SHEMBLOG

Delhi University’s Department of Geology is on the verge of organising an International Field Workshop on the theme of ‘Gold Metallogeny in India’. This 11-day workshop would be held in collaboration with NGRI — National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad from 3^rd December to 13^th December, 2008 and will be ably supported by the Society of Economic Geologists, USA and Department of Science & Technology and Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited.

The workshop is a part of the ‘Deposit Modeling Program conceived on the lines of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the Earth Science Division of UNESCO. The basic purpose of this initiative is to extend the knowledge and expertise in mineral deposit modelling for use in the assessment and development of resources along with their exploration. This program would also enable the exchange of expertise between geoscientists of various countries. Previously, the IUGS-UNESCO sponsored program was held at the Delhi University in December 2001 with an endeavour to train Indian geoscientists in mineral deposit types.

It is called the ‘The Baap of all College Festivals’ and the title is done justice by the fact that over 60,000 students from 500 colleges would be in attendance for witnessing and participating in over 120 events that would span over four days and four nights on the sprawling campus of IIT Bombay. This glut of competitions/workshops/performances define Mood Indigo 2008 or MI’08 — the annual cultural festival of IIT-Bombay. This college fest has a national patronage and students from across the nation are expected to participate in it, like every year.

This time the fest is supposed to be a bit special as the institute celebrates its golden jubilee year of foundation. Mood-I would last from 20^th December to 23^rd December, 2008. The fest has huge participation as it gives the students a platform to display their talents in front of thousands of patrons. The most famous genres include Music & Dramatics, Dance and Literary & Fine Arts.

Chandrayan-1 has been launched as a part of India’s first lunar orbital voyage. The Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO wants India to stamp its authority in the world of Space by hoisting the national flag on the Moon. With this, India would become the fourth nation after the US, Russia and Japan to have their national flags planted on the Moon. The Moon is a part of the global community and there are no restrictions on such actions. The Indian mission to the Moon would also look for Helium-3 — looked upon as the fuel for the future. The ISRO has its sight set on Mars after the success of the mission to Moon.