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AUSTRALIAN and Indian scientists and researchers came together to discuss the use of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology to enhance sustainable agriculture and healthcare.
25 top scientists representing represented a number of Indian universities and research institutes, including the University of Mumbai, Shankara Nethralaya Vision Research Foundation in Chennai, and The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) joined Australian scientists at two workshops, held at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus.
Their visit was supposed by the Australia India Strategic Research Foundation. During the workshops, participants also worked together to develop joint research projects that seek solutions of common interest to Australia and India.
The “Collaborative Workshop on Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) and their Applications in Health Care” saw discussions around a low cost, point-of-care MEMS-based diagnostic device developed at Deakin University, which has the potential to transform medical diagnosis in rural India.
Deakin’s Professor of Micro and Nano Systems, Professor Lingxue Kong, from the Institute for Frontier Materials, said that this research is at the “forefront of its field” and can test for a range of diseases such as the SARS and Avian viruses, or breast cancer, while reducing testing time and requiring lower level expertise to use.
According to Professor Kong, MEMS has a huge range of potential applications. MEMS technology combines computers with miniscule mechanical devices, such as sensors, valves and gears, which are embedded in semiconductor chips.
The other workshop, titled “Nanobiotechnology Applications to Improve Plant Productivity and Ecosystems Services” explored the use of nanomolecules to improve plant productivity, in areas such as delivering agrochemicals and improving biofuels, as well as bioremediation, food security and genetic methods for improving drought tolerance and quality of plant products.
The workshops coincided with the recent announcement of the expansion of the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Research Centre that will see a $10 million state-of-the-art facility built in India, and several new MOUs with Indian institutions, including the Shankara Nethralaya Vision Research Foundation.