Commencing in the morning the first Board Meeting of The Academy took place. 

After the Board Meeting, The Academy also had the Third Research Advisory Council meeting. Since Mr Narayana Murthy, the Chair of the Advisory Council, wasn’t able to be there, this meeting was chaired by Dr Ramesh Masheklar. Mr Narayana Murthy (Infosys) is the Chairman of the Research Advisory Council. The other members include Dr. Pawan Goenka (Mahindra & Mahindra), Mr. Prasad Menon (Tata Power),  Dr V. Rao Aiyagiri (Department of Science and Technology),  Sir Gus Nossal (Former President of the Australian Academy of Sciences), Dr Ramesh Mashelkar (Former Director-General CSIR) and Dr Edwin van Leeuwen (BHP Billiton). 

The immediate past Director of IIT, Professor Ashok Misra was formally acknowledged for his contributions during the set up phase of The Academy.

During the Board and the Research Advisory Council meetings, faculty and staff that had made the trip from Australia formally met with their IIT counterparts. They were all welcomed and taken around IIT facilities. The respective faculty therefore had opportunities to further explore potential areas of research collaboration.

All participants then assembled in the beautifully decorated Gulmohar Hall for the Press Meet. During the Press Meet, The Academy Joint Venture documents were exchanged by Professor Richard Larkins, AO (Vice Chancellor and President Monash University) and Professor Juzer Vasi (Acting Dierctor IIT Bombay).

Professor Richard Larkins said, “The opening of the Academy ushers a new era of Indian and Australian scientific relations. This will lead to high impact research outcomes that will deliver a range of tangible economic benefits and long lasting societal benefits for both countries and the global community.”

Professor Juzer Vasi, said: “This is a major initiative for us. IIT Bombay and Monash University, through the Academy will be able to respond to the needs of the industry and society in India, Australia and elsewhere, and tackle the research challenges that lie ahead.”

We heard that, after admitting the first batch of 18 students, The Academy has already received over 950 applications for the second intake in December 2008. The expectation is that 15-20 students will be selected. “Of these 900 applications, more than 20 are IIT graduates. To be able to retain them in India is important and this Academy has provided a great opportunity to do so,” said RA Mashelkar, member of Advisory Council of The Academy.

A banquet style lunch put on by IIT Bombay provided the forum for further networking opportunities. This was then followed by the formal opening ceremony that took place at the FC Kohli auditorium, IIT Bombay. The formal opening ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency John McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to India, and by Professor M. M. Sharma, noted Indian scientist.

The formal opening ceremony included speeches from Professor Richard Larkins and Professor Juzer Vasi.  Professor Pradipta Banerji, Dean Alumni and International Relations, IIT Bombay provided the IITB perspective of the relationship between the two institutions. While Professor Tam Sridhar, Dean of Engineering, Monash University also provided a presentation on the Academy; its objectives and intended structure.

Those that had contributed significantly in the set up of the Academy were formally acknowledged. The overall benefits of the linkages formed by the Academy for both countries were also discussed.

A traditional India lamp lighting ceremony took place followed by the unveiling of the Academy plaque. The plaque will be incorporated into the new Academy building scheduled to commence building within the next few months. The opening ceremony concluded with the exchange of traditional gifts between the leaders of Monash University and IIT Bombay.

In the evening, festivities continued at The Renaissance Hotel, Powai, where over 100 people assembled for a formal dinner. The guests listened to a speech from the His Excellency John McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to India. His talk “On the importance of Aus-India links especially in Science and Technology & education” discussed how The Academy would provide much needed linkages between India and Australia in the research sector. This was followed by a reply from Ms Anita Nayar, Indian Consul General, Victoria, Australia.

The formal opening of The Academy represents the culmination of significant efforts over a period of 24 months on the part of both institutions and represents a new chapter of Australian-India scientific relations.