Hyderabad, Feb 22 (TNT) : The CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) celebrated its 10th Founder’s Day on the birth anniversary of its founding director Pushpa Mittra Bhargava here on Sunday.
The Centre felicitated eminent scientist D. Balasubramanian, marking his diamond jubilee as a mentor.
Prof Balasubramanian was associated with CCMB from 1982 to 1998, serving as Director between 1992 and 1998.
He was among the earliest senior leaders appointed when CCMB was established as an independent national research laboratory for biology.
On the occasion, Prof Balasubramanian reflected on his years at the institute and highlighted the culture of science and arts co-existing at CCMB — a philosophy he later carried forward to the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI).
Several distinguished scientists and colleagues shared their experiences of working with him as a mentor, teacher and collaborator.
Among those present were Gullapalli Nageswara Rao, Founder of LVPEI; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune founding director K. N. Ganesh; National Centre for Biological Sciences Director L. S. Shashidhara; Prof Anuradha Lohia of DBT/Wellcome India Alliance; former Indian Institute of Science (IIS) Director P. Balaram; and Prof Dipankar Chatterji, among others.
They noted noted Prof Balasubramanian’s role in fostering a culture of scientific excellence beyond CCMB, including establishing a research vertical at LVPEI, supporting Manovikas Kendra for children with special needs, and promoting popular science communication.
Prof Balaram described the event as a celebration of 60 years of Prof Balasubramanian’s mentorship journey, which began with his first faculty position at IIT Kanpur in 1966.
CCMB Director Vinay K. Nandicoori said the institute was conceived as a space that nurtures ideas and thinkers and credited veterans like Prof Balasubramanian for shaping its legacy.
TNT TS
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