|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
By Category |
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
India On Media |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Others
News |
|
| Challenges galore in Discovery |
| Professor Venkatasubramanian, who was in Chennai recently, spoke to The Hindu about this and other areas of research.
|
| INDIA
, 8-August-2007
3:16:6 AM |
| “Working in Discovery Informatics, we are always chasing rainbows,” says Venkat Venkatasubramanian, professor, School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University. “Once you achieve one goal you quickly move on to the next challenge.” After over two decades of extensive research, he still seems to be enjoying every bit of the chase.
Professor Venkatasubramanian, who was in Chennai recently, spoke to The Hindu about this and other areas of research.
For scientists developing new engineering materials and formulations, it is mostly “guess and test.” It takes a lot of trials, even for scientists who have 20 to 30 years of experience. “What I am trying to do is to give you a pair of glasses so you are able to see your target much better.”
Discovery Informatics, he says, is a systematic rational approach to discovering new materials and formulations. Scientists and engineers are tasked with designing a material with specific properties. The challenge is to determine what molecular combinations will give the specified properties and in what quantity. “You know the answers, but you don’t know what will get you there,” he explains.
Developing the magic mix involves proposing certain mechanisms, solving the equations behind them, making predictions and comparing them until you get the perfect result. It could take months. “There is a huge amount of information involved,” he says.
Modelling system
The professor and his team have developed a modelling system that solves information overload and enables scientists to identify causal relationships — the how and the why — in a matter of hours. All the scientist has to do is propose a hypothesis and the software does the rest of the work. Using this concept, Professor Venkatasubramanian’s team has helped design polymers for General Electric, rubber compounds for earthmoving equipment for construction giant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENTS
Free offer!!! Become an administrator for your zip home page, "Post" local news (local to your postcode)& pictures, "Post" advertisement banners from local companies. Make Extra money.
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
