Nanotechnologist Katti tells students to be inquisitive

Dharwad: Renowned nano-scientist Dr Kattesh Katti, known as the Father of Green Nanotechnology, called upon the students to be inquisitive about everything right from childhood to be able to discover new things.
Participating in an interactive session with students and teachers of the institutions run by the Karnatak Education Board at the KE Board High School here, he said that teachers and parents should encourage students who seek to know about new things and try to help them with information.
An alumni of KE Board’s High School, Katti is the professor of radiology and physics, director, Institute of Green Nanotechnology, University of Missouri-Columbia.
He said schools and teachers at the primary and secondary level play a major role in shaping the career of the students and as such they should be serious in their work.
Explaining nanoscience, he said that it is the study of structures and materials on an ultra-small scale. The physical and chemical properties of matter change at the nano level. Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionise a diverse range of fields, from healthcare to manufacturing, he said.
The application of nanotechnology in medicine and healthcare is referred to as nanomedicine, and it has been used to combat cardiovascular diseases and cancer, Katti said.
At a workshop for the students and teachers, Katti made them produce Mangiferin gold nano particles by using a mango leaf extract and tea leaf extract successfully.
The director of the Karnatak State Higher Education Academy, S M Shivaprasad, explained with a demonstration how nanotechnolohy will dominate all fields in the world in the next 10-15 years and change the entire global scenario.
Teachers and the students need to be prepared to adapt to the changing scenarios, he said.
KE Board chairman Shrikant Patil, secretary DS Rajpurohit, treasurer SN Parande and others were present.