It is the complete integration of knowledge across the globe. The variables united under one function, is how Biswajit Ghosh, professor of energy science and technology, likes to describe the UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) experience.

“An Indian scientist can develop a workable theory, but sometimes the lack of sophisticated infrastructure does not allow him to see whether his ideas can turn into reality. This is where collaborations work extremely well, after all, seeing is believing,” says Professor Ghosh, who is also director, School of Energy Studies, Jadavpur University. 4

He, along with Dr Paul Sellin of the University of Surrey, is working on the UK-India II-VI Sensor Network, a five year project funded under the British Council UKIERI programme. The objective is to exchange and develop expertise between UK and India in II-VI semiconductor technologies, which will be used for sensors in radiation detection and photovoltaic applications.

This means, their work will aim to increase the energy efficiency of the tools used for radiation detection (for example, x-rays for medical and other purposes). They are also working on refining an electroless coating technology, where chemicals are used to coat metals, semiconductors and other material so they are more resistant to wear and tear and take part in efficient charge transfer process.

A poster of the famed Konark Sun temple hangs on one of the walls of Prof. Ghosh’s office, reminding him constantly that even in ancient India knowledge of solar energy was available. “We knew even then, how to harness the powers of the sun,” explains Prof. Ghosh, as he takes us on a guided tour of his laboratories, where researchers are constantly working on ways to improve on working with a renewable energy source that will not harm the environment. The demand for global energy is set to triple in another 50 years and conventional fuels will not be able to meet demand. Using photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity is being seen as the way to the future.

About the UKIERI programme, Dr Ghosh is very agreeable. “I have been working with Universities in the UK for a while now, ever since 1992, when I worked with Late Professor Robert Hill, a stalwart in the field of solar energy as the Fellow of European Commission. That was when I went to Newcastle Polytechnic, which is now Northumbria University and worked there under the support of EC’s JOULE Project and DST-British Council joint project. In fact, I was working with the Imperial College, London, as the Academic Visitor in 1999 as well as 2000 with Professor K.W.J.Barnham and University of Surrey with the support from Royal Society as an overseas scientist in 2006, when Dr Surrey informed me about the UKIERI and we applied for it,” he says, adding that it will be an invaluable opportunity of learning and exploration and is a very “good project”.

On his visit to the UK, Dr Ghosh recalls his invitation to speak at the Royal Society of Chemistry Lecture October 30, 2007, with pride. “It was a very prestigious affair and I was happy to speak on the day Joseph Priestley discovered the life-giving gas, oxygen, the carrier of energy for life” says Ghosh, who also credits the UKIERI project having resulted in the publication of papers by him in journals by the Indian Association for The Cultivation of Science & Solar Energy Centre and publications like Science Direct.

Shonali Ganguli is Head Communications East India