Tirtha Pratim Das, a Physicist, serves his Nation India as a Space Scientist and Technocrat in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Thiruvananthapuram, India. Since April, 2004, Mr. Das used to shoulder the responsibility of National interest to design, test and integrate the avionics of rockets (PSLV and GSLV class of Satellite Launch Vehicles) and launch them from the Sriharikota Range. Since May, 2006, he is a part of a group of experimental scientists in the Atmosphere Technology Division, Space Physics Laboratory, VSSC, ISRO. He is responsible for the design, development, experimentation of the space-borne and ground-based sophisticated instruments , used to probe different regions of space. Mr. Tirtha Pratim Das is also involved in the development of a scientific payload CHACE (Chandra's Altitudinal Composition Explorer, for measuring the constituents of lunar exosphere) to be used in the Moon Impact Probe (MIP), for the first Moon-mission of India, viz. the Chandrayaan I. The instrument will land on moon and is supposed to send important information regarding the lunar environment.
Apart from his responsibilities regarding the ongoing space exploration of India, Tirtha Pratim also plays the role of a teacher, which he enjoys very much. He delivers technical, popular and semi-popular lectures on different aspects of Physics. In his semi-popular (and obviously popular) lectures, he specially emphasizes on conveying the fundamental concepts of Physics without bothering the audience with loads of mathematics.
Mr. Das says, mathematics is a way of communication and documentation of physical laws, with some specific rules. There is no reason that why one should not understand Nature when Nature herself teaches him/her in Her own way.
He completed his B.Sc. with Hons. in Physics from St. Xavier's College (Calcutta), under University of Calcutta in the year 1998. Mr. Das has been awarded B.Tech. degree in Radio Physics and Electronics, from the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, India, which is one of the most prestigeous institutes in the world for research in Radio Frequency (RF) and related devices. He was awarded M.Tech. degree in Radio Physics and Electronics in the year 2003. From the beginning of his academic career he has been involved in theoretical and experimental research on semiconductor physics and devices.
Apart from his research activities in the field of Quantum Effect Semionductor Devices, Space science,etc. his areas of interest and research include Quantum Electro Dynamics (QED), Quantum Information Theory and Computation. He is also working on some theoretical aspects of Quantum Philosophy and foundations of Quantum Mechanics. Till date Tirtha Pratim delivered a number of popular, semi-popular and technical lectures in the field of Quantum Electro Dynamics and the foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Copenhagen school of thought). He has also proposed a physics-based theory to integrate different branches of knowledge to explore Consciousness.
Before joining the ISRO, he was a lecturer by profession and used to teach in Techno India College, Calcutta. He was also a guest faculty in the Jadavpur University, Calcutta.
Tirtha Pratim Das is the Ex-Chairman of the Younger Member Section (Calcutta Branch) of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (UK). He was also the Chairman of the IEE Students' Centre, Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, India. Mr. Das is a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and Space Engineers' Association (SEA). He is also a council member of the Senior Member Section of the IEE Calcutta branch.
He is a Class I Gazetted Officer of the Govt. of India.
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