Dr. Kapany delivered the keynote commencement address at UC Santa Cruz on June 15th,2008 on “Fathers Day”. He acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Chancellor, Dr George Blumenthal, Jack Baskin – who helped to fund the “Jack Baskin School of Engineering” and Michel Isaacson, acting dean of Engineering &
professor for the “Narinder Kapany chair of Optoelectronics”.
Being born and brought up in India at a time when the total population of that country was only 300+ million, Dr. Kapany recalled the journey India has been through with the creation of Pakistan & Bangladesh, huge riots, dire shortage of food, galloping increase in population, destruction of its natural resources and wildlife and inadequate educational standards among various other large problems. Authors like Paul Ehrlich from Stanford University wrote books like the “The Population Explosion” predicting dire and disastrous future for India. But today after considerable sacrifice and selfless service and fifty years late, India has woken up, got organized, improved it’s educational system to the point that a number of ex I.I.T students have gone abroad to magnificent careers (a large number of whom are running corporations in the Silicon Valley and other areas), marketing new products abroad and is now producing food not only for its own use but also for the export. India has now emerged as part of the new developing world with China, Brazil and other countries.
While doing his bachelors degree, in India, Dr Kapany’s professor of physics said that “light travels in straight lines” to which he said “heck no”. And that was the beginning of the concept of “Bending of light around corners”. Subsequently in 1952, The Royal Society awarded him a Ph.D for his work on Fiber Optics and he went on to develop various applications in medical equipment and fiber optic communications, which is one of the major industries in the world today.
During 1980’s when Dr. Kapany was a Regents Professor at UCSC, the “Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development” was started and he worked as its director for 5 years. Today a number of his students are presidents of their own companies.
“Now let me address the graduating class and say that some of you will get jobs in existing organizations, others will go for postgraduate R&D and yet others will start their own business. Although entrepreneurship has become international, the fields have become tough, but the opportunities are abundant. New work needs to improve present systems, but also there are number of new areas of considerable interests.
- The fields of environment measurement and monitoring.
- Global warming – Green living a field of great interest today
- Stem-cells. Its effects on Parkinson, Alzheimer and replacement of cell structures for other problems.
- Energy alternatives – Passive Solar, Photovoltaic, wind, waves, biological, conservation and distribution.
- Nano - technologies with considerable interest in its potential applications.
- Agricultural revolution.
- Diagnostics and new and revolutionary drug delivery concepts.
- Biotechnology
- Combination of organic molecules with inorganic components ( e.g. Semiconductor with cellular structures )
While you pursue these or other technologies, I would like to suggest that serious consideration should also be given to the following important areas:
- In your various activities in the future do not regret the mistakes you make. Take them only as a learning experience.
- Focus on both national and international problems with opportunities for engineers. Need for further teaching in “International Engineering and Entrepreneurship” at Baskin School of engineering perhaps in coordination with the newly planned business school.
- Getting involved in social and political activities with contribution to social welfare and participation in eliminating racism, gender inequality, religious biases, corruption and party politicking.
- Our “founding fathers” told us to run the country according to fair and strict laws – instead we new have a bunch of lawyers running the entire country.
- Get involved in charities of your choice and make sure you help in time and or money to these charities.
- Furthermore, please do not forget to stay involved with UCSC as an active alumina.
Once again I wish you all the success in the future.”
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