LIRC@SFIT

 

Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, a distinguished Indian astrophysicist and science communicator, passed away on May 20, 2025, in Pune at the age of 87. Renowned for his significant contributions to cosmology and his efforts to popularize science, Dr. Narlikar's legacy continues to inspire generations. 🌌 A Life Dedicated to Science Dr. Narlikar's academic journey began at Banaras Hindu University, followed by a stellar tenure at Cambridge University, where he earned his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Sir Fred Hoyle. His research challenged prevailing cosmological models, notably proposing alternatives to the Big Bang theory, such as the Steady State and Quasi-Steady State models. He served as the founding director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, significantly advancing India's position in global astrophysical research. 📚 A Prolific Writer and Educator Beyond his scientific endeavors, Dr. Narlikar was a prolific writer, authoring ...

  The Learning and Information Resource Centre (LIRC) of St. Francis Institute of  Technology organized a hands-on training session on 16th May 2025 titled “Effective Use  of Subscribed Resources” in collaboration with Knimbus Digital Library Services . The  training was aimed at enhancing awareness and usage of the digital resources subscribed to  by the institute through the Knimbus platform.  Resource Person:  The session was conducted by Ms. Kanishka Jindal , Senior Executive from Knimbus . With  a clear and practical approach, she engaged participants through a live demonstration of the  platform's capabilities. Key Highlights of the Session:  • Introduction to the Knimbus dashboard and user-friendly search features • Tips on advanced filtering , keyword optimization, and citation tracking • Accessing publisher-specific content such as IEEE, Springer, and McGraw-Hill • Exploring personalized features like Saved Searches, Alerts, and...

Date: 23rd April 2025 Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Location: 2nd Floor, B Wing, LIRC ✨ Event Overview On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day , SFIT Library organized a Book Exhibition and Takeaway as well as a Quiz on Plagiarism . The initiative aimed to cultivate a strong reading habit, educate students about the importance of respecting intellectual property, and highlight the significance of honest academic work. 🎯 Objectives Encourage and foster reading habits among students. Promote awareness about copyright issues. Educate students on plagiarism and its prevention. Enable sharing of knowledge through book donations from staff and ex-students. 👥 Participation Book & Magazine Takeaway: 82 Beneficiaries Quiz on Plagiarism: 68 Responses 🏁 Outcome The initiative was well-received and sparked interest in both reading and academic integrity. Suggestions were made to organize more such events, to further engage students and staff.

Indian-origin astrophysicist Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan and his team at the University of Cambridge have detected dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, located 120 light-years from Earth. On Earth, DMS is produced by marine life, suggesting the possibility of biological activity on this distant world.  Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the researchers found DMS alongside methane and carbon dioxide, indicating a hydrogen-rich, ocean-covered environment—characteristics of a "Hycean" planet. ​ While the findings are promising, Dr. Madhusudhan emphasizes the need for further observations to confirm the presence of life. This discovery opens new avenues in the search for extraterrestrial life beyond our solar system. ​ 📚 For more details, read the full article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/who-is-indian-origin-dr-nikku-madhusudhan-the-scientist-who-found-evidence-of-life-120-light-years-away-from-earth/articleshow/120369180.c...

 

Krishna Bharat: The Mind Behind Google News Meet Krishna Bharat , the visionary behind Google News . A frustration with the cluttered, unreliable news on the internet led him to create one of the most popular and influential platforms we use today. As an IIT Madras graduate, Bharat joined Google and used the company’s “20% time” policy—where employees could work on their own ideas—to build Google News. The platform, launched in 2002, became a game-changer in how we consume news. Bharat’s other contributions include shaping products like Google Translate , Gmail , and Google Sky . He has since moved on to inspire innovations in AI and technology, but his work remains at the core of many services we rely on every day. Read more about his journey and the frustrations that sparked this revolutionary idea: https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/meet-krishna-bharat-brain-behind-google-news-an-innovation-driven-by-frustration-and-not-employment/3750166/