Physics Research Initiative in Nepal

Dear all,

I recently visited Nepal because of family reason and got back to work now. During my stay, I also managed to give three seminars at Tri-Chandra, Patan and Amrit campuses, and visited central department Kirtipur. In the seminar, I did spread the words about this forum- physicschautary and our effort to help Physics Research Initiative in Nepal. Two seminars at Tri-Chandra organised by NPS and Amrit Campuses are related to physics teaching as there were trainings for physics teachers going on. There are now many campuses running M.Sc. physics in Nepal including outside Kathmandu valley. The participants are physics teachers in B.Sc. and M.Sc. levels and are the target of effort to help physics research in Nepal. Seminar at Patan Campus was related to my research work and to the M.Sc. students. They were happy know about Nepalese physicists overseas are going to make a Physics Research Initiative Fund to help promote physics research in Nepal. There also some recent comments made from physicists from Nepal. I had actually very interesting and nice interaction with them. I believe I have conveyed the message about our interest to help physicists in Nepal.

Now, I think we need to move forward making a plan to collect the money for the FUND. I am sure everybody can give some time in the summer to participate in this discussion and finalize our plan. Please post your comments in the physicschautari.com. It will be also nice to post collective comments from the university that has many Nepalese physicists. In the mean time I will search the procedure to register our organization.

During the interaction, other constructive comments I got are

1.  It would be nice to put the area of research in the directory of Nepalese Physicists Overseas along with the institute. That way people from Nepal can find the person of similar interests, and contact the right person if they have any question or materials.

2. One of the problems in Nepal related to research work is journal articles. All the journals are not easily available in Nepal. Some professors are getting articles by email with the help of friends here. They appreciated the help who made and worried about too much load for the same person. So, their suggestion is to make a group of people for journal search so that the load will be distributed.

3. Make available of the publications and presentations made by Nepalese physicist in physicschautari website.

4. Put some information in the website for prospective students from Nepal such as research fields, admission requirement, no. of students and Nepalese students, contact persons in the department, tips to search universities, availability of financial support, etc.

I would like to request all Nepalese Physicists to give their opinions on how we can proceed forward and come up with the area where he/she can contribute or help. I also like to request Pashupati ji if he needs help regarding website upgrading and updating.

Mim Nakarmi

Brooklyn College, New York.

Science and technology in ANA convention

Prof. Dr. Sitaram Byahut (Central Department of Physics, TU) and Ganesh Shah (former minister of science and technology of Nepal)  gave a presentation on “Science and technology in the development of Nepal” during 2010 ANA convention in Boston. They presented the paper on the development of science and technology in new developed countries and compared with the situation of Nepal. They also suggested how  Nepalese living aboard can help to the development of science and technology in Nepal. The full presentation can be downloaded here.