An Ocean Of Knowledge!
Recently, the Director of NIO, S.S. Bhatnagar Awardee, Dr. S.W.A. Naqvi “N – I – awed” the STD XII students of Mushtifund Aryaan Higher Secondary School on 5th May ’16. He was warmly welcomed by the Director of the Institute, Mr. Vyankatesh Prabhudesai who revealed to the students that he was once associated with Dr. Naqvi while working on a project at the NIO. The Director said that he was in awe of Dr. Naqvi, for being such a great researcher, having a vast experience of more than two decades and yet so humble and grounded at the same time.
The double degree holder, who has spent 1000 days at sea, kick started the enrapturing presentation with the illustrations of the first oceanographic expedition, the S.S. Challenger, in 1876, interestingly a century before he first joined NIO in 1974. He held the students in rapt attention as he spoke about the Solar system and the little intricate overlooked things that perfectly fell in place making life possible on the Earth. Expanding on the questions asked, Dr. Naqvi spoke about plate tectonic movements, seafloor bed expansion and the causes and detection of earthquakes.
Dr. Naqvi addressed the issue of alarming climatic changes, which not only adversely affects the marine life but poses great danger to humans as well. He also stressed on the fact that the abnormal CO2 concentration, rising sea level and high global temperature was not a part of the periodic cyclic changes of the geological timescale and stated that the steady deterioration of the delicate balance of the Earth’s environment has led us to a point where we are on the cusp of something ecologically unpredictable.Dr. Naqvi provided the students with a lot of data and information to back the facts that he was presenting.
There was a question and answer session post the presentation which was entirely coordinated by the Director, Mr. Vyankatesh Prabhudesai. Dr. Naqvi answered all the queries with a lot of enthusiasm and he enthralled the inquisitive students with the fascinating mysteries of the oceanic sciences. He also motivated the students to take up research in especially Physics, Chemistry and Biology sciences and inspired them to really do what they want in life with passion and not just for monetary gains. It was a lifetime lesson that all students will follow and cherish. In the end M.A.H.S.S. Staff member, Hetal G. Gangani, was awarded the Employee of the Year Award by the hands of Dr. Naqvi and a prize of Rs.10,000 ( from the Aryaan Study Circle Trust).
The Director, staff members and students were in high spirits and elated to have interacted with a personality as Dr. Naqvi.
– Prepared by Kajol Amin and Hetal G.