VISAKHAPATNAM: Countries devoid of natural resources have progressed solely on the strength of technological advancements made through intensive research. India, which has a strong scientific manpower in the world, aims to become the technology leader by the year 2020, said Avinash Chander, scientific advisor to the defence minister, secretary of the Defence Research and Development, and director general of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Delivering the keynote address at the fifth convocation of GITAM University here Saturday, Avinash Chander stressed that there is a need to embark and invest on some major science projects which have relevance to national needs and which will also be relevant for tomorrow’s technology. ‘’We have developed ourselves the Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicles, Arihant nuclear submarine, our own fighter aircraft and the ICBM AGNI-5. Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan Mission propelled us into the elite club of nations,” he added.
Chander wanted Indian universities to become the breeding ground for creative pursuits and a source of cutting-edge technological developments.
GITAM chancellor K Ramakrishna Rao presented honorary doctorate (Doctor of Science) to Avinash Chander. The university also presented the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters to eminent Telugu film aker K Raghavendra Rao, Margadarsi Chit Fund managing director Ch Sailaja Kiran and Telugu film lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja.
University vice-chancellor G Subrahmanyam presented the annual report of the university which has 1,000 faculty members, 16,000 students and 800 research scholars.
Registrar M Potharaju, pro vice-chancellor D Harinarayana and senior faculty members participated in the convocation procession.