BITS Pilani Talk on X-ray Crystallography by Synthetic Inorganic Chemist Prof Bikshandarkoil R Srinivasan

Online, October 23, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Nobel laureates for whom this technique fetched the coveted honor over the years include Max von Laue (X-ray scattering), William H Bragg & William L Bragg (Braggs' Law), Linus Pauling (Alpha Helix), J.D. Watson & F.C.H. Crick (DNA), Max Perutz & J.C. Kendrews (Haemoglobin), Dorothy C. Hodgin (Vitamin B-12) and the latest Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Ribosome).

For Nobel Laureate Derek Harold Richard Barton, X-Ray crystallography is an accurate and rapid method of determining conformation in the crystal lattice.

Crystallography which is concerned with the methods and results of investigating the arrangement of atoms in matter, especially when that configuration has regular features is truly interdisciplinary bordering pure Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Mineralogy and also Technology.

X-ray diffraction is capable of providing practically all information about structure of matter at atomic resolution as well as the best for precise structural information and much more.

Bikshandarkoil R Srinivasan holds a Masters in Chemistry from Central University Hyderabad and PhD from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. He is with Goa University Chemistry department for the past two decades doing teaching and research.

Recipient of Young Scientist Award by the Indian Council of Chemists in 1991, Prof Srinivasan has been regularly visiting University of Kiel in Germany for the past couple of years and has also visited University of Karlsruhe Germany during May 1995 to July 1996 under DAAD as well as DST-DAAD fellowships.

Under his guidance, 5 have completed PhD and 4 are under pursuit. He has published over 50 papers both in Indian and International Journals. Dr Srinivasan works in active collaboration with Prof Wolfgang Bensch who is Director of Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at University of Kiel.

Organized by the Chemistry group of Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani, on 21 October 2009 Prof Srinivasan gave a talk on "Emerging Trends in X-ray Crystallography: Weak interactions". Starting with the history of the technique, the talk gave an overview of same and its usefulness in modern day research.

Using selected examples of compounds containing tetrahedral and octahedral building blocks, the talk highlighted the importance of study of weak interactions with focus on Hydrogen bonding.

Dr Srinivasan is of the opinion that in recent times, national journals like Indian Journal of Chemistry (Section A) where he has published papers have been processing the manuscripts speedily thus reducing the time between paper submission and paper publication.

During his visit to Pilani, Dr Srinivasan was pleasantly surprised to meet several alumni of IIT Kanpur who were his close friends which included Prof Siva Subramanian who is presently Chief of Computer Assisted Houskeeping Unit at BITS.

For Bikshandarkoil R Srinivasan, research in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry is a mission with passion. For contacting Dr Srinivasan at Chemistry Department, Goa University, Goa 403206 India Email srini(at)unigoa.ac.in