NEWS LETTER AND RECENT ACTIVITIES Dear Indian JSPS Alumni Members, I am sure that you all would be aware about the multiple tragedies struck to Japan recently. Still aftershocks are raking Japan mostly in the north eastern side of Japan (counted so far 650 and continuing….), and many great men are heroically fighting to control the nuclear radiation coming from the crippled nuclear reactors. All these things started around four weeks ago and within 3 min, on that fateful day, until then everything was safe and all who were in Japan were enjoying their life and expecting the Sakura Blossoms. These points out about the helplessness of human beings when these kinds of nature’s fury lashed out on them and it reminds us that no one is safe in this world. This brings the sentence written by Mr. Mahesh Dattani in “The Week” to my notice that “Sometimes, the ultimate test of a civilisation’s greatness comes at the time of adversity. Not a single culture or nation exists that has not been struck by natural or man-made disasters. The world has survived wars, natural calamities and pestilence. In most instances, what brought the nation back on its feet was the sense of community that compelled people to help one another.” Yes, that is true, this is the time which we have to come together as community to help Japan who gave us a helping hand at the beginning of our career and most of us reached the current position based on that. I am sure; many in our association remembered it and that is why I had received lot of mails from our members saying that we have to help Japan back. I am happy that our members lived up to their expectations at this difficult moment of Japan. Our executive committee decided to request to our members to provide their “One day salary” to show the solidarity with Japan as the Japan Relief Fund of Indian JSPS Alumni Association. (If you would like to provide more, we are always happy to receive the same – Our gesture is important that “We all are with you - Japan” – Not the amount). When I had mentioned our executive committee’s decision to JSPS, Prof. Motoyuki Ono, President of JSPS had sent a letter to me addressing to our members to distribute among our Indian JSPS Alumni Members; expressing his appreciation and thanks to each and every Indian JSPS Alumni Members for being along with Japan at this difficult moment. Please find the letter attached to this mail. I am also attaching a badge along with this mail. If your institution allows, then please wear the badge for one day to show the solidarity with Japan and pray for the souls departed us on that eventful day. (If you could send a photograph of yours’ wearing the badge, we would upload the same in our web site) For receiving the relief fund, we are going to use the same account which we are operating for our next seminar to be held at TVM, Kerala. Please transfer your amount to this account. Account Name: M/s ICFST 2011 Account No: 556502010003154 Money transfer: IFSC Code: UBIN0555657 Bank Name: Union of Bank, Poojapura Branch, Thiruvannathapuram-695 012, Kerala Last date of receipt: April 30 th, Note: Please mention that this transfer is for “ Japan Relief Fund- IJAA” Yours sincerely, For Executive Committee, Prof. D. Sakthi Kumar, Chairman, IJAA Bridge 2010 fellowship program Dear JSPS Alumni members….. I am very happy to announce BRIDGE 2010 fellowship program. Our alumni association have been designated to nominate 2 (two) BRIDGE fellows for this year too. Details regarding BRIDGE fellowship and application forms can be found from the following link. http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-plaza/22_bridge.html and more details about Bridge fellowship - Indian Alumni Associations from the following link http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-plaza/bridge/india/index.html Visit period and Dates 1. A period of from 14 to 45 days 2. Under this recruitment, revisits are to be started during the following period: 1 July 2010 through 31 March 2011 Last date for the application submission: 10 th April 2010. Please submit your application forms to bridgeindianprogram@gmail.com Points to be noted: Of the shortlisted candidates, the first preference shall be given to JSPS fellows who have completed JSPS fellowship program and are having at least 5 years of post JSPS experience as well as currently working in India. However, if candidates are not available in this category, then preference shall be given to others. Members who have joined Indian JSPS Alumni Association after the announcement of Bridge Fellowship program by JSPS (2010) shall not be eligible for consideration for this year’s round. Along with your application, please submit a brief statement about your efforts and activities done so far to broaden the information about the JSPS programs and Indian JSPS Alumni Association. Please submit your host professors acceptance form along with your application form. "Registration form for the annual get together 2010, May 10-11, IIT Delhi,New Delhi" Last date March 10 th. Click here to Download Dear JSPS Alumni members….. Warm greetings from Indian JSPS Alumni Association. May God bless you and your family throughout year 2010 and wish that it’s each and every moment be a memorable one. Wish you and your family A Very Happy New Year!!!! I am very happy to inform you all that our alumni association have been designated to nominate 2 (two) BRIDGE fellows; a novel coneptual program introduced by JSPS to promote and strenghten the continued research contacts developed by JSPS fellows during their tenure and to promote Alumni Associations . Details regarding BRIDGE fellowship and application forms can be found from the following link. http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-plaza/21_invitation.html and more details about Bridge fellowship - Indian Alumni Associations from the following link http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-plaza/21_invitation/india/index.html This fellowship will be provided each and every year from this year onwards. Though first time JSPS is providing only 2 fellowships through Indian JSPS Alumni Association, number of Bridge fellowships might be increased from next year onwards. Since the fund is allocated to this financial year which ends by March 31st 2010, persons who would be able to start their Bridge fellowship tenure before March 31, 2010 should apply (selected fellows should start the fellowship tenure, not to complete the tenure...) Last date for the application submission: 11 th January 2010. Please submit your application forms to bridgeindianprogram@gmail.com Points to be noted: 1.Of the shortlisted candidates, the first preference shall be given to JSPS fellows who have completed JSPS fellowship program and are having at least 5 years of post JSPS expereinceas well as currently working in India. However, if candidates are not available in this category, then preference shall be given to others. 2.Members who have joined Indian JSPS Alumni Association after the announcement of Bridge Fellowship program by JSPS shall not be eligible for consideration for this year. 3.Along with your application, please submit a brief statement about your efforts and activities done so far to broaden the information about the JSPS programs and Indian JSPS Alumni Association. JSPS Alumni get together and Seminar 2010 I am happy to inform you all that we will be conducting our JSPS Alumni get together and science seminar from 2010. This year we shall start it from Delhi (Most probably by the end of February or early March 2010 –exact date and information shall be updated soon ). Our yearly seminar shall be conducted at different places in India, every year. More information regarding our JSPS Alumni Association activities shall be provided in subsequent mails. Once again wish you all A Very Happy New Year and all the best for your BRIDGE application form. If you have any qurries please feel free to contact me. Yours Dr. D. Sakthi Kumar Chairman, Indian JSPS Alumni Association Started discussion on official logo and Letter head for our Association in our Yahoo group.