Time Calls, once again

Today's Nepal is what was supposed to be the "new nepal" as was envisioned by the people who took bullet(s) in their chest a few years ago.   Those who survived might have a better answer to whether they took the bullet(s) for this. This is econo-political issue, which I am not much educated about, as a physicist.  It turns out that there are a lot of matters which I am not well educated about. Life is a journey where we learn. Either by doing or imitating what others did in similar instances: by following examples.

I wanted to talk about an issue that has been pointed out in a recent presentation by a Journalist (Prem Baniya). Everyone knows how corrupt the elements of the society has been through during these volatile period. Definitely, it needs a huge clean-out operation. One can wonder whether it is possible or simply blame it to the "bad politics" over the cup of the tea.  However, this time, the fingers has been pointed to the professionals; Those who were used to be set as respected examples.

The claim is that the associated professors take the paid leave on benefits, go aboard. And, do not return.
It turns out that those who took the benefits enjoy about $20-25 thousands over the five year period. Coming overseas on the paid leave is some kind of commitment that they had when they left the country.

It is the time to set an example.  As always, it is a call for Physicists. They have been good at setting examples or inspiring  generations.
The time calls once again.
Can the group of Nepali Physicists, who enjoyed the benefits and who have now decided not to go back, pay back what they have been blamed for?

If no one dares to come clean, the examples will never be set the same way.


Ref:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcPVUGSwLMY
• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/nps_nepal/Pz9TOOp2o9E
• http://www.mysansar.com/archives/2011/06/id/19699 (Comment are much more interesting)

Congratulations to recent Nepali Physics PhD graduates

Wishing all the best to the recent Physics PhD graduates.


Dr. Hikmat BC
New Mexico State University 


Dr. Shyam Badu
University at Albany


Dr. Madhav Neupane
Boston College


Dr. Pashupati Dhakal 

Boston College

Dr. Mukti Aryal

UT Dallas 

Locating Nepali Physicists on Google map LINK here:


Please join us to congratulate Nepali Physicists graduating with PhD degree. The Google group of Nepal Physical Society LINK here.

Great! you are selected for grad school, now what?

This is one of the post I am writing for the graduate students coming aboard.
First, my congratulations for being selected. Pursuing your dream in higher studies is going to be very important. It is important not only because you get into graduate school but also because it will define your career path for rest of your life.
Your question is regarding whether you wanna go the the university that offered you. If you had carefully selected and applied to the universities, you will have no problem in deciding once you get the offer letter But what if two very competent universities are calling you?
I have the following recommendations (and they apply equally to cases when one is preparing to apply for grad school):

• Visit the University website. Especially, the departmental website. 
• Visit Each faculty website, see the trends in the department research. Are the faculty actively involved in research?
• See if the research field particularly interests you.
• See if you can figure out the number of graduate student to faculty ratio. 
• If your support comes from doing the TA duties, see if you can figure out the number of undergraduate student to graduate student ratio.
• How about the weather? Location? Socialization?

These are the basic questions that you need before you start out your venture. They are important as it will guide your next five years (plus/minus 1) and ultimately your academic life.
Once you figure out such basic academic facts, you can then go for planning the (local) life style there. The best case scenario would be if you have any close friend living nearby. If you can contact the department secretary to learn about the housing, it will also make your life much better. Craiglist listing on apartments can also be equally illuminating.

Congratulations to Recent Physics Ph. D. s (TU Physics Almuni)

It is quite amazing that this month we witnessed a burst of Physics PhD holders. (Recent Nepali PhD Physicists or Tribhuvan University almuni.)

Dr. Bed Nidhi Pantha from Kansas State University. (Announced Nov. 20, 2009)
Dr. Pantha: working as Post Doc. fellow in: Texas Tech University.
URL: http://www.phys.ksu.edu/personal/bpantha/

Dr. Rajendra Dahal from Kansas State University. (Announced Nov. 20, 2009)
Dr. Dahal: working as Post Doc. fellow in: Texas Tech University.
URL: http://www.phys.ksu.edu/people/graduate/dahal_r.html

Dr. Himal Khatri from University of Toledo, OH. (Announced Nov. 20, 2009)
Dr. Khatri working as Post Doc. fellow in: University of Toledo.
URL: http://www.utoledo.edu/as/physast/facstaff/_People/_Gradpages/gsHimalKhatri.html

Dr. Laxman Mainali from State University of NewYork @ Albany. (Announced Nov. 20, 2009)
Dr. Mainali working as Post Doc. fellow in: Medical College of Wisconsin.
URL: http://www.albany.edu/~lm923395/

Dr. Indra Dev Sahu from State University of NewYork, Albany, USA.(Announced Nov. 2, 2009)
Dr. Sahu: working as Post Doc. fellow in Ohio Advanced EPR Lab at Miami University, Oxford, OH
URL: http://www.albany.edu/~is195712/

I would like to congratulate the recent Nepali Physics Drs and wish all the success in their academic endeavors.

Source(s):
http://groups.google.com/group/nps_nepal

Acknowledgements:
Rudra dai and Bhoj R. Gautam.

PS: There are a lot of list collectors out there. I would appreciate if the list collectors acknowledge the source.