3 new missions with AI, ML technologies

The projects include waste to wealth, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) - based technologies for versatile applications and millet mission.

CSIR's first woman director general N. Kalaiselvi said, "At present, I am prioritizing three new missions. The waste-to-wealth mission will bring the scientific processing of waste to the forefront to build a zero landfill and zero-waste nation. All 38 CSIR laboratories will contribute to utilizing waste through research and innovation to provide maximum benefit to society."

The DG suggested that four city-based laboratories should not stick only to their expertise but take their research beyond the boundaries of the institutes' specialization.

CIMAP has already taken steps in this direction by working on developing cutlery from waste from banana plant stalk and others, vermicompost from waste and growing mushrooms on agricultural waste and others.

Kalaiselvi said the AI and ML mission will make the best use of technology to take scientific inventions and research to a new level while the millet mission comes with the hope of developing new varieties of millet that are nutritious and can be easily grown in different climates.

Kalaiselvi said, "Science and females have a lot of synergy. All female scientists and science students must know that science is one subject that can be restarted, revived and renewed at any point of time."

She said just like a computer can be rebooted at any time science can also be rebooted.

If in case some female scientist or student is unable to continue her studies or research due to any reason, then even after a gap of one year or more she can very well reboot, she said.

The DG expressed happiness at the fact that the number of science students in higher education institutes is rising.

She said, "I think we should not worry about the percentage of women in science at present as the number of girls pursuing higher education in science has gone up considerably."

She said gradually women's participation not only in science but in almost every field will increase. Days are not far when male community would demand special drives for increased participation of male students and professionals in every field.