.  The Calcutta team arrived later than expected due to a lengthy flight delay, but this neither dampened spirits nor prevented an afternoon of productive meetings at the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research.  After a rush-hour traffic adventure back to our hotel in Powai, we met for drinks and dinner with a delegation from SAMEER, where many of us will be visiting tomorrow.

The Calcutta team -- Sheila Embleton, Gerald Audette, Sampa Bhadra, and myself (Andrew Eckford) -- just wrapped up a productive and interesting day of meetings across this amazing West Bengal capital.

Through visits to two campuses each of the University of Calcutta and the Bose Institute, the theme of the day was "nanotechnology". I spoke about my recent work in nanoscale networking via molecular communication, while Gerald spoke about his work on protein nanotubes and their applications to nanosensors and other nanodevices.  Talks were well attended and featured extensive discussion with local researchers in these fields.  We also had the opportunity to tour the University of Calcutta's new Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, still under construction but with an impressive array of equipment already installed.

We leave in the morning for Mumbai (except Gerald, who will be spending the day in Pondicherry), but I'm already looking foward to coming back.  Photos after the jump.

Chennai, India

The FSE delegation, led by Dean Janusz Kozinski, has had another successful day in India. An MOU has been signed with IIT Madras that will allow for research partnerships, and student and faculty exchanges between FSE and IIT Madras. More official MOU press coverage is expected in the upcoming days.

During the meetings and presentations, areas of mutual research interests were identified and invaluable connections have been made. Our hosts were extremely hospitable and the visit was a wonderful experience as we wandered through the campus which is surrounded by a beautiful forest filled with wildlife including deer and monkeys.

IIT Madras web-site

The busy schedule continues and we are off to Mumbai early Friday morning.

It's 2:30 AM here in Calcutta, and Gerald and I just arrived.  More details tomorrow!

Feb 23, Bangalore-Chennai

The Dean's Delegation had an exciting day in Bangalore with a vist to ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation.

Our engineers (Regina Lee, Brian Solheim and Sunil Bisnath) were beaming with excitment as they presented opportunties for potential collaborative projects.

We then had a wonderful and spicy Indian food. The city is very vibrant and in contant motion.

Next, we took a short flight to Chennai and now are ready for only a few hours of sleep before our visit to IIT Madras.

Picture: Meeting with Researchers and Directors and ISRO

Gerald and I made it to Frankfurt.  We're now halfway through our 20-hour travel day.  Some pictures after the jump.