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In the twenty-first century, we have unprecedentedly advanced in science and technology. Our scientific indulgence and contemporary heritage is growing at an accelerated pace. Gigantic mega science and technological developments leave immense impact on societies and countries. Thus making science and scientists more authoritative in their conduct. As we speak, we have the power to define the course of nation’s fate and its policies based on scientific progress and engagement. It also makes us, the scientific community, more responsible. Globally connected post-national world necessitates us to charter our path towards a sustainable planet, requiring a safe space for free flow of thought, and most importantly enhancement of international scientific partnership and public engagement. Major collaborative efforts, are thus becoming a norm towards augmenting scientific expertise towards the global UN sustained development goals. In this talk I explore the social function of the 21st century scientific advancement and the power it draws from several channels. I take the CERN model of scientific diplomacy as a case study to build an argument for the course of mega science development and how this knowledge would help make our country and this world healthy, kind, and a safe place for humanity.
Archana Sharma is a senior scientist at the CERN Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. She has been active in the field since 1989 mainly working on instrumentation especially gaseous detectors. She is the pioneer of simulations and experimentation on wire chambers, resistive plate chambers and micro-pattern gaseous detectors over last three decades. Following a graduate degree in Nuclear Physics from BHU Varanasi, India, Archana received her Particle Physics Ph.D. from Delhi University in 1989, followed by an “Instrumentation for High Energy Physics” D.Sc. from the University of Geneva in 1996. Sharma also earned an executive MBA degree from the International University in Geneva in 2001. She is an internationally recognized expert for her experimental work on gaseous detectors for research in High Energy Physics. She currently serves as Senior Advisor for relations with International Organisations, serving as the focal point for CERN, notably for the United Nations system and other organisations based in Geneva.
Archana has worked on several CERN experiments both on R&D being involved in designing and prototyping, and on running laboratories for construction, installation and commissioning of large scale gaseous detectors. She is the founder and leader of CMS GEM Collaboration, for exploiting one of the most sensitive detectors for trigger and tracking in the CMS Experiment at LHC, with the highest discovery potential. The first station of three is being currently installed for data taking in 2021. These detectors are also being used in prototypes for applications such as homeland security and medical
imaging.
Sharma pioneered the development of micro-pattern radiation detectors, her publications, review articles and special volume on Instrumentation on Particle Physics edited by her are widely referred to and cited. Since 2001, Sharma has led the construction of gaseous detectors and upgrades on the CMS experiment and is well known for incessantly mentoring students into professionals. She is the co-owner of patent on a family of detectors called THRAC – Timing and High Rate Capable devices. An IEEE Senior, recognition from the International Institute of Electronics and Engineers, she has also served several terms on the Transnational Committee, encouraging participation in this field from Asia.
Archana has served on numerous committees and plays a vital role in advisory review boards for leading International Conferences, Publications and Symposia in the field. Archana is an examiner for European Commission Horizon 2020 projects and some national funding agencies and other international laboratories and experiments.
Dr. Sharma has been on board as honorary Adjunct professor is several institutions where she teaches courses on gaseous detectors and their applications in high energy physics and in other fields, like medical imaging and diagnostics, astronomy, space and PET. She has been very actively facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building in the science and technology sector exploiting her mandate in the International Committee and the Career Committees at CERN, acting as advisor to the CMS Spokesperson.
Sharma is the principal author of over 250, co-author of over 1000 publications and is invited regularly for keynote talks in international conferences and public addresses in various science and technology events. Archana has been conferred with many prestigious awards and medals from NGO’s in India as a champion of “Girls in STEM”. She has appeared on BBC, CNN and NDTV among others on several occasions and cited in the national media and printed press in India.
Finally, as an aside, Archana has founded and runs an NGO called Life Lab Education and Research Foundation based in New Delhi, with the main objective to create partnerships with educational institutions for the benefit of the students and teachers: www.lifelab.org.in
Indian Institute of Astrophysics