Artwork by Akshita Arora
From conversation on:
May 20, 2023
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The discussion with Prof. Thejesh N. Bandi was exciting, and enlightening in equal parts wherein we ruminated over the fundamental reasons, rhymes, and philosophy, uncovering the very fabric that defines our while - time. Talking about of one the central themes of present world scientific frontiers which deal with precision metrology in an attempt to better understand the physical laws that govern nature, we talked about the need and motivation for undertaking the highly demanding experiments, and what drove Prof. Bandi's contributions in building India's first-ever space grade atomic clock at the Space Applications Centre, ISRO. Combined his patient art of laying down complex ideas with simplicity, Prof. Bandi's riveting insights from his elaborate experiences over the years of working with some of the world's biggest research institutions made for a set of marvelous stories that bring together the essence of what human curiosity can achieve.
If one has a drive to venture into the world of Atomic Clocks or any field in general…. my advise would be to focus on the basics and principles, be it mechanical engineering, electronics, science or anything for that matter… strengthen that. And when you want to make a shift to that field… all the basics and fundamentals will surely come into play. Therefore, whatever one embarks into, the drive should be, “ How can I contribute? â€, and that drive is what makes you cherish what you do.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Prof. Thejesh N. Bandi Associate Professor, University of Alabama, USA
Dr. Thejesh N. Bandi is the Principal Investigator of the Precision Navigation, Time and Frequency (PNTF) group at the University of Alabama. His research interests span from basic atomic and ion spectroscopy to its novel implementation methods with the atomic clocks, and the related metrological studies. He is involved in the space clocks R&D for the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), time scales, precision frequency and time synchronization schemes and related applications. Dr. Bandi was a Postdoctoral Fellow at JPL-NASA/Caltech, Pasadena, CA, where he worked on compact mercury ion clock. He was the head of the atomic clock division at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where he conceptualized, designed, and lead the successful research and development of the advanced indigenous space clock for the Indian navigation program.