28th February28th February

Celebrated to commemorate the legacy of Sir C.V. Raman who announced the discovery of the Raman effect on 28th February.

He won the Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery in 1930.

In 1986, National Council for Science and Technology Communication took the initiative to get the Government of India to designate February 28 as the National Science Day, which is now celebrated all over India.

National Science Day

Achievements of C.V. Raman In 1917 he was offered the position of Palit Chair of Physics as Professor

at the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore In 1929 he was knighted by the British Government and came to be

known as Professor Sir C.V. Raman In order to encourage scientific research in India, he established the

Indian Academy of Science Bangalore in 1934 and the Raman Research Institute in 1948

AWARDS: • Matteucci Medal, 1928• Nobel Prize in Physics, 1930• Hughes Medal, 1930

7th Nov, 1888 – 21st Nov, 1970

Greatest Accomplishment

Discovered Raman Effect, the shift in wavelength of light after it passes through transparent material

Scanners have a laser and spectroscope that can recognize Raman patterns – yielding instant recognition of target substances.

As per conventional method, identifying the chemical composition of a substance requires chemical and physical tests took a long time, maybe days. They required a sample to be extracted and destroyed while testing.

In contrast to this method, Raman scanning takes just 20 seconds. It does not require cutting, extracting or destroying a substance to get result.

Raman Effect – Fingerprinting of an object

Used by narcotics squads and airports to detect drugs. 

Security reasons - to detect explosives, hazardous chemicals and gases carried by terrorists.

For forensic investigation and procedures. Medical – to scan cancerous cells in the body

Applications of Raman EffectThe Raman Effect is now used in hand-held scanners called Raman scanners. Weighing just one-third of a kilo, these scanners have a laser and a spectroscope that recognize Raman patterns, yielding instant recognition of target substances. It has following purposes:

SPACE celebrating NSD

2013 – Participants launching their rockets during the hydro rocketry competition at Nehru Planetarium.

2012 – Heritage walk organized by SPACE for the public at Jantar Mantar.

2011 – Student participant at an observation stall in the Astronomy Fair organized by SPACE