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SCIENCE DIPLOMACY NEWS ALERTS | 16-31 March 2024| ISSUE 130

www.fisd.in    .


NEWS ALERT

Forum for Indian Science Diplomacy 

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RIS Science Diplomacy News Alert is your fortnightly update on Indian and global
developments in science research, technological advancements, science diplomacy,
policy and governance. The archives of this news alert are available at
http://fisd.in. Please email your valuable feedback and comments to
science.diplomacy@ris.org.in
 


 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  GLOBAL

Breakthrough Recyclability of Carbon Nanotube Sheets Demonstrated

Nitrogen-based Compound Used as New High-performance Energy Storage Material

Carbon Dioxide Converted to Methanol through a Recycled Reagent

AI Model to Generate New Antibiotics Developed

INDIA

Drone System for Disaster Search Developed

Paper-based Platform to Detect Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Quantum Dot Technology to Clean Water

  GLOBAL CHALLENGES

AI to Detect COVID in Lung Images

Joint R&D in Energy for SDGs

RESOURCES AND EVENTS

G20 Employment Working Group Meeting Held in Brasilia

Inter-Ministerial Joint Workshop on Blue Economy

  SCIENCE POLICY AND DIPLOMACY

Canada Signs BBNJ Agreement

India and Indonesia to Cooperate in Space Sector

 
GLOBAL
 

Breakthrough Recyclability of Carbon Nanotube Sheets Demonstrated
Researchers at the Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Materials
Institute have demonstrated the recyclability of high-performance carbon
nanotube (CNT) sheets while maintaining their essential mechanical and
electrical properties. It represents a significant advance in sustainable
nanostructured materials and holds promise for carbon nanotube fibers, sheets,
and textiles to play a pivotal role in the future transition to green energy. It
demonstrates that high-performance materials made from carbon nanotubes can be
reused as structural reinforcement or electrical conductors. The work utilizes
carbon nanotubes rapidly grown and directly assembled into freestanding network
materials by means of floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD)
synthesis process.

 

Nitrogen-based Compound Used as New High-performance Energy Storage Material
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have synthesized scandium polynitrides
under extreme conditions, with exotic chemistry and potential applications as
high-energy-density materials.Nitrogen-bearing compounds are among the most
effective choices for High-energy density materials (HEDMs). Nitrogen-rich
materials are capable of releasing a huge amount of energy during decomposition
or combustion (when single bonds are replaced by triple ones), making them
highly effective as propellants and explosives. The decomposition of
nitrogen-bearing compounds often results in the formation of nitrogen gas (N2),
which is a stable, inert, and environmentally friendly product.

 

Carbon Dioxide Converted to Methanol through a Recycled Reagent
Scientists in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National
Laboratory and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) have
demonstrated the selective conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into methanol
using a cascade reaction strategy. The two-part process is powered by sunlight,
occurs at room temperature and at ambient pressure, and employs a recyclable
organic reagent that's similar to a catalyst found in natural photosynthesis. It
is an important step in the use of renewable organic hydride catalysts to the
decades-long quest for room temperature catalytic methanol production from CO2.

AI Model to Generate New Antibiotics Developed
Researchers at Stanford Medicine and McMaster University have developed an
artificial intelligence model, SyntheMol, capable of designing new potential
drugs. The AI was used to create structures and synthesis methods for six new
drugs capable of battling resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, a major
cause of antibacterial resistance-related fatalities. Prior to generative AI
such as SyntheMol, researchers used computational methods to seek potential
antibiotics, using algorithms to search through existing drug compounds to
identify possibilities. The advantage of generative AI is its ability to
"hallucinate", formulating entirely new responses. However, previous tests of
this method resulted in impossible-to-synthesize molecules. To combat this, the
researchers put restrictions on SyntheMol to ensure that the generated compounds
could be created in a lab. SyntheMol was trained on a library of more than
130,000 molecular building blocks and a range of chemical reactions, equipping
the model with both the end results and the steps needed to reach them.
SyntheMol produced around 25,000 potential antibiotics in under nine hours.
Researchers narrowed these suggestions down to the 70 compounds with the highest
levels of potential efficacy.

 
 
INDIA
 

INDIA

Drone System for Disaster Search Developed
Engineers at MIT World Peace University (WPU) have developed an artificial
intelligence (AI)- and machine learning (ML)- based 'automatic alarm generation,
aid and surveillance system' by deploying a multi-copter that will act as first
responder during disasters. The drone system is expected to be beneficial to
governing bodies during emergencies. The Multi-copter can be employed to detect
and aid people stuck in inaccessible areas. It can also report back the impact
of the event and help assess the situation. The system enables efficient search
and rescue missions, 3D mapping, and precise payload drop-offs.

Paper-based Platform to Detect Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a paper-based platform that
could help detect the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The approach
developed by the team involved incorporating biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (BCA)
within a supramolecular hydrogel matrix containing terbium cholate (TbCh). This
hydrogel normally emits green fluorescence when UV light is shined on it. The
luminescence signals the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the
intensity of the luminescence indicates the bacterial load. For non-resistant
bacteria, the green intensity was found to be extremely low, making it easier to
distinguish them from resistant bacteria.

Quantum Dot Technology to Clean Water
Team of researchers at the Aligarh Muslim University is working on the use of
carbon- and sulfur-based quantum dots, to create safer invisible inks and to
help decontaminate water supplies by removing pollutants. In addition to
identifying contaminants, Cdots can help break down pollutants such as
pesticides and dyes in water. The team has also developed methods to remove
contaminants from water entirely, rather than just identifying or degrading
them. They've specially designed Cdots to sop up automotive oil and are
currently exploring a Cdot-based filter system to help treat oil spills. Their
work can help broaden the uses for nonmetallic quantum dots and put their unique
properties to work in the environment.

 
G-20 AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES

AI to Detect COVID in Lung Images
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have demonstrated that artificial
intelligence can spot COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images. They developed this
automated detection tool to help doctors in emergency settings with high
caseloads of patients who need to be diagnosed quickly and accurately. They aim
to develop wireless devices that patients can use at home to monitor progression
of COVID. The AI analyzes ultrasound lung images to spot features known as
B-lines, which appear as bright, vertical abnormalities and indicate
inflammation in patients with pulmonary complications. It combines
computer-generated images with real ultrasounds of patients. The team developed
software that can learn from a mix of real and simulated data and then discern
abnormalities in ultrasound scans that indicate a person has contracted
COVID-19. The tool is a deep neural network, a type of AI designed to behave
like the interconnected neurons that enable the brain to recognize patterns,
understand speech, and achieve other complex tasks.

Joint R&D in Energy for SDGs
The National Power Training Institute and PTC India Ltd. have entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for
Research & Development in the Energy Domain, with a focus on promoting
sustainable development goals. The outcomes of the CoE's Research and
Development endeavours will be disseminated to the power sector through Training
and Capacity building. Under the MoU, NPTI and PTC India Limited will
collaborate to undertake research, development, and knowledge sharing through
the CoE. The MoU was signed in the office of Ministry of Power, New Delhi, on
28th March, 2024 by Director General, NPTI, Dr. Tripta Thakur and by Senior Vice
President (HR), PTC India Ltd., Ms. Koel Singhal on behalf of CMD, PTC India
Ltd., Dr. Rajib K Mishra; in the presence of Secretary, Ministry of Power,
Government of India, Shri Pankaj Agarwal.

 
RESOURCES AND EVENTS
 

G20 Employment Working Group Meeting Held in Brasilia
The G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting held under the Brazilian
presidency in the city of Brasilia began with a special session dedicated to the
follow-up of implementation of commitments made during India's G20 presidency to
develop an international reference classification of occupations and skills. In
the meeting, the Indian delegation highlighted the need for G20 countries to
work towards the G20 EWG commitment of the Indian Presidency in 2023 for the
incorporation of basic and extended indicators in respective national surveys
for mapping global skills gaps. This classification of occupations and skills
has the potential to benefit developed, developing and least developed nations
alike. The leaders also deliberated upon the critical issues of the impact of
care policies and equal pay in promotion of gender equality in the world of work
and acknowledged the challenges faced by women due to disproportionate
caregiving responsibilities and the necessity of supportive care policies.
Another key agenda taken up was the issue of pay disparity between genders.The
meeting concluded with comprehensive discussions on equality in the world of
work. It was emphasized that equality is an economic necessity not just a moral
obligation. The meeting concluded with a strong reiteration of the collective
resolve of the G20 countries to continue working towards advancing gender
equality, diversity at workplace and social security.

Inter-Ministerial Joint Workshop on Blue Economy
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organised a consultative workshop in New
Delhi today on the Blue Economy Pathways study report status. Experts from the
World Bank, various line Ministries like the Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Niti Aayog, Ministry of
Port Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Tourism and various state and national
R&D organisations participated. During the workshop, the collaborative role of
each line Ministry towards the preparation of the report was deliberated
upon.MoES has engaged with the World Bank as a knowledge partner to undertake a
technical study and prepare a seminal report titled 'India's Blue Economy:
Pathways for resource-efficient, inclusive and resilient growth in India'. The
report outputs are expected to cover the areas related to global best practices
in Blue Economy implementation, ocean accounting framework, institutional
strengthening and innovative finance mechanisms towards implementing the Blue
Economy Policy framework.

 
 
SCIENCE POLICY AND DIPLOMACY
 

Canada Signs BBNJ Agreement
On 4 March 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel received Canada's Minister of
Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, The Honorable Diane
Lebouthillier, to officiate the signature by Canada of the Agreement under the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and
Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National
Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). This is the 88th signature of the BBNJ Agreement
since it opened for signature on 20 September 2023, and two countries ratified
it already. The Legal Counsel congratulated Canada on behalf of the
Secretary-General and expressed his utmost confidence that the BBNJ Agreement
holds the potential to make significant contributions to addressing the triple
planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as well as
achieving ocean-related objectives and targets of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

India and Indonesia to Cooperate in Space Sector
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Indonesia's National Research
and Innovation Agency (BRIN) signed new agreements on Monday, March 19,
strengthening their space exploration and technology partnership, the Indian
Embassy in Jakarta said in a written statement. The agreement, attended by Dr.
Laksana Tri Handoko, BRIN Chairman and India's Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr.
Sandeep Chakravorty, underscores a deepening space collaboration between India
and Indonesia. The ceremony in Jakarta marked the signing of the Implementation
Agreement on Transfer of Title of Integrated Biak Telemetry, Tracking and
Command (TTC) Facilities and Implementing Arrangement on Operation, Maintenance
and Utilisation of Integrated Biak Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC)
Facilities for Satellites and Launch Vehicles.

 
 

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