Creating mutual collaborations

The Indo-Australian relationship is set to cement even further as academic cooperation increases through the efforts of talented individuals

BY SAI NARAYAN

Professor Vishnu Pareek, Co-Director at the Centre for Process System Computations at Curtin University in Perth is one of an increasing number of highly successful Indians in their chosen fields in West Australia. He is at the forefront of the Indian Australian collaboration in scientific research, and a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Curtin. Professor Pareek and his team successfully applied to the Australia India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) in 2010, a scheme that assists Australian researchers to collaborate with Indian scientists in leading-edge scientific research for strategic alliances. The AISRF is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral research with any country, and one of India’s largest sources of support for international science. Indian Link spoke to Dr Pareek about collaborative research in his field, and his views on issues facing Indian students in Australia.

Indian Link: Tell us about your collaboration with Indian universities

Vishnu Pareek: We have won a large Australian Research Council (ARC) grant through collaboration with IIT-Delhi in India. The ARC is the primary funding body for supporting cutting-edge research in Australia. The equipment funded by the grant is going to be the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, and will put us in the forefront of fundamental research on multiphase flows. We have also won another grant through the Australia India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), a result of an active collaboration between the University Institute of Chemical Technology (UICT) and Curtin. As part of this program we are conducting fundamental research on extracting protein from Sorghum seeds for delayed delivery of bioactive drugs.

Currently, we are trying to set up collaboration with IIT-Kharagpur as well as the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad. A high level delegation from India visited Curtin, and the visit was reciprocated by a team from Curtin. Efforts are underway to set up a mineral processing centre in India.

As part of the Grand Challenge Scheme of AISRF, we are preparing an application for a multi-million dollar project involving 8 Australian Universities and 4 organisations from India. This project is on development of renewable bio energy sources. In addition, we also have collaborative exchange visits each year by our students to IIT-Delhi.

IL: How about research collaboration between university and businesses?

VP: We are involved in number of research initiatives with several multinational companies such as BP, Woodside and Chevron. We used advanced computer modelling to help understand flow distribution issues at BP’s oil refinery in Kwinana, 40 kilometres south of Perth. BP used the team’s model to revamp its systems to attain the optimal mix of steam, catalyst and hydrocarbons inside the stripper. Twelve months later, the changes have saved the refinery hundreds of thousands of dollars in steam usage, according to BP Global FCC Advisor Glenny. The success of the project has led BP-Curtin alliance to win another ARC Linkage grant this year.

IL: What made you come to Australia?

VP: I’m originally from a farming community in very small village in India, and I am very proud of my heritage and background. It showed me a perspective of a life often missed if I was born in a big city. I did my Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from Regional Engineering College in Jaipur, and my Masters from IIT-Delhi. After teaching for a few years at REC Jaipur, and deciding to do my PhD, I

IL: How do you feel about being Indian-Australian?

VP: I am very much an Indian; some people call me ‘Vish’ as is the norm here, but if someone interacts with me regularly, I usually tell them that I prefer to be called Vishnu, though it’s nice of them to give me a new name!

We usually organise a joint celebration on 26th January at Curtin for India’s Republic Day and Australia Day. We play the Indian and Australian national anthems, and have samosas and cake. Last year we had over 60 people at the event and I think we should use this coincidence more to promote cultural exchange between our two countries. In my view, cultural exchange does not require us to change our own ways or expect them to change theirs, but to understand each entire tuition fees. These students cannot focus on their studies as they have to think about how to pay their tuition fees, and they are sometimes forced to take up work at untimely hours at petrol stations and driving taxis, which puts them at higher risk. received offers UNSW in Sydney, among several others. I chose UNSW; perhaps at the time the idea of studying close to the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground), such a famous cricketing landmark appealed to me! I finished my PhD in 2002 and came to Perth to do research work at the CSIRO. However, Curtin University later made me an offer for a Lecturer position, which is where I am now. My wife also did her PhD in Biology from UNSW, and my 8 year old son aspires to become a Chemical Engineer one day. He is a great fan of astronaut Andy Thomas and Sachin Tendulkar, and is an avid reader of Indian mythological stories.

IL: What is your view on racism in Australia?

VP: I was really hurt when Australia was projected as a racist country. If that had been the case, someone like me would not become a professor in within 7 years of my PhD. The media picked up on the failure stories rather than the many success stories of Indians living in Australia. To the extent that a concerned childhood friend called me out of the blue to ask how I was. He had read media reports that Australians were beating up Indians and was concerned about my safety! I explained that this was not the case at all, and later, as I discussed the episode with my wife, we found it amusing to note how much of misconception was created by the media.

As part of the Grand Challenge Scheme of AISRF, we are preparing an application for a multimillion dollar project involving 8 Australian Universities and 4 organisations from India other and have mutual respect. I am very optimistic of strong business and research ties between these two great countries in the years to come.

IL: What advice do you have for new Indian students, especially after the negative publicity the attacks on Indian students in Australia generated?

VP: Recently I had to assure one of my bright PhD students about this issue. He was on a full scholarship but after his marriage, his wife’s parents were apprehensive about their daughter coming to a country about which there was so much negative publicity. However, I spoke to him and assured him that nothing would happen as long as you take normal precautions. These incidents often happen at night and can be avoided.

Another misconception in India among families of students is that all you have to do is pay a year of University fees and the rest (tuition fees of the following year) can be earned by working here after arrival. This is an absolute misconception. I would strongly urge families not to send their children to study here if they cannot sponsor the

Some personal incidents are somewhat funny. During my PhD at UNSW, some drunks shouted something from a passing car. I didn’t even understand what they said asked a fellow Australian student if he’d heard. He replied, “Half of it I didn’t understand and the other half you don’t want to know!” I have faced the occasional taunt now and then, but I either ignore them or respond with humour. Curtin University is a very multicultural place and the faculty is drawn from a diverse international background. In the academic world, Australia is already very multicultural and diverse. In my view it’s a sign of weakness to label every rejection or slight as racism.

I have had several research students from India in the past 8 years, but none of them have complained of racial problems. From my perspective, I have found people here very friendly. The actions of some individuals cannot render a country racist; non-social elements exist in all societies.

I share excellent camaraderie with my colleagues and we enjoy sledging each other about our common interest – cricket!

IL: So how does Professor Pareek like to chill out and relax?

VP: Like most Indians, I am cricket fan and stay awake until late to watch most of the Indian matches. I consider Sachin as my true inspiration not only because of his cricketing achievements, but more so because of his modesty. I hope our modern generation learns this attribute from him. I am also an ardent music fan. I like listening to ghazals, thumaris, kajris and poetry. I especially like the ghazals of Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Gulzar. Among the singers, I am fan of Jagjit Singh, Gulam Ali, Abida Parveen, and Mehdi Hassan.