The Indian Panorama

Tag: Honors – Awards and Accomplishments

  • Amitabh Bachchan honored by US Embassy for TB awareness

    Amitabh Bachchan honored by US Embassy for TB awareness

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been honored by the US Embassy to acknowledge his immense contribution to the India-US ties on tuberculosis. The award was presented on January 8 by US Ambassador to India Richard R Verma to the 74-year-old actor, who himself is a TB survivor and brand ambassador for the cause.

    After receiving the award, Bachchan went live on Facebook with Verma to discuss the cooperation between the two nations to spread awareness about the much-feared disease.

    Remembering his first encounter with Verma, Bachchan said that they have been associated since 2015, when the latter was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

    Bachchan adds, “Within a week later, I received a letter from the ambassador (citing that) … We are looking at doing something about tuberculosis in India. Would you be kind enough to entertain in joining this effort? And I readily agreed.” The “Pink” actor also said that it was embarrassing that India is the largest carrier of TB in the world.

    Recounting his “Kaun Banega Crorepati” days, when he experienced excruciating pain in the spine, he said, “I survived on 8-9 painkillers every day. In 2002, it was discovered in a general investigation that I was suffering from the tuberculosis of the spine.”

    Bachchan added, “Without immodesty, I can say that if it (TB) can happen to me it can happen to anyone. If it is detected in time, there is a cure.” The actor was especially impressed with the involvement of women in spreading awareness and busting myths about the disease under this initiative. He said that it was inspiring how they fought both with the disease and fear of alienation due to the social stigma about the disease.

    On giving the award to Bachchan, Verma said, “We are proud to give you this award for your leadership and everything that you have done.”

    The US ambassador also said that the US government has been working with the Indian government for over 20 years on tuberculosis.

    “Over USD 100 million have been invested… we have treated over 15 million people with our Indian partners, saved millions of lives from the disease,” he added. (PTI)

  • Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation to fund fellowship for Indian journalists

    Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation to fund fellowship for Indian journalists

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Foundation started by Indian-Ameican Frank Islam and his wife, Debbie Driesman, will partner with Alfred Friendly Press Partners (AFPP) to fund a fellowship for a mid-career journalist from India in 2017 for six months. The fellowship will be administered by AFPP, which has so far trained 300 journalists from the developing world. The Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Fellow will work in a major newsroom in Washington, DC, for five months after undergoing a five-week training at Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.

    “The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation is proud to join hands with Alfred Friendly Press Partners to fund a fellowship for a mid-career journalist from India,” said Frank F Islam, President of the Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Foundation, in a statement. “Debbie and I consider the fellowship as a strategic investment in free press. Over the past three decades, AFPP has trained 15 world class journalists from India who have gone on to become leaders in the field. It is our earnest belief that the FIDD Fellow will continue that tradition,” he said.

    “We are especially delighted to welcome Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman to our fold. Family is the reason that we’ve been able to train more than 300 journalists in 90 different countries for over 30 years,” said Randall D Smith, President of the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships.

    A candidate who has three years of professional experience as a journalist and employed as a journalist by an independent news media organization in India can apply for the fellowship, the foundation said.

    During the roughly six-month program, the FIDD Fellow will:

    Gain experience in reporting, writing, editing, and editorial decision-making that will enhance professional performance;

    A practical understanding of the function and significance of the free press in American society;

    Have a firsthand knowledge of the industry’s technological advances; and Transfer knowledge to colleagues at home in India.

  • Priyanka Chopra named UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador

    Priyanka Chopra named UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador

    NEW YORK (TIP): Priyanka Chopra was appointed as UNICEF global Goodwill Ambassador at UNICEF’s 70th Anniversary celebration at the United Nations headquarters in New York, December 11. The ‘#Quantico’ actress celebrated her appointment alongside Ambassadors David Beckham and Orlando Bloom. The actress has served with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in India, where she has been a longtime girls’ rights advocate.

    The 'Quantico' actress poses with David Beckham at the United Nations headquarters in New York
    The ‘Quantico’ actress poses with David Beckham at the United Nations headquarters in New York

    “My involvement with UNICEF began almost 10 years ago in India. Today, I stand here humbled, enriched and committed, because of it. Thank you, UNICEF, for the amazing journey so far as well as this huge honor. Along this decade old journey, with UNICEF, I have been on many field trips to villages and centers across India. On those trips, I spent time with numerous young girls and their families and experienced firsthand the transformative power of empowering young girls with opportunities that are rightfully theirs”, said Priyanka.

    The actress also took to Twitter to express her joy. She wrote, “Can’t believe it’s been 10 years! Honored to now serve as UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador along with this amazing group For Every Child.”

  • The Indian Panorama hosts an ‘Evening with a Purpose’

    The Indian Panorama hosts an ‘Evening with a Purpose’

    LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): The Indian Panorama hosted a well-attended fundraising dinner for the Eye Foundation of America on Tuesday, December 13 at Cotillion in Jericho, Long Island.

    V.K. Raju, Founder and Medical Director of the Eye Foundation of America (EFA), a charitable organization that provides eye care to children in 21 developing countries

    Dr. VK Raju, an internationally reputed ophthalmologist who is founder and president of the Eye Foundation of America, was the guest of honor and Mr HR Shah, CEO, TV Asia was the Chief Guest.

    This is an evening with a purpose to recognize the tremendous humanitarian work done by Dr Raju", said The Indian panorama Chief Editor Prof. Saluja, in his welcome note
    This is an evening with a purpose to recognize the tremendous humanitarian work done by Dr Raju”, said The Indian panorama Chief Editor Prof. Saluja, in his welcome note

    In his welcome speech, Prof Indrajit S Saluja, Publisher and Chief Editor of The Indian Panorama said, “I thank everyone present here for their support to a beautiful and noble cause. This is an evening with a purpose to recognize the tremendous humanitarian work done by Dr Raju.” Prof Saluja spoke about the charitable work the Eye Foundation of America was doing to prevent blindness among children in India. The Foundation is dedicated to the elimination of avoidable blindness in children worldwide, and, in India. This is Dr. Raju’s way of paying back to the country of his origin, Prof. said, amid thunderous applause from the gathering.

    After the lamp lighting ceremony Dr Raju gave a brief presentation about his mission – ‘To eliminate avoidable childhood blindness.’

    "We need three things to bring a change. First is education, second is education and third is education", said Dr. VK Raju, Founder and President of the Eye Foundation of America, in his impassioned speech dwelling on his vision of making the world free from childhood blindness.
    “We need three things to bring a change. First is education, second is education and third is education”, said Dr. VK Raju, Founder and President of the Eye Foundation of America, in his impassioned speech dwelling on his vision of making the world free from childhood blindness.

    “For last 38 years, I am working on this issue which is so close to my heart. And I am so honored to see Prof. Saluja and through him my new friends here  joining me in this regard”, said Dr Raju. He described through his presentation how visually impaired or blind children grow up without the same advantages as sighted children and become a burden on their families and communities. “We need three things to bring a change. First is education, second is education and third is education.”

    A Q &A session followed and Dr. Raju answered a few questions from the gathering.

    While introducing the Chief Guest of the event Mr HR Shah, Prof Saluja said, “He needs no introduction. He has created an empire in the field of media. His greatest virtue is that he did not forget the ladder and his past. He always took lesson from his past.”

    HR Shah, Chairman & CEO of TV Asia said, without vision, there is no world for a person and extolled the effort of Dr. Raju in working to prevent avoidable childhood blindness
    HR Shah, Chairman & CEO of TV Asia said, without vision, there is no world for a person and extolled the effort of Dr. Raju in working to prevent avoidable childhood blindness

    Mr HR Shah in his speech stressed on the importance of ‘Vision.’ “Without eyes, you can’t see the world. It is dangerous than any other disease. The eye foundation is doing a great job for the society.” He requested people to donate generously as he feels that ‘Laxmi ka alankaar Daan hai.’

    The Eye Foundation of America presented tokens of appreciation to Purnima Desai, Peter and Dorothy Bheddah, Anumolu Rao, Tina Shah and Zinda Singh, and Srinu Maddula for their support to the Foundation.

    Maddula, who calls himself ‘Foster child of Dr Raju’ as he saved him from blindness by doing corneal transplant said, “Giving money is easy but doing the actual work is difficult.”

    A plaque was presented to Dr Raju by The Indian Panorama in appreciation of the great humanitarian work being done by him and his Eye foundation. Dr. Raju was also presented a proclamation from the New York State Assembly. HS Toor from the office of Assemblyman David Weprin presented the proclamation which eulogized Dr. Raju for his humanitarian services.

    Dr Raju presented, on behalf of the Eye Foundation, a token of appreciation to HR Shah.

    Dr. Leela Raju, daughter of Dr. Raju was among the prominent guests which included  Air India Regional Manager Vandana Sharma and District Manager Mohan Kothekar, Consul KD Nair from the Indian Consulate, HAB Vice President Rizwan Qureshi, Rajeev Bhambri, CEO of India Abroad, AAPI National President Dr Ajay Lodha, AAPI-QLI President Vaijnath Chakote and his team which included , among others, Dr. Sunil Mehra, Dr. Satish Anand and Dr. Rakesh Dua; Dr. BK Verma, Shikshayatan and Sriniketan Founder and President Purnima Desai, Philanthropists Peter and Dorothy Bheddah, business magnate Anumolu Rao, community activists Tina Shah and Zinda Singh, Dr. Seema Jain, President, Queens democratic Party, IAF Chairperson Indu Jaiswal, HS Toor from the office of Assemblyman David Weprin, Ms Anu Jain, community activist, INOC (USA) Chairman George Abraham and General Secretary Harbachan Singh, John Joseph, America Tamil Sangam General Secretary, Former Nassau County Director Mohinder Singh Taneja, INOC (I) Chairman Shudh Jasuja, NJ community activist Dave Makkar, Sikh community leaders Master Mohinder Singh, Himat Singh Sarpanch, Mohan Singh, Paramjit Singh Bedi, Omni Mortgage President Herman Singh, Jackson Heights  business community leaders Shiv Dass and  Mohinder Verma, and International Hindi Conference co-ordinator Ashok Ojha. The list by no means is exhaustive and some prominent persons may have been missed out.

    The media community which graced the occasion included Sharanjit Singh Thind, Publisher of the South Asian Insider, Jay Jasbir Singh, Publisher of Hum Hindustani, and Parveen Chopra, Managing Editor of the South Asian Times, from the print media. The electronic media at the event included TVAsia represented by Mukesh Gangani and Gunjesh Desai; and PTC TV represented by Davinder Singh, Jaya Sharma, Balwant Hothi and Gurinder Hothi. Freelance journalist Hema Virani also graced the occasion.

    There was a brief entertainment session presented by Jyoti Gupta and Dr Rakesh Dua who enthralled the audience with a duet song. The entertainment segment was organized by Shyam and Indu Gajhwani.

    The Indian Panorama Assistant Editor Bidisha Roy, Karan Beri, Jaskiran Beri, Chitagam Saluja and Kabir Beri supervised all arrangements, including the vital department of hospitality which incidentally came in for a lot of praise for the pleasant ambience of the place and great food at Cotillion.

  • INDIAN AMERICAN PHYSICIST AWARDED ‘NEW HORIZONS IN PHYSICS BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE’

    INDIAN AMERICAN PHYSICIST AWARDED ‘NEW HORIZONS IN PHYSICS BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE’

    BERKLEY, CA (TIP): Surjeet Rajendran,assistant professor of physics at University of California, Berkeley, was named one of six winners of the 2017 New Horizons in Physics Prize during a gala announcing the annual winners of the Breakthrough Prize.Hosted by Morgan Freeman, the award ceremony was held December 4 in Silicon Valley and was attended by founders Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. A combined total of$25 million was awarded at the gala ceremony, marking the organization’s fifth anniversary recognizing top achievements in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics. Each of the Breakthrough Prizes is worth $3 million, the largest individual monetary prize in science.

    This year, a total of seven of these prizes were awarded to nine individuals, along with a $3 million Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, which was split between three founders and more than a thousand members of the LIGO team. In addition, three $100,000 New Horizons in Physics Prizes were awarded to six early-career physicists, and a further three $100,000 New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes were awarded to four young mathematicians. And this year there were two winners of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, each receiving up to$400,000 in educational prizes for them, their teacher and their school.

    “There has never been a more important time to support science,” said Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. “The 2017 Breakthrough Prize laureates represent the leaders in scientific research in physics, math and life sciences. Their breakthroughs will unlock new possibilities and help make the world a better place for everyone.”

    Rajendran, 33, the Henry Shenker assistant professor of physics, works in the area of theoretical particle physics and searches for new theories to explain dark matter and other cosmological mysteries. He joined the UC Berkeley Physics Department in July 2014. The New Horizons prizes are awarded to promising early-career researchers who have already produced important work in either fundamental physics or mathematics.

  • Indian American Physician named to Key Administration Post

    Indian American Physician named to Key Administration Post

    WASHINGTON (TIP): On December 1, President Barack Obama announced appointment of Dave Ashok Chokshi as Member, Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. President Obama said, “These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles. I look forward to working with them.”

    Dr. Dave Ashok Chokshi is the Chief Population Health Officer of OneCity Health and Senior Assistant Vice President at New York City Health + Hospitals – the largest municipal health care system in the U.S. He practices primary care at Bellevue Hospital and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Population Health and Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. In 2012, he served as a White House Fellow at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he was the principal health advisor in the Office of the Secretary. His prior work experience spans the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including positions with the New York City and State Departments of Health, the Louisiana Department of Health, a startup clinical software company, and a global health nonprofit dedicated to improving access to medicines in developing countries.

    Dr. Chokshi has written on medicine and public health in The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, Health Affairs, and Science. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Parkland Health & Hospital System and was elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians this year. Dr. Chokshi received a B.A. from Duke University, an M.Sc. from Oxford University, and an M.D. from University of Pennsylvania.

  • Indian American Physicist honored with prestigious Humboldt Research Award

    Indian American Physicist honored with prestigious Humboldt Research Award

    NEW YORK (TIP): Raju Venugopalan, an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University and a senior physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, has been awarded a Humboldt Research Award for his remarkable achievements in theoretical nuclear physics. This prestigious international award – issued by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Bonn, Germany – comes with a prize of

    60,000 (nearly $70,000 U.S.) and the opportunity to collaborate with German researchers at Heidelberg University and elsewhere. Venugopalan joins 13 other Brookhaven National Laboratory physicists who have received this award since 1974.

    “This is a great honor and I’m delighted to be in the company of other Humboldt winners over the past years,” Venugopalan said in a press release. “This award gives me a wonderful opportunity to build on and establish new collaborations with my colleagues in Germany, where I’ve been on sabbatical at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Heidelberg University for the past year. I look forward to widening and deepening these connections.”

    Since 2009, Raju Venugopalan has served as an adjunct professor in Stony Brook University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Arts & Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. from Stony Brook in 1992. He came to Brookhaven Lab as an Assistant Physicist in 1998. He rose through the ranks, receiving a tenure appointment in 2002, and has held the title of Senior Scientist since 2007. From 2010 to 2015 he served as Group Leader of the Lab’s Nuclear Theory Group, ranked highest among 62 DOE-supported university and lab groups during that time. Venugopalan took a sabbatical as an Excellence Initiative Guest Professor at Heidelberg University’s Institute for Theoretical Physics from 2015-2016, and returned to his Group Leader role this fall.

    Prior to joining Brookhaven, Venugopalan held post-doctoral appointments at the University of Minnesota (1992-94), the University of Washington (1994-96), and the Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen (1997-98).

  • Most candles on a birthday cake: A Guinness Record by Sri Chinmoy’s Followers

    Most candles on a birthday cake: A Guinness Record by Sri Chinmoy’s Followers

    NEW YORK (TIP): Late Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy’s followers in USA set a Guinness Record by putting 72,585 candles on his 80-Feet-long birthday cake to mark his 85th birth anniversary. Taking place at the Sri Chinmoy Centre in New York, a team of 100 people worked together to make the cake, individually place each candle and then light them with 60 blowtorches. The candles remained burning for about 40 seconds, ensuring that the previous record went up in flames. The previous record was achieved in California in April, with a total of 50,151 candles.

    Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose was born in the small village of Shakpura in East Bengal on August 27th, 1931. He entered the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Southern India as a youth and spent the next 20 years in spiritual practice. Sri Chinmoy serves as an inner spiritual guide to seekers and students in some 60 countries around the world. He encouraged a harmonious lifestyle that blends the inner discipline of prayer and meditation with the dynamism of modern life. Sri Chinmoy did not charge a fee for his spiritual guidance or concerts in the firm belief that meditation is everyone’s birthright.

    In 1964, Sri Chinmoy moved to New York City to offer his dedicated service to the West through music, concerts, literary outpourings, athletics and art.

  • Indian teen wins US quiz show

    Indian teen wins US quiz show

    NEW YORK (TIP): Sharath Narayan, an Indian American teen from Madison, Alabama won Jeopardy! Teen Tournament – a top quiz show in the US. In the finale held in Washington, DC, on November 22, he won first place with just $1, taking home the grand prize of $100,000 and beating the two other finalists, Alex Fischthal and Michael Borecki.

    “I’d still like to go on a trip to Europe with my family (maybe Italy or Germany), but the majority of it will probably go towards taxes and college tuition,” he said after winning the award.

    “I’m definitely more confident since I won the tournament, and it has showed me that I can surprise myself and accomplish things that I never would have thought of,” he said.

    “Jeopardy!” attracts 23 million viewers each week and is in its 33rd season. Narayan, a junior at James Clemens High School,says he has grown up watching the popular game show and have the chance to compete on it was a dream come true.

     

  • Indian professor named AAPS 2016 Fellow

    Indian professor named AAPS 2016 Fellow

    NEW YORK (TIP): Arvind Kumar Bansal, a professor and head of the department of pharmaceutics at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in India, has been nominated by The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) as one of its Fellows, 2016.

    AAPS announced the elevation of nine recipients to Fellow, one of the highest honors given to members of the association.

    Each year, AAPS elevates a few members to Fellow in recognition of their professional excellence in fields relevant to AAPS’s mission: to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health.

    Each Fellow has demonstrated a sustained level of superior and distinguished professional achievement and contributions in fields related to this mission. Fellows are nominated by supporters, selected by a committee of their peers, and elevated by AAPS’ Executive Council.

    Dr Bansal develops technologies to improve water solubility of medicines so that they are more effective for patients. He is currently Professor and Head, department of Pharmaceutics at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab, India. Dr. Bansal is leading a group of about 15 post-graduate and doctorate students, in various areas of Pharmaceutics like pre-formulation profiling, solid-state characterization, improvement of aqueous solubility, enhancement of oral bioavailability and compaction physics. Dr. Bansal holds a masters (1988) and doctorate degree (1993) in Pharmacy from the University of Delhi. Dr. Bansal served in the pharmaceutical industry as a research scientist in major Indian pharmaceutical companies – JK Pharmaceuticals (now called Regent Drugs after being acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Israel) and Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited.

  • Indian American among 15 appointed to NY City Community Services Board

    Indian American among 15 appointed to NY City Community Services Board

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Indian American Dr. Pankaj Patel, a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences at Richmond University Medical Center is one of the 15 appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to New York City Community Services Board.

    Mayor de Blasio announced, November 28, the appointment of 12 new members and the reappointment of 3 members to the Community Services Board, the panel responsible for advising the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in areas related to the City’s community mental health and substance use treatment services. In addition, the Board will advise on the advancement of a stronger public health approach to mental illness and substance use as outlined in the City’s comprehensive plan: ThriveNYC. Appointees include leaders from the non-profit, public and private sectors with a track record of serving people with mental illness and substance use issues. The Board also will be advised by Sherry Glied, Dean of the New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of public services.

    “Today we’re taking another step forward in our efforts to destigmatizing mental illness and ensuring that best practices are put in place to help our fellow New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The board, which now consists of professionals whose collective experience span the private, non-profit and public sectors, is well-equipped to support ThriveNYC and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in delivering services that will benefit our New Yorkers who are most in need. I look forward to working with the Board.”

    “The dynamic intellect and proven ability of today’s appointees to the Community Services Board will bring an additional dimension of support and vigor to changing the culture and expanding services for untreated mental illness and substance misuse. I am excited to work with them,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, who spearheads ThriveNYC.

    “Today’s appointees bring a wealth of experience and perspective to the Community Services Board,” said Dr. Mary T. Bassett, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “Their knowledge will not only help us identify gaps in mental health and substance misuse treatment, but they will also guide us in the development of programs that address the mental health needs of all New Yorkers.”

    The reappointed members of the Community Services Board include Gail B. Nayowith, Dr. Sarah Church and Dr. Roberto Lewis-Fernandez.

    Gail B. Nayowith, Chair of the Board, is the Principal of 1digit LLC, a management consulting and project management practice, and has worked in the health and human services sector for decades leading vital nonprofit provider, advocacy and philanthropic organizations.

    Dr. Sarah Church is a licensed clinical psychologist, with a focus in substance abuse. Dr. Church is also Executive Director for Montefiore Medical Center’s Division of Substance Abuse and Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

    Dr. Roberto Lewis-Fernández is a licensed psychiatrist whose work includes overcoming disparities in the care of underserved U.S. cultural groups. He is the Director of the New York State Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence and a Professor at Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry.

    The newly appointed members of the Community Services Board are Dr. Thelma Dye, Dr. Pankaj Patel, Dr. Stepahanie Le Melle, Dr. Rosa Gill, Louis Cohen, Wanda Greene, Jun Matsuyoshi, Diane Arneth, Lynnae Brown, Denise Rosario, Ahmed Jamil and Christy Parque.

    Dr. Thelma Dye is a licensed psychologist and Executive Director and CEO of Northside Center for Child Development, one of New York’s oldest and most respected mental health agencies.

    Dr. Pankaj Patel is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences at Richmond University Medical Center.
    “Mental illness is a medical illness. There is a broad spectrum of problems,” said Dr. Patel. Still, the common response to almost any of them is fear. “It could be something simple, like a panic attack,” he said, but the gut reaction from most people is “Something is wrong. They’re crazy.”

    For Dr. Patel, however, mental illness is something he’s embraced, something that has shaped most of his day for the past 30 years – ever since he arrived at the former St. Vincent’s Hospital in West Brighton to begin his psychiatric training.

    He said maintaining a clean bill of mental health over the course of time is tough for anyone. “All of us have a certain degree of becoming depressed in their lifetime,” he said.

    Dr. Stephanie Le Melle MD is a licensed psychiatrist with a interest in the treatment and care of people with serious mental illnesses and complex needs. She is co-Director of Public Psychiatry Education at Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry and New York State Psychiatric Institute.

    Dr. Rosa Gil is the Founder, President and CEO of Comunilife, Inc., whose mission is to expand access to housing, mental health and social services to increase the quality of life of underserved, diverse communities in New York City.

    Louise Cohen is the CEO of the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), a non- profit Community Development Finance Institution, dedicated to expanding and strengthening the primary care safety net in the United States. She has over 25 years of experience in public health, public policy, program operations and community health needs assessment.

    Wanda Greene has over 22 years of family support under the Mental Health Association and is the Director of the Family Resource Center (Mental Association of NYC), where, among other things, she maintains partnerships with public and private entities throughout New York City to provide mental health services to high need, underserved communities.

    Jun Matsuyoshi is Director of Mental Health Services, APICHA Community Health Center, where she oversees all mental health services.

    Diane Arneth is the Executive Director of Community Health Action of Staten Island as well as a member of Brightpoint Health. Brightpoint Health is a community-based organization that provides direct services, education and advocacy to individuals, families, and communities challenged by health disparities related to poverty, discrimination, and lack of access.

    Lynnae Brown is Director of Community Access at Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, a program of Community Access Inc. Brown oversees the peer-run employment program that has trained over 800 peers to work as peer providers in human resources.

    Denise Rosario is the founding Executive Director of Coalition for Hispanic Family Services and has over 30 years of experience in mental health services to children and families of color in urban communities.

    Ahmed Jamil is the President of the Muslim Society Community Center that offers education, youth development and community outreach programs catering to low-income families.

    Christy Parque is President and CEO of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, an advocacy and training behavioral health coalition of over 140 non-profit substance use and mental health providers that serve over 450,000 residents in New York City and surrounding counties.

    Sherry Glied, a non-member, is the Special Advisor to the Community Services Board. She is the Dean of the New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and former Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services, and served in that capacity from July 2010 through August 2012. She had previously served as Senior Economist for health care and labor market policy on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in 1992-1993, under Presidents Bush and Clinton, and participated in the Clinton Health Care Task Force.

    About the Community Services Board:
    The Community Services Board (CSB) is mandated to advise the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in all areas related to the City’s community mental health and alcoholism facilities, services and programs. The CSB has been redesigned to advise on the advancement of a stronger public health approach to mental illness and substance use as outlined in the City’s comprehensive plan: ThriveNYC. New appointees represent a broad spectrum of communities, organizations and viewpoints to help engage people whose voices have previously gone unheard.

  • Indian American community leader Harish Thakkar honored at the NYC Council Diwali

    Indian American community leader Harish Thakkar honored at the NYC Council Diwali

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The New York City Council celebrated Diwali, as usual, this year on November 15. On the occasion, some Indian Americans were recognized and honored for their services to the community. One of them was Harish Thakkar who is a well-known community activist.

    Harish Thakkar is honored. Seen in the picture below, from L to R: Assemblyman David Weprin, Council Member Barry Grodenchik, Harish Thakkar, Democratic Queens District Leader Dr. Neeta Jain, Council Member Rory Lancman and Councilman Peter Koo

    harish-thakkar

  • Seven Indian-Americans honored with New England Choice Awards

    Seven Indian-Americans honored with New England Choice Awards

    WALTHAM, MA (TIP): Seven Indian-American luminaries and two organizations received New England Choice Awards at a black-tie gala last month at Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA. Philanthropists Jaishree and Desh Deshpande, founders of the Deshpande Foundation, were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

    The winners in each category are :

    Academics -Vijay Kumar, Associate Dean of Digital Learning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Art and Culture (Individual) – Jothi Raghavan, Founder, Nrityanjali School of Dance, Art and Culture (Organization) – LearnQuest Academy of Music, Business and Entrepreneurship – Amar Sawhney, Chairman and CEO, Ocular Therapeutix Inc Community Catalyst – Puran Dang, Mithas, IAL, IIT-SINE, TiE-Boston, Ekal and others

    Healthcare – Dr. Dinesh Patel, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School

    Non-Profit Organization – Saheli Philanthropy – Venkat Srinivasan, Vice Chair, American India Foundation (AIF)

    Youth Leadership – Gautam Narula, Award Winning Author: Remain Free

    The New England Choice Awards are presented by INE MultiMedia in collaboration with INDIA New England News, the region’s oldest and largest online, print and video magazine serving the South Asian community. INE received more than 250 nominations for these awards. A jury of 11 individual selected the final winners.

    “The jury has chosen the legends of our community for the first New England Choice Awards,” said Dr. Manju Sheth, CEO of INE MultiMedia, a Waltham, MA-based non-profit organization devoted to promoting and supporting charitable organizations, art, culture, education and empowerment through workshops, seminars and multimedia.

    Philanthropists Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande and Jaishree Deshpande were recognized for their support for education, innovation and entrepreneurship in the New England region and worldwide.

    Upendra Mishra, publisher of INDIA New England News and the IndUS Business Journal, said “We are honoring Jaishree, Desh and the Deshpande Foundation in recognition of their invaluable support of education, innovation, entrepreneurship and helping create a new generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs in the United States, India, and Canada.” The Deshpande Foundation founded by the couple promotes social entrepreneurship by supporting a variety of non-profit organizations in India working in the areas of health, education, microcredit and agriculture.

  • Mary Kom to receive ‘Legends Award’ from AIBA

    Mary Kom to receive ‘Legends Award’ from AIBA

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Celebrated Indian boxer MC Mary Kom is all set to add another honor to her glittering career when she receives the ‘Legends Award’ from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) on its 70th anniversary on December 20.

    An Olympic bronze-medallist and a five-time world champion, Mary Kom is also Rajya Sabha MP now.

    “I would like to thank the AIBA President and officials for this prestigious award. This recognition from AIBA will encourage young boxers in our country to work hard. It is a very emotional as well as a motivating day for me,” Mary Kom said reacting to the honour.

    “Even after so many years, if people remember you and your achievements it shows their generosity and love towards me. Thank you once again for this award, it’s a memory I would cherish for my lifetime,” she added.

    AIBA is celebrating its 70th Anniversary on December 20 during which it will present the award to Mary Kom.

    Mary Kom is also a multiple-time Asian champion and was named an AIBA brand ambassador during the World Championships earlier this year. (PTI)

  • New York City Council honors Ranju Batra for securing Diwali Stamp

    New York City Council honors Ranju Batra for securing Diwali Stamp

    NEW YORK (TIP): The New York City Council honored, November 15, businesswoman, community leader and chairperson of Diwali Stamp Project, Ranju Batra for her singular achievement in having a Diwali Stamp issued by the USPS.

    Batra’s journey to have the US postal department issue a Diwali stamp started in 2010. She discussed the idea of a Diwali stamp with community leaders only to learn that many had already tried only to fail. But this did not deter Ranju. She was able to get support from multiple members of Congress and collected thousands upon thousands of paper petitions. The then-Consul General Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay authored the official poem of the Diwali Stamp Project and during the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, Ranju Batra asked Prime Minister Modi to support the stamp and the Prime Minister wrote to President Obama, as well as to the Postmaster General.

    Ranju Batra’s perseverance and single minded devotion bore fruit. On August 23, 2016, the announcement was made that the Diwali Stamp was approved. On October 5, 2016 at the Consulate General of India, history was made and Diwali Forever Stamp was unveiled at an official function of the USPS jointly with Consulate General of India and Diwali Stamp Project.

    Ranju Batra has dedicated her life to serving the public. Born in India, she immigrated to the United States in 1975. She has a successful business record and still finds time for social, civic, political and charitable activities, including working as a trustee of the Hindu Center in Flushing.

    She served as President of Association of Indians in America (AIA), New York Chapter in 2011-12.

  • Madhu Saran made Global Ambassador of Women Entrepreneurship Day

    Madhu Saran made Global Ambassador of Women Entrepreneurship Day

    UNITED NATIONS: Madhu Saran, a leading social entrepreneur from Chennai was named ‘Women Entrepreneurship Day Global Ambassador of India’ by Wendy Diamond, Founder Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) at a glittering function held in the United Nations headquarters on Friday, November 18.

    Women’s Entrepreneurship Day WED carries throughout the year in support of women in business globally and ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide.

    WED is celebrated in 144 countries and 110 universities/colleges internationally reaching over 1.4 million people. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill

    de Blasio have proclaimed Women’s Entrepreneurship Day an official day.
    According to the Global Poverty Project, women make up half the world’s population and yet represent a staggering 70 percent of the world’s poor. Gender inequality affects women everywhere, not just in developing countries. In the US, equal pay for equal work is still a dream even in Hollywood. Nurturing the self-confidence of girls and young women is a must. It is these considerations that motivated entrepreneur Wendy Diamond to launch Women’s Entrepreneur Day (WED).

    After volunteering in Honduras with the Adelante Foundation, which provides micro credit to low-income women, Diamond decided to form an international event that would celebrate and advance the work of female business owners, entrepreneurs and change makers. The goal is to empower the 4 billion women on the planet and bring hope to 250 million girls living in poverty. From the immediate success of WED, it’s clear that the global movement to empower women entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators was waiting to be activated.

    WED was first held at the United Nations in 2014 and, incredibly, observed in 144 countries right from the start, opening a bounty of impact community service ideas across the world. The third annual International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day at the UN, led by serious discussions about critical issues affecting women and men worldwide.

    “Women worldwide have historically been underpaid, undervalued, underrepresented, underfunded – and underestimated…and still are,” says Diamond. “Women-owned businesses are set to increase by 90 percent in the next five years. We need to change the status quo because lifting women creates economic opportunity and vitality locally and globally,” said Diamond.

    According to WED report, Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, yet earn only 10 percent of the world’s income. At the same time, they account for 85 percent of consumer purchases and control $20 trillion in worldwide spending.

    “Our mission is to empower the 4 billion women across the globe to be catalysts of change and uplift the 250 million girls living in poverty globally. We are committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who can amplify our message of expanding women in business in communities around the world,” said Diamond.

    Distinguished speakers for WED 2016 at the United Nations include Amir Dossal, founder and chairman of Global Partnership Forum, Amrith Rohan Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UN, Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Cristina Gollach, UN Under-Secretary General for Communications, Ambassador Lizzie Flores; Dr. Shefali Tsabary (World-Renowned Clinical Psychologist); Monique Giggy (Director Singularity University Accelerator) and Randi Zukerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media.

    Ms. Saran made her space printed in India and abroad over 16 years of business experience which includes software, construction, beauty industry, media and social Services. Ms. Saran is the spirit behind the success of strategy and directions as Managing Director of her companies. She combines her conviction that education is the most effective transformation tool and her unshakable belief in scalable and sustainable practices for social inclusion to champion the cause of academic – industry linkage.

    She leads the seamless integration of the firm’s strategy, people and customers with the intent to build a world – class organization committed to professional skill development, employability and inclusion. Her dream come true company is RIVER – The Power of Women is social service companies which focus only onto women’s.

    She is dedicating her time on to rural female and young rural girls onto their education, employability and molding the right females to become an entrepreneur in current industry. She holds a master degree from Madras University and has received several prestigious awards from many industries including from Government of India.

     

  • The Sikh Awards 2016 to honor global Sikh excellence given away in London

    The Sikh Awards 2016 to honor global Sikh excellence given away in London

    LONDON (TIP): Mr. Bob Singh Dhillon, Founder, President and CEO of Mainstreet Equity Corp, Canada’s highest performing real estate company with assets valued over $1.5 billion, was named Business Man of the Year at the 7th annual The Sikh Awards 2016 on Saturday, 19th November 2016 at Park Plaza Hotel, London. The coveted award is in recognition of an organization or individual that has best demonstrated how they have made exceptional financial returns, shown strong growth, innovative strategies and clear market leadership in the sector.

    Mr. Dhillon Founded Mainstreet which consists of nearly 10,000 apartment units in Western Canada. He sits on the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Board and is also the Honorary Consul General for Belize, owning a private 3,000-acre island in Belize. Mr. Dhillon is also the owner of National Payments, a Visa and MasterCard approved merchant processing business. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, the Ernst & Young 2015.

    Entrepreneur of the Year, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People and recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential Indians in North America.

    A major philanthropist donating $500,000 to the town of San Pedro, Belize, he raised $60,000 for underprivileged children in San Pedro and donated free apartment suites to victims of the Slave Lake, Fort McMurray Alberta fires.

    Other high profile winners this year included:

    Ms Kiran Singh (UK) – Business Woman award; Mr. Supreet Singh Manchanda (USA) – Entrepreneur Award; Khalsa Aid (UK) – Sikhs in Charity;  Dr Brinder Singh Mahon (UK) – Sikhs in Education; Mrs. Manika Kaur (Dubai) – Sikhs in Entertainment;  Akaal Television / Mr. Amrik Singh Kooner (UK) – Sikhs in Media;  Mr. Jaspal Singh Bindra (India) – Sikhs in Profession;  Mr. Gurmeet Singh (India) – Sikhs in Seva;  Mr. Ram Singh Nayyar (Canada) – Sikhs in Sport;  Natasha Kaur Mudhar (UK) – The Sikh People’s Choice Award; Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji (India) – The Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Dubai) – The Special Recognition Award.

    Hosted by Ranvir Singh, a journalist and broadcaster, best known for her presenting role on the ITV Breakfast program ‘Good Morning Britain’, The Sikh Awards recognizes the pivotal contributions made by the Sikh community across a variety of fields, from business, charity, education, entertainment, professional services, seva (selfless service), and sport, with winners selected across the globe from Asia, USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

    The prestigious event saw 750 guests in attendance from elite international dignitaries to public figures, community heroes, sports stars and celebrities.

     

     

  • Indian woman among Journalists honored for Courageous Reporting

    Indian woman among Journalists honored for Courageous Reporting

    LONDON (TIP): Journalists from India, Egypt, Turkey, and El Salvador were honored Tuesday, November 22 night in New York, at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 26th annual International Press Freedom Awards for courageous work amid risks including imprisonment, threats, and legal action.

    “These awardees are truly remarkable journalists, all of whom have carried out their work with the knowledge that doing so puts them in real danger,” said Sandra Mims Rowe, CPJ Board Chairman. “It is heartening to see such resolve, and to know that even under the most threatening conditions, journalists will always find a way to do their job.”

    Malini Subramaniam, who has reported on issues including abuses by police and security forces, and sexual violence against women in her home state of Chhattisgarh, India, received the award from Susan Chira, former deputy executive director for The New York Times and CPJ board member. Award-winning U.S. photojournalist Lynsey Addario presented an award in absentia to Mahmoud Abou Zeid, the Egyptian photojournalist also known as Shawkan, who has been imprisoned since August 2013. Can Dündar, the former editor-in-chief of Turkish daily Cumhuriyet who is facing imprisonment on charges of disclosing state secrets, received his award from Lindsey Hilsum, international editor for the U.K.’s Channel 4 News. Héctor Tobar, op-ed contributor to The New York Times and former LA Times journalist, presented the award to Óscar Martínez, an investigative reporter for the online news magazine El Faro. Martínez has been threatened for his coverage of gang violence and extrajudicial killings in El Salvador.

    Christiane Amanpour, chief international correspondent and anchor at CNN, received the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for her extraordinary efforts in the cause of press freedom. Her award was presented by Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who appeared via video because she is under a travel ban. Both Rezaian and Ismayilova were imprisoned for their work. Amanpour has consistently used her own journalism to defend the rights of journalists around the world.

    The awards dinner at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel was chaired by Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide, and hosted by David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and CPJ board member. The dinner raised $1.75 million for CPJ’s global advocacy and new Emergencies Response Team-including a special appeal during the evening that was matched by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

  • Chemistry professor Pradip Mascharak receives Outstanding Faculty Award

    Chemistry professor Pradip Mascharak receives Outstanding Faculty Award

    An Indian-Origin professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Pradip Mascharak, has received the 2015-16 Outstanding Faculty Award from University of California, Santa Cruz’s Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.

    Mascharak earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Burdwan, India, and his Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He joined the University of California, Santa Cruz faculty in 1984.

    The annual award is the division’s highest honor for faculty achievement, recognizing combined excellence in research, teaching, and service.

    Mascharak’s research focuses on the structure and function of enzymes, green chemistry, and designing novel drugs for cancer and other diseases. The author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, he is also recognized as a gifted teacher and mentor.

    “Professor Mascharak has an outstanding record in research, teaching and exceptional service to the campus and the broader scientific community. The Outstanding Faculty Award…is a richly deserved campus recognition for his exemplary record,” wrote Paul Koch, dean of physical and biological sciences, in a letter announcing the award.

    In recent years, Mascharak’s lab has been studying and synthesizing photoactive compounds that release nitric oxide or carbon monoxide when exposed to light. Since nitric oxide and carbon monoxide are biological signaling molecules with antimicrobial and other properties, there is great potential to use compounds that release them in biomedical therapies.

    Mascharak’s work with nitric oxide complexes has shown promise for both cancer therapy and antimicrobial treatments. For example, in collaboration with chemistry professor Scott Oliver, Mascharak has developed a composite powder that can be applied directly to a wound or incorporated into a bandage to prevent infection by drug-resistant bacteria. Since he began this thread of work in 2002, Mascharak has published nearly 70 papers in top chemistry and medical journals, and several of the complexes he developed have been patented.

    Despite teaching challenging courses, Mascharak regularly receives exceptional student evaluations. Over the course of his tenure at UC Santa Cruz, he has advised 24 Ph.D. students who have graduated, eight of whom are currently faculty members at other institutions. For his exceptional work mentoring minority students and encouraging them to succeed, he received the Excellence Through Diversity Award.

    Mascharak is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship. In 2017, he will receive the Chemical Research Society of India Medal, a highly selective award given to scientists of Indian origin who have contributed extensively to the promotion of the field.

    This great honor follows another unique achievement in 2014, when Mascharak was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman Gold Medal in a ceremony at the House of Lords in London. This award recognizes outstanding service and achievements by Indians in the international arena.

  • Hollande awards France’s Legion of Honour to UN’s Ban Ki-moon

    Hollande awards France’s Legion of Honour to UN’s Ban Ki-moon

    PARIS (TIP): United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon received the Legion of Honour from French President Francois Hollande on Nov 17 for his contributions to tackling climate change.

    The South Korean diplomat helped push through the 2015 Paris Agreement, a deal aimed at moving away from fossil fuels to cleaner energies that was signed by almost 200 countries after nearly two decades of negotiations.

    “It was largely because of your contribution, because many years ago you started putting this topic on all the agendas,” Hollande said at the ceremony of Ban’s efforts.

    The Legion of Honour was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte and is considered to be one of France’s highest civilian awards.

    “By doing this you are rewarding our honourable organisation and I feel deeply honoured and proud,” said Ban, who will step down as head of the 193-member world organisation after 10 years on January 1. He will be replaced by Antonio Guterres of Portugal. (Reuters)

  • Mayor Bill de Blasio announces winners of 34th Annual Awards for Excellence in Design

    Mayor Bill de Blasio announces winners of 34th Annual Awards for Excellence in Design

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Public Design Commission President Signe Nielsen and Executive Director of the Commission Justin Moore announced, November 16 the winners of the Annual Awards for Excellence in Design. Every year, the City’s Design Commission selects and honors public projects across the five boroughs that exemplify how innovative and thoughtful design can provide New Yorkers with the best possible public spaces and services and engender a sense of civic pride.

    This year’s honorees span diverse fields and range from small-scale to large, including the opening of Dock 72 in Brooklyn to the citywide, technological milestone LinkNYC. Additionally, projects such as the Snug Harbor Cultural Center Music Hall Addition and The High Line Park Passage and Spur will allow for more cultural exchange and recreational opportunities for residents. This year’s honorees help prepare New York City to thrive in the 21st century, from technological connectivity to business development to expanded areas for exercise and improved health.

    “The winners of this year’s Excellence in Design Awards highlight NYC’s dedication to providing a wide range of design and public spaces that speak to the modern day New Yorker and meet the needs of a large, active and diverse city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Today, we are here to honor and to celebrate the work of these innovators, who have invested in creating inclusive public projects across the five boroughs.”

    “These thoughtful and innovative designs support the de Blasio Administration’s commitment to providing quality, equitable, and resilient public spaces to all New Yorkers. By utilizing good design principles, these projects will provide the public with increased access to the waterfront, open spaces and parks; improved places for play and community gatherings; and inspiring artworks,” said Public Design Commission President Signe Nielsen.

    “Part of what makes our city great is the quality of our public realm and the creativity and ingenuity found in our design community and city agencies. These award-winning projects range from new technologies to improved neighborhood parks and public artwork. They show that design excellence is an important part of New York’s leadership in promoting innovation, sustainability, and equity in cities,” said Public Design Commission Executive Director Justin Moore.

    The Public Design Commission: The Public Design Commission reviews permanent works of architecture, landscape architecture, and art proposed on or over City-owned property. The Commission comprises 11 members, including an architect, landscape architect, painter, sculptor, and three lay members, as well as representatives of the Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, and the Mayor.

    Members of the Commission serve pro bono and meet once per month. Projects are submitted by City agencies and include the construction, renovation, or restoration of buildings and other structures; the creation or rehabilitation of parks, playgrounds, and plazas; installation of lighting and other streetscape elements; signage; and the installation and conservation of artwork and memorials. The Commission has been honoring these projects annually since 1983.

  • Indian American attorney receives US Justice Dept.’s highest honor

    Indian American attorney receives US Justice Dept.’s highest honor

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Assistant U.S. Attorney Aloke S. Chakravarty from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Massachusetts received US Justice Dept.’s highest honor as one of the members of a team that worked on Dzhokhar Tsarnaev case. US Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service, the department’s highest award for employee performance, was presented on November 10 at the 64th Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony.

    Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch recognized 376 Justice Department employees for their distinguished public service at the Ceremony. Forty-seven other individuals outside of the department were also honored for their work. This annual ceremony recognizes individuals for their outstanding service and dedication to carrying out the missions of the Department of Justice.

    “The Attorney General’s Awards provide us with a rare opportunity to honor the efforts of outstanding department employees and our invaluable partners across the federal government and at the state and local levels,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Their work has made our nation – and our world – stronger, safer and more just, and I am proud of and inspired by each and every one of them.”

    The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is the department’s highest award for employee performance. This year’s award was presented to the team responsible for the investigation and prosecution of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

    On April 15, 2013, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev detonated two powerful improvised explosive devices near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three, maiming 17 and injuring hundreds more in the largest mass-casualty terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001. Following a manhunt during which the brothers killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shoot-out with police and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested.

    Members of the FBI’s Boston Field Office oversaw a worldwide investigation that involved more than 6,000 items of physical and digital evidence, over 100,000 photographs and videos and more than 1,000 witness interviews. Tsarnaev was charged in a 30-count indictment with numerous crimes of terrorism and other violent offenses. Over the course of a 10-week trial, the prosecution team introduced over 1,000 exhibits and called more than 100 witnesses to the stand, including 14 victims who lost limbs in the bombings; family members of the murdered; other survivors and eye witnesses; fingerprint, DNA, bomb, ballistics and terrorism experts; and law enforcement officers. The prosecutors also cross-examined nearly 50 defense witnesses during the penalty-phase defense case. A jury found Tsarnaev guilty on all 30 counts in the indictment. He was sentenced to death on six counts and to life in prison on 11 other counts, and was ordered to pay $101 million in restitution to the victims.

     

  • Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk receives global award in USA

    Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk receives global award in USA

    LOS ANGELES (TIP): Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer from Ladakh, India, who was the inspiration behind Aamir Khan’s “Phunsukh Wangdu” character in the blockbuster film 3 Idiots, was one of the recipients of the 2016 Rolex Awards for Enterprise for his remedy to combat severe seasonal water scarcity in the western Himalayas by building artificial glaciers – “ice stupas” shaped like Buddhist monuments – to store water to irrigate and reforest desert land.

    To mark the 40th anniversary of the program this year, Rolex decided to present Awards to five Laureates and five Young Laureates. The 10 winners received their Awards at a ceremony on 15 November 2016 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Each winner received a Rolex chronometer and funding for their project (Laureates receive 100,000 Swiss francs, and Young Laureates, between 18-30 years old, 50,000 Swiss francs). They will benefit from a worldwide publicity campaign.

    Sonam Wangchuk is helping farmers in Ladakh to overcome water shortages by building artificial glaciers. In spring, farmers who live at 3,500 m in the trans-Himalayan mountains of Ladakh, in India, face acute water shortages. Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk’s ingenious solution is to freeze glacial melt water into towering conical mounds resembling Tibetan religious stupas. These ice stupas behave like mini-glaciers, slowly releasing irrigation water for the growing season.

    Wangchuk’s design builds on the experimental work of fellow Ladakhi engineer Chewang Norphel, who created flat artificial glaciers. Wangchuk realized, however, that a workable structure must have a minimal surface area to provide protection from the sun, especially at lower altitudes. Thanks to this design, ice stupas melt at a slower rate than flat ice. The 2015 prototype, the result of a crowdfunding campaign that paid for a 2.3 km pipeline to direct glacial streams down to the village desert, lasted until early July, supplying 1.5 million liters of meltwater to 5,000 saplings planted by locals. With his Rolex Award funds he intends to create up to 20 ice stupas, each 30 meters high, and initiate a substantial tree-planting program on the desert near their school once the new water supply system is established.

    Wangchuk believes that education and care for the environment go hand in hand. In addition to his work with young people at SECMOL, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, through its Alternative School he has started work on establishing an alternative university in the same area. His objective is to engage young people from the Himalayas and beyond in eco-solutions for mountain areas.

  • Indian origin Manan Shah named national finalist in 2016 Siemens Competition

    Indian origin Manan Shah named national finalist in 2016 Siemens Competition

    SAN JOSE (TIP): The Siemens Foundation recently announced that an Indian American student at San Jose, Calif.-based Harker School, is one of the winners of its 2016 Siemens Competition.

    Manan Shah’swork “Deep Learning Assessment of Tumor Proliferation in Histopathological Images for Categorical and Molecular Breast Cancer Severity and Diagnosis” -earned him top individual honors and a$3,000 scholarship for developing a computational model that will help pathologists more rapidly and accurately assess the severity of breast cancer tumor growth and spread.

    Shah now moves on to the final stage of the competition in Washington, D.C., which will take place in early December. A total of $500,000 in scholarships will be distributed to winners, and two contestants will be awarded the top prize of $100,000

    “These students are truly amazing,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “They are presenting cutting-edge, advanced research that is addressing some of the most critical issues facing our world today.”

    The Siemens Competition, launched in 1999 by the Siemens Foundation, was established to increase access to higher education for students who are gifted in STEM and is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens. This competition, administered by Discovery Education, seeks to recognize and hopefully build a strong pipeline for the nation’s most promising scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

    The Siemens Foundation announced on Oct. 20 that Harker senior Manan Shah and juniors Randy Zhao and Rajiv Movva were named regional finalists in this year’s Siemens Competition. These three students will compete in November for a chance to move on to the final stage of the competition in Washington, D.C. One of the country’s most prestigious science competitions, the Siemens Competition rigorously evaluates individual and team research projects submitted by high school students and awards more than $600,000 in scholarships through regional and national events.

    Earlier this week, 19 Harker students were named Siemens semifinalists, the most of any school in California. More than 1,600 projects were submitted for the 2016 competition, and 498 students were named semifinalists. Harker’s semifinalists make up 3.8% of the total.