Tag Archives: Australian Indians

INTERNATIONAL: HEALTH SCIENCE – PSYCHIATRY: Australia’s ‘Illawarra Indian Doctor’s Association’ honours Dr Naveen Chandra in Sydney for psychiatric services

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The Illawarra Indian Doctor’s Association held a special oration on August 23, 2024, to honour Dr Naveen Chandra for his significant contributions to psychiatric services in the Illawarra region.

Dr Naveen Chandra, a pioneering figure in the field, was the first Director of the Illawarra Psychiatric Services. He played a crucial role in organizing hospital and community services in the area and served as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Wollongong for 35 years. His dedication to his profession and his community has made him a well-respected figure in the field of psychiatry.

The event was attended by approximately a hundred local doctors and a few of Dr Chandra’s friends. The gathering began with a one-minute silence in memory of a doctor who was tragically murdered in Calcutta. During the ceremony, Dr Chandra was presented with a shawl, a plaque, and a lifetime achievement award certificate by senior doctors from the Association. Professor Nagesh Pai spoke extensively about Dr Chandra’s achievements, highlighting his contributions to psychiatry not only in Australia but also in India, Fiji, and Myanmar.

Following the award presentation, the oration featured a lecture on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder by Prof Pai and a talk on community facilities by Dr Jayachandra. The event was graced by the presence of CEOs from both public health services and a private psychiatric hospital, who spoke highly of Dr Chandra’s contributions to the field of psychiatry.

Dr Naveen Chandra Shetty’s distinguished career is marked by several notable achievements:

  • Dr Naveen Chandra established the Illawarra Psychiatric Group in the early 1980s, playing a crucial role in developing psychiatric services in the region.
  • In the late 1980s, he convened a meeting with senior psychiatrists of New South Wales at his home to establish the Australian Indian Psychiatric Association.
  • At the request of Fiji’s Health Minister, he, along with four other international psychiatrists, provided guidance on starting community services and a postgraduate diploma in psychiatry in Fiji.
  • He established three free rural psychiatric centers in three villages in India and worked there for 12 years, significantly enhancing mental health services in these underserved areas.
  • During his tenure, he organized three international conferences in Nitte, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration in the field of psychiatry.
  • Dr Chandra was a founding member of the Institute of Australasian Psychiatrists and served as Vice President and CPD assessor for several years, contributing to the development and recognition of the institution.
  • He was invited by the superintendent of Myanmar Psychiatric Hospital to evaluate their psychiatric services, offering his expertise to improve their mental health care system.
  • In 2011, he received the ‘Initiative in Psychiatric Service’ award from the Federation of Asian Psychiatric Associations in Melbourne, recognizing his innovative contributions to psychiatry.
  • In 2012, he was awarded a fellowship by the British College of Psychiatrists, honoring his extensive contributions to the field.
  • In 2003, he was awarded a fellowship by the Australasian Psychiatric Association, further cementing his reputation as a leader in psychiatry.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks, reflecting on Dr Chandra’s legacy and his impact on psychiatric services in Illawarra and beyond. His pioneering work continues to inspire many in the field of psychiatry.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SCIENE & TECHNOLOGY / RESEARCH: Indian-origin Professor Brajesh Singh of Western Sydney University ,Australia Honoured with the top Microbiology ‘2023 Dorothy Jones’ Award

An Indian-origin professor from Australia has been awarded the 2023 Dorothy Jones Prize for using microbiology to make a significant contribution to understanding of terrestrial life and preservation of global ecosystem.

Brajesh Singh, a global expert in the field of microbial functional ecology from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment in Western Sydney University, was presented the award at the British Medical Association (BMA) House in London last month.

Singh’s fundamental research provides solutions to global challenges, including environmental degradation and food insecurity.

This has been done by identifying the quantitative relationships between soil diversity and ecosystem functions and exploring how these are impacted by natural and anthropogenic pressures.

Findings from his research, identifying the causal link between soil microbial and faunal soil biodiversity and key ecosystem functions and services, have advanced crucial areas of ecosystem science, according to a Western Sydney University release.

The research findings have also informed multiple policy decisions at regional, national, and global levels, including providing key recommendations for bilateral engagements in agribusiness and trade between Australia and both India and the European Union.

He has developed innovations to boost the efficacy of existing microbial products and provided new tools for manipulating soil and plant microbiomes for an array of industries across Australia and the world, the release said.

Singh is currently working with multiple government and intergovernmental bodies, including the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), to train farmers, consultants, and policy advisors in sustainable agriculture, and in the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition, he works with the UN FAO’s Global Soil Partnership to boost the resilience of farming systems and ensure environmentally sustainable food security measures globally.

Having spent ten years honing his knowledge in Scotland before relocating to Australia, Singh also advises the European Commission on enhancing productivity in the bioeconomy.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science; the Soil Science Society of Australia; the Soil Science Society of America, the American Academy of Microbiology, and a Humboldt Research Awardee.

Named after Dr Dorothy Jones — who served as President of Applied Microbiology International from 1989 to 1991 — the prize is part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards, which celebrate the brightest minds in the field promoting individuals and research shaping the future of applied microbiology.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / STEM : 3 Indian-origin Women – Dr Ana Baburamani, Neelima Kadiyala & Dr Indrani Mukherjee among Australia’s Superstars of STEM

Three Indian-origin women among 60 scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians have been selected as ‘Australia’s Superstars of STEM’.

Dr Ana Baburamani, Neelima Kadiyala and Dr Indrani Mukherjee will undertake a two-year program in 2023 and 2024 to step into the media spotlight as STEM experts.

“The new Superstars reflect the strong diversity of women and non-binary people in Australian science and technology,” a Science & Technology Australia (STA) press note stated.

The Superstars of STEM initiative is supported by STA, which is a peak body in science and technology, representing more than 105,000 scientists and technologists.

As a biomedical researcher, Dr Ana Baburamani seeks to piece together the complex process of brain development and the mechanisms contributing to brain injury.

She is presently a Scientific Advisor in the Department of Defence — Science and Technology Group.

In addition to her research, she supports early career researchers, making science accessible and promoting wider participation in and uptake of STEM careers.

She is a member of the Royal Society of Victoria and volunteers with BrainSTEM.

Dr Indrani Mukherjee, Deep time geologist at the University of Tasmania, says her “research questions key concepts, and explores links between early Earth evolution, the origin of complex life and formation of precious mineral deposits”.

“Geology has offered me a wonderful medium (the rock record) to travel as far as 3.5 billion years ago,” she said.

Neelima Kadiyala, an IT Program Manager with Challenger Limited, has over 15 years of experience delivering extensive transformation programs across multiple industries including Financial Services, Government, Telco and FMCG.

“I want to further extend my voluntary services for broader IT community across Australia,” Kadiyala, who came to Australia in 2003, said.

The programme, since its inception in 2017, selects 60 women and non-binary STEM experts and gives them the training, networks and experience to become experts in their fields as media commentators.

It also seeks to smash gender assumptions about who can work in science, technology, engineering and maths.

“The need to boost diversity in our science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector is urgent,” said Australia’s Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic.

“I just know these talented experts and communicators will play their part inspiring Australia’s young people, from all backgrounds – into science and technology,” Husic added.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)