Director's review in latest annual report The founding fathers of the CSIR National Institute of Oceanography foresaw two roles that the institute would play: generating knowledge about oceanography of the oceanic regime around India; and putting this knowledge to use. These dual roles got imbibed in the Institute's mission statement . In the last four decades the institute generated knowledge about evolution of the north Indian oceanic basin, circulation in the basin, biogeochemistry of the waters of the basin, and other issues. The institute has also been helping industrial houses by taking up projects that aid in launching initiatives that use marine environment. During the year discussed in this annual report, 2010- 11, the institute accelerated its role in such projects. Payment to the institute towards such projects increased markedly from approximately Rs. 13 crore in the previous year to over Rs. 38 crore in 2010-11 (see figure). To some extent this increase is a reflection of accelerated use of marine environment for industrial development. It is also a reflection of the confidence that the nation has on the capabilities of the institute to take up such projects. We expect funding from services offered to the industry to remain high in the next few years. Besides increasing funding from services during the years, the institute sustained its increasing trend in research publications (see figure).. The institute has also maintained the increased levels of research publications seen during the recent years (see figure).
The institute took a major step in claiming its rightful place in the area of ocean science education this year Under the aegis of the Academy for Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) launched by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), CSIR-NIO formally admitted 5 students into the doctoral study programme. This marks an important milestone for the institute . It will start teaching of courses in August 2011 after admitting about 10 more students in the AcSIR doctoral programme in Oceanography. The Research Council of NIO gave its blessing to the programme during its 30th Meeting held on 2-3 August 2010. The institute looks forward to its doctoral programme playing a major role in providing the country the manpower it needs in the area of advanced ocean sciences to look after the fast growing ocean science and services infrastructure in the country. As a precursor to the institute's role in ocean science education, the institute organized a Summer School on 'Dynamics of the North Indian Ocean' during June-July 2010. The star attraction during the course was Prof. Julian McCreary, Professor of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, USA, a leader in dynamics of tropical ocean circulation. The school was attended by 57 students from around the country. The institute also hosted the 76th Annual Meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. The meeting, which used to be fondly described by its founder Nobel Laureate Prof. C.V. Raman as his circus, brought together active researchers from around the country to talk about their work.
Dr. S.R. Damare, who joined the institute recently was awarded the CSIR Young Scientist Award for the year 2010. The institute continued to develop its infrastructure. Work on the Administration Block at the Goa campus and second phase of the laboratory building on the Mumbai campus began. The Biology Extension building at Goa got occupied and recently acquired research vessel RV Sindhu Sankalp became fully operational. Two of our researchers received major national laurels, Dr. D. Shankar was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, and Dr. K.S. Krishna was elected to the National Academy of Science, India, located at Allahabad.
