Category Archives: Science & Technology

Mahbubnagar Professor Named Fulbright Specialist Roster

Education, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

An Indian-American professor hailing from Mahbubnagar district in Telangana has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Roster for his achievements in the field of pharmacy.

Rajender R Aparasu is the first pharmacy faculty member at the University of Houston selected to be the candidate roster of the Fulbright Specialist Programme, which helps US faculty share their academic expertise and develop linkages with non-US institutions on curriculum, assessment, faculty development and research training.

The Fulbright programme, which is funded by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, serves to promote international engagement of academic scholarship and build linkages between the US and overseas institutions. “There are very few Fulbright Specialists in pharmacy, I am really honoured to be selected for Fulbright Specialist Roster,” said Aparasu.

This is a great opportunity to offer my expertise in developing professional and graduate pharmacy programmes that involve pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy,” said Aparasu, whose five-year term runs through 2021.

Aparasu completed his school education in Hyderabad, and got his B Pharm degree from Kakatiya University in Warangal. He studied M Pharm at Jadavpur University in Kolkata and obtained Ph D in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Louisiana-Monroe in the USA and joined UHCOP in 2006 after serving as a faculty at the South Dakota State University for more than a decade.

His primary areas of expertise include pharmacoepidemiology, geriatrics, psychopharmacology and evidence-based medicine.

Aparasu’s current research project, supported by an R01 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is evaluating safety profiles of anticholinergic medications in the elderly nursing home residents.“Dr Aparasu’s selection as a Fulbright Specialist validates his professional accomplishments and enhances our the institutional profile. I am glad he now joins such a select group of outstanding US academicians and scholars that will soon engage in collaborative endeavours,” said Jaime Ortiz, UH vice provost for Global Strategies and Studies.

Aparasu has authored or coauthored nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and seven book chapters. He was made Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association (FAPhA) for his exemplary professional achievements and contribution to the pharmacy profession.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 03rd, 2016

Thorium Found in Bayyaram

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

The accidental discovery of Thorium deposits by the Geological Survey on India in Bayyaram of Khammam district has taken the government by surprise. The Thorium reserves were earlier found only in sea coast area of Andhra Pradesh. This surprise information came to light when the government had commissioned the Geological Survey of India to survey Bayyaram to estimate the quality and quantity of iron ore available there for setting up a steel plant. Thorium is used as fuel in nuclear plants.

The state government is planning to seek the help of Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) to make further studies on the quantity and quality of Thorium available in Bayyaram. It will also ask the AMD to find out whether Thorium reserves are available in any other part of the state, besides Bayyaram.

‘’Thorium is available in the sea coast area in AP from Srikakulam to Nellore district. It will be found in beach sand,” official sources told Express on Saturday. Meanwhile, the official sources said that the GSI survey on iron ore availability was continuing in Bayyaram area. The report of GSI on iron ore is likely to be available in the coming months. Setting up of steel plant by the Central government in Bayyaram will be decided only after the GSI report is out.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 03rd, 2016

IIIT-H Launches ‘Avishkar’ to Encourage Deep Domain Startups

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

With an aim to encourage startups working in deep domain technology, the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) launched one of the first accelerator programme named ‘Avishkar’ here on Friday.

The programme launched in partnership with 50K ventures, T Hub and Co-creation Consulting will be a 6-month programme and will be open for startups working on machine learning and AR/VR (Augmented and Virtual Reality) technologies like image and speech recognition and natural language processing.

Revealing details about the accelerator programme, IIIT dean Prof. Vasudev Varma said that the programme is designed to help entrepreneurs.

Ramesh Loganathan, board member of IIIT-H Foundation said that Deep-tech solutions are the answer to the most complex problems of modern technology. “IIIT Hyderabad as a research institute enables a supportive atmosphere for startups working in areas of deep-tech. These startups would be hand-picked, funded and mentored by the IIIT-H Foundation, he said. Under the programme, the investment committee will select up to 10 startups over a period of one year. Each startup will be given a seed fund of `10 lakh, wherein IIIT-H Foundation and 50K Ventures will co-invest .The investment will be in the form of a convertible note, which is considered more startup friendly. Other partners will be taken on board in case there is a requirement of more seed funding for the startups.

Srinivas Kollipara, one of the founders of T-Hub, said the programme will encourtage startups working on deeper issues. “There are deep problems existing in the society and nobody is ready to tackle these issues. With this program, we would encourage startups working on deeper issues and they will be able to avail the benefit of the large business mentor network of T-Hub,” he explained. The application process will start on April 10 and close on April 30. Those shortlisted will be announced on May 10.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 02nd, 2016

This app offers trial before purchase!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Akash Agarwal, Prashant Surana Jain and Sandeep Singh,co-founders of Snapper Technologies. -Photo: by arrangement
Akash Agarwal, Prashant Surana Jain and Sandeep Singh,co-founders of Snapper Technologies. -Photo: by arrangement

Snapper will be launched in April on Android and iOS platforms

If purchased goods can be home-delivered so can the products worth a trial. Now, order any number of items ranging from jewellery to apparel to even electronic gadgets and wait to try it out at a comfortable location for free. That too, within 40 minutes of placing the order, promises the team behind the mobile app, Snapper which is to be launched in April first week on Android and iOS platforms.

The city-based co-founder of the startup, Snapper Technologies, Prashant Surana informed that the ‘Try It Now’ feature on their app will let the users get access to dozens of stores across the city.

“The customers can order items from multiple stores and they don’t have to necessarily buy it after trying them,” said Mr. Surana. “Nowadays, travelling in traffic consumes a lot of time. Instead of physically going to various shops, the users can make their homes in to trial rooms without paying a penny. We have our own logistics team to make sure the products quickly reach the users.”

Not just the shoppers, but the app is blessing in disguise for the vendors too, according to Mr. Surana.

“By tying up with the vendors, we have provided them with the revolutionary customer relationship management tool. They will become more organised and can track down their customers residing nearby and connect with them through push notifications and messages. They can know the purchase habits of the customers too. Since we are taking care of logistics, they do not have to spend on delivery boys,” said Mr. Surana. Through their one-of-its-kind digital payment options, ‘Kwik Pay’, the users also can recharge to shop more and receive discounts.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Rahul Devalapalli / Hyderabad – March 29th, 2016

T-Hub Charters Global Waters, Signs Pact With Tat Capital

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

In order to facilitate trade and investment between Australia, New Zealand and the Indian subcontinent, the country’s largest start-up incubator T Hub here on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tat Capital, a corporate advisory firm.

The MoU facilitates T-Hub’s start-ups access with Tat Capital’s global family office and investor network, connects T-Hub’s start-ups with globally recognised Australian growth companies with next generation innovations to explore acquisition, partnerships and strategic investment ideas, and connects T-Hub’s start-up and VC community with Australian VC, private equity and family office investors to cross-pollinate ideas, technology and capital between the regions.

Speaking on the ocassion, Jay Krishnan, CEO, T-Hub said, “Entrepreneurs are always breaking boundaries and this is another geographical barrier that we hope entrepreneurs in India, especially T-Hub, will cross and help us establish a long standing relationship with Australia and New Zealand.”

“ This also provides them with an opportunity to sail in uncharted waters. We look forward to this association with Tat Capital.”

Tat Capital co-founder Ram Gorlamandala said the new agreement was testament to the growing interest in cross-border opportunities between the three countries.

“India is a natural fit in many ways for Australian business, and vice versa,” he said.

“In recent times we haven’t seen the level of interest in India that it warrants, but this is changing rapidly,” he added.

The MoU will allow Tat Capital to offer Australian businesses access to Indian expertise from the Indian School of Business, Indian Institute of Information Technology, and the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research.

Australian companies will be able to utilize resources in Indian business, technology, intellectual property and legal frameworks to start or improve their businesses in India.

Tat Capital, along with number of prominent and listed Australian, New Zealand and Indian businesses, will host a business insights tour to Hyderabad next month.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / March 08th, 2016

TSRTC bags mileage award

Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation that operates about 10,500 buses post its bifurcation from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State RTC, consumes an estimated 6 lakh litres of high speed diesel (HSD) to transport slightly-over 90 lakh passengers every day.

While it may initially appear as if the huge buses that occupy more than the road width across the State may be guzzling HSD, it is interesting to note that with some coordination between drivers and the backroom boys who keep the engines, the brakes and the clutch plates particularly, the corporation’s buses manage to get over 5 km per litre (KMPL) of diesel.

A feather on the TSRTC’s cap within a year of bifurcation is that it bagged two prestigious awards among the 60 State Road Transport Undertakings across the country – the highest KMPL award for mofussil services by extracting a record 5.46 KMPL in the category of a fleet strength of 4,001-10,000 buses.

It also got the runner-up award for maximum improvement of fuel efficiency in the same category for 2014-15, up from 5.41 to 5.46 KMPL, said Managing Director G.V. Ramana Rao.

When contacted, Executive Director-Engineering and Secretary to the Board, M. Ravinder said that the fuel bill per day itself works out to approximately Rs. 3 crore a day, including the 24 per cent sales tax that the corporation is forced to pay.

For the past two decades or so, even while it was the erstwhile APSRTC, there has been a consistent demand pending with the Government of India for a reduction in sales tax. Being a part of the Indian Railways, South Central Railway runs its trains by paying only 4 per cent sales tax for the HSD it consumes.

Practically every senior officer repeats this fact, wishing for a windfall every time the price of HSD is increased!

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – March 08th, 2016

Hyderabad-based plastic recycling start-up Banyan Nation bags $800K funding

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Hyderabad:

City-based waste management startup Banyan Nation announced that it has bagged $800,000 in its first fund raise from Jaideep Khanna, co-founder, president and managing partner of Artha Capital Management Inc and these funds will be used to scale up its business.

According to the company, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), Shujog and global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts have assisted in raising funds and mentoring the startup.

Banyan Nation claims to be one of the first firms in India to use technology, both at the back-end and front-end, to ensure that plastic waste is not just recycled but also ‘upcycled’.

Banyan Nation founder and chief executive officer Mani Vajipey pointed out that the startup tries to address challenges of the unorganised plastic recycling sector by offering solutions for three stages of plastic recycling business — collection, recycling and selling recycled plastic to companies.

At the front-end, it has used technology to map the network of kabadiwalas, who supply plastic waste to the company and at the back-end, it deploys technology to ensure that the waste plastic is graded, which results in recycled plastic being of superior quality.

The startup has a plastic recycling plant on the outskirts of the city that has a capacity to recycle 300 tonnes of waste plastic per month. Currently, it is processing 100 tonnes of plastic waste per month.

“We are operating in an unorganised sector and it is a low margin and high volume business. We have over 20 small and medium sized local firms that procure recycled plastic from us. Now, we are targeting players from pharma, auto and FMCG sector,” Vajipey added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / by Swati Rathor / TNN / March 03rd, 2016

Prestigious honour for OU academic

Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

Dr. C. Manoharachary, senior scientist of National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), was recently awarded ‘Indian Phytopathological Society Recognition Award’ for the year 2015 in recognition of his services to the field of plant pathology.

The Indian Phytopathological Society conferred the prestigious honour on him in New Delhi recently, informed a press release from Dr. Pratibha Sharma, secretary of the society.

Dr. Manocharachary did his post doctoral work in Germany. An acknowledged academic in his own right, Prof. Manoharachary specialises in biodiversity, taxonomy, conservation and bioprospecting of fungi, plant pathogens, microbes, mycorrhizae, lichens, medicinal plants, besides others. He discovered 20 new genera, 120 new species and 500 new additions of fungi.

He guided 50 PhDs, published 540 research papers in reputed national and international journals, besides authoring 28 books.

Dr. Manoharachary served the Osmania University in various capacities for over 40 years.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – February 26th, 2016

Cyient Centre Comes Up near Warangal

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

Cyient has announced that it will establish a state-of-the-art technology development centre in Madikonda Special Economic Zone near Warangal.

CM KCR will lay its foundation stone on Friday. Cyient is a global provider of engineering, data analytics, operations solutions.

The development Centre will focus on advanced geographic information system, remote sensing and photogrammetry technologies, catering to a host of solutions for transportation, utilities and communication sectors. The centre will cover an area of 70,000 sq ft, said a release issued by company.

Cyient executive chairman BVR Mohan Reddy said the Warangal centre shows Cyient’s recognition of role of tier-2 cities in growth of the nation.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2016

ZP school teacher to present paper at international science meet

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

A government teacher and science communicator Voore Gurunadha Rao from Mahabubabad has been invited to New Delhi to present a research paper at the International Conference “India’s Scientific Wisdom: Emerging Worldview”.

Mr. Gurunatha Rao works as science teacher at Zilla Parishad High School at Kambalapally village in Mahabubabad mandal.

The two-day international conference jointly organised by Indian Science Writers’ Association (ISWA) International Centre for Science Communication (ICSC) Indian Science Communication Society (ISCOS) at Haryana Bhavan would be held on February 27 and 28.

He will be presenting a paper during the Scientific Session IV Scientific Wisdom: Reshaping the Emerging Worldview at the conference to be organised on February 28.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Warangal – February 22nd, 2016