Latest news with #Srinivas
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
First Singaporean appointed as a chief scientific adviser to European Commission
Life sciences professor Mangala Srinivas is head of the cell biology and immunology department at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. SINGAPORE – Life sciences professor Mangala Srinivas, 44, is the first Singaporean among a team of top scientists advising European Union (EU) politicians on shaping new policies and laws based on science. Prof Srinivas, who is based in the Netherlands, is one of seven new chief scientific advisers to the European Commission – the EU's executive body – and the first non-EU citizen to take up this role, which was created in 2015. The advisers, who serve three-year terms, were chosen from around 400 nominees, including Nobel laureates. Appointed in May, Prof Srinivas – along with the other advisers – provides independent advice to the European Commission's political leaders on any science-related matter, including policy issues that the European Parliament and the European Council consider to be of major importance. Topics that previous advisers have weighed in include sustainable agriculture, cancer screening, clean energy and controversial methods to reduce global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space. Their opinions and reports are published on the commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism website. The 2022 opinion on cancer screening, for example, underpinned the new EU Cancer Screening Scheme, which aims to ensure that 90 per cent of eligible Europeans are offered breast, cervical and colorectal screening by 2025. 'I think it's really heartening, especially now, to see that politicians still take science seriously, at least in this part of the world,' said Prof Srinivas, who grew up in Tampines. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 She has lived in the Netherlands for the past 17 years after completing her PhD in the US. Since 2021, she has headed the department of cell biology and immunology at Wageningen University and Research. As an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, she was torn between medicine and biology, but eventually chose biochemistry. She was 'drawn to understanding how cells function and how different biological systems connect'. After her doctorate, she worked at the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, planning to stay for just two years. However, with further research funding and young children to care for, settling in Europe became the easier choice. She has a 14-year-old son and two girls aged 11 and eight. They visit Singapore every two years, with her last visit in February for a conference. Her current research focuses on improving how doctors see specific cells such as immune or therapeutic cells in the body. Current techniques like MRI often fall short in tracking such cells closely over time, she noted. This visibility is especially important when scientists are evaluating promising but often extremely costly cell therapies for diseases like cancer, she said. To address this, Prof Srinivas and her team have been developing novel nanoparticles, or tiny tools, that can be used to track immune cells in both humans and animals. Her team , together with international collaborators, are preparing to start a clinical trial using these nanoparticles to track the immune cells of patients with rectal cancer. But when wearing her scientific adviser hat, she has to take a step back when handling questions from politicians on life sciences to avoid bringing personal bias into the final opinion. 'The aim isn't to offer my own expert opinion but to help translate input from a wide range of specialists into something policymakers can use,' she said. On her decision to throw her hat into the ring, Prof Srinivas said: 'When I looked at the former members of this group, they are really established. One of them was the director of Cern (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research). It's that level of people, and I thought I probably have no chance of getting it. 'But on the other hand, if I don't apply, I really have no chance. So let's just give it a go.' The selection process for the new batch of top scientists took about a year. In early 2024, Prof Srinivas was nominated by the Young Academy of Europe – a coalition of young scientists who champion science policy – where she served as chair and board member. She was interviewed by former chief scientific advisers. The EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation hand-picked the final seven who were announced in late May. Onboarding for the new team took place in Brussels in early July. Prof Srinivas credited her selection to her contributions to science policy with the Young Academy, as well as her international background. She has industry experience, where she focused on strategy at multinational corporation GE Healthcare (now Cytiva) and co-founded a medical imaging start-up. 'I was really excited, but then you realise this is actually an important position, and it's a responsibility... I could have impact on a lot of people on real matters. And representing not only my university and the Netherlands but also Singapore,' she said. Soon after, the weight of her selection sank in: She is not just a prominent expert but also a representative of female scientists of colour and working mothers. When her children were between ages one and five, she raised them alone for a few years as a single mother. She is now remarried. 'My husband is very supportive. But in the few years when I was a single mother, it was really a challenge, especially during the (pandemic) lockdown and I had to homeschool them,' she said. 'A lot of people were sceptical that it's feasible to mix a position like being professor with having young children.' Beyond advising the European government, she hopes to continue representing minority women in science. 'I hope to champion evidence-based policymaking while highlighting diversity and inclusion – especially for women and scientists from under-represented backgrounds.'
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sachin Kundalkar's novel reads like a scattered collection of reflections
Sachin Kundalkar's new novel in translation, Silk Route, was first published in the original Marathi as Monochrome, Volume 1: Reshim Marg (2023), ostensibly as part of a projected series. Rendered into English recently by Aakash Karkare, it's as slim as the author's earlier work, Cobalt Blue, which was translated by Jerry Pinto in 2013, and inspired a film of the same name in 2022. Apart from their brevity, the two books share other affinities. Like Tanay, one of two protagonists of Cobalt Blue, Nishikant, who is at the centre of Silk Route, is a sensitive man. He shares a tragic past with his sister Nalini, as Tanay does with his sister Anuja. Both men also grapple with their desires through their formative years. Nishikant eventually moves on from his juvenile attraction to Nikhil, Nalini's lover, to find a reciprocal love in Shiv, his roommate in college, before meeting Srinivas, the great love of his life, as a student in London. As the story opens, Nishikant is out to find Srinivas, who has abandoned his thriving practice as a psychiatrist, his wife and family in Chennai, and disappeared. When Srinivas's wife discovers his decades-long, correspondence with his friend, she summons Nishikant for help, which leads him on a trail of sinister and mysterious happenings. As with Cobalt Blue, Kundalkar's ambition in Silk Route is high, though it remains, sadly, unrealised. The zigzag structure of the novel, which tends to move between the past and present without adequate signposts, doesn't make it easy for the reader to follow the action. There are far too many characters, each with their own distinctive streak of subversiveness. It's hard to keep track of, or even care, for them. Unlike the emotional intensity of Cobalt Blue, which came from its focus on the inner lives of the characters, Silk Route lacks depth, direction and discipline. It takes immense patience and skilful pacing to build interiority in fiction. Silk Route repeatedly falters on both counts. More often than not, it reads like a scattered collection of reflections—some vividly moving—rather than a cohesive attempt to build a psychological universe into which the reader would want to invest. The author also seems to trip over himself in a bid to spin his yarn as fast as he can, often hanging the plot on a scaffolding of gratuitously titillating details. Characters like Jules, an enigmatic Frenchman, and his mysterious companion Sophia exist as riddles, left to the reader to decode. Nishikant's reckoning with the loss of his sister never gets the attention it merits. Worse, the conclusion feels gimmicky, hollow and unsympathetic. Surely, Kundalkar's characters and readers both deserve much better.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Perplexity's Comet lets users order food with AI prompts, says CEO Aravind Srinivas
Comet, the AI-powered web browser developed by Perplexity AI, can now place food orders directly from restaurants bypassing delivery aggregators altogether according to the company's cofounder Aravind Srinivas In a post on X, Srinivas highlighted the feature as a user-discovered use case, saying it eliminates friction from intermediary websites and reduces costs. 'Use Comet to order food directly from the restaurant (e.g., Chipotle) instead of an aggregator delivery app. Cheaper. Friction of having to deal with random websites gone. And you still get the same meal delivered,' Srinivas also shared that Comet can automate professional networking tasks on LinkedIn — from sending personalised messages to generating posts and searching for is designed to replace conventional web browsing with 'agentic AI', software that can think, act, and make decisions on behalf of the user. Unlike traditional browsers that rely on passive tabbed navigation, Comet acts as an AI assistant built into the browsing can prompt Comet to summarise webpages, compare products, translate content, or perform follow-up actions all within a single interface, without switching between tabs or said he envisions Comet becoming an 'AI operating system' that executes everyday tasks in the background through natural language commands, minimising the need for manual launch of Comet comes as competition in AI-powered browsers heats up. A Reuters report on July 9 said OpenAI is also working on an AI browser product, aiming to challenge Google's dominance in search and this, Srinivas said he's not concerned about Big Tech rivals like OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic copying Comet. 'It takes time to build something like this. They can't win in every sector,' he by Nvidia , Perplexity launched Comet earlier this month as part of its push to challenge Alphabet's Chrome. The browser is currently in invite-only beta for premium users, though free user invites are also rolling out, with some features expected to remain behind a paywall.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Malenada Mathugara', a collection of speeches delivered by K.H. Srinivas, released in Karnataka's Sagar
'Malenada Mathugara', a collection of speeches that former Minister late K.H. Srinivas delivered at the Legislative Session, was released in a programme in Sagar on Wednesday. Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, who released the book, recalled that Mr. Srinivas used to attend the sessions well prepared. His speeches on the floor of the House were full of authenticity; the way he presented his thoughts was a model to others in the House, he said. Mr. Horatti said that in recent years, the quality of discussions in Legislature Sessions has eroded. The legislators hardly show interest in preparing for the sessions, he added. Theatre personality K.V. Akshara recalled the role Mr. Srinivas played in setting up a college in Sagar in the 1960s, and referred to him as the 'dreamer of Malnad'. Critic T.P. Ashok spoke about the literary contributions of Mr. Srinivas. Malnad Development Foundation president B.R. Jayanth, MLA for Sagar Belur Gopala Krishna, daughter of Mr. Srinivas K.S. Vaishali, and others participated. Mr. Srinivas, who passed away on August 30, 2024, had served as Minister for Energy, and Kannada and Culture, and also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
'Reels Won't Build Your Future': Perplexity CEO's Straight-Talk Advice to the Scrolling Generation.
In an era where short-form content dominates attention spans and 'doom-scrolling' has become the default pastime, Aravind Srinivas , CEO and co-founder of Perplexity AI , is sounding the alarm. His recent statement aimed directly at young people glued to Instagram Reels and TikTok videos: "Stop watching reels. Go build your own future." It's not just a wake-up call; it's a challenge. Srinivas, who's at the helm of one of the most rapidly growing AI startups in the world, understands the power of technology more than most. But he's also acutely aware of its risks, particularly the way it hijacks attention and delays personal development. His advice comes not from a place of judgment, but from firsthand experience of what it takes to be world-class in a hypercompetitive, AI-dominated future. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Technology Design Thinking PGDM Digital Marketing others healthcare Data Science Management CXO Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Product Management MCA Healthcare Others Data Science Project Management MBA Data Analytics Finance Cybersecurity Public Policy Degree Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Distraction Is the Enemy of Innovation Srinivas points out a truth: passive consumption doesn't lead to progress. In his view, every hour spent mindlessly consuming 'junk food for the brain' is an hour not spent building skills, reading deeply, or working on high-leverage problems. For those looking to carve out meaningful careers, particularly in fields being transformed by AI and tech, he stresses the importance of curiosity, learning, and experimentation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo 'You can't become exceptional by consuming mediocre content,' he said during a recent Q&A. Instead, he recommends using platforms like Perplexity itself, a knowledge engine designed to promote active inquiry and deep understanding, as a daily tool for learning and exploration. The Opportunity Cost of Reels The addictive nature of reels may seem harmless, but the long-term cost is steep. Srinivas argues that the biggest missed opportunity isn't just time, it's potential. While millions scroll, a small fraction are coding, writing, building, and experimenting. That's the delta that defines success in the coming decade. As AI levels the playing field, discipline and intellectual curiosity become the true differentiators. Live Events A Culture Shift Is Coming Srinivas's message aligns with a broader trend: a growing pushback against algorithmic addiction and digital overconsumption. Increasingly, voices from across tech, from venture capitalists to startup founders, are urging young people to reclaim their time, their minds, and their ambitions. Srinivas is part of that wave, but with a sharper edge and actionable urgency. The next generation has the most powerful tools in human history at its fingertips. The question, Srinivas implies, is whether they'll use them to consume or to create. The choice is binary, and the future belongs to the builders.
