Trivandrum: A first-of-its-kind workshop held in the city demonstrated that India’s scientific community has a golden opportunity to catch up with the world.  Especially on a technology that was developed by one of the country’s greatest scientists.

Raman Spectroscopy, a measurement technique based on the discoveries of Sir C.V. Raman, was the subject of a day-long workshop organised as a precursor to the celebrated biennial International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS) which begins in Bengaluru on Sunday and is being organised in India after a three-decade gap.

Inaugurating the event, Dr. E. D. Jemmis, director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Trivandrum, said Kerala must take advantage of its high levels of literacy to pull ahead of the other states in higher education and advanced research. “The younger generation should take the lead in striding ahead to the frontiers of research in areas such as Raman Spectroscopy,” he said.

Dr A.E. Muthunayagam, Founder Director of LPSC/ISRO and Former Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, pointed out in his presidential address that Raman Spectroscopy techniques are highly sophisticated and require huge financial outlays for infrastructure and facilities.

Dr Prabhu said the KSCSTE hopes to set up an advanced research centre for Raman Spectroscopy under its umbrella as a bridging platform for academia and R&D and elevate research quality in the country to world-class level.