The nation celebrates Technology Day every year. To showcase the achievements of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the field of research and development, Defence Laboratory Jodhpur (DLJ), organised a science exhibition on the occasion. Various technologies developed by the laboratory were exhibited and explained to the visitors by a team of scientists. Dr RK Syal, Director, Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur inaugurated the exhibition by lighting the lamp. This year the exhibition was dedicated to the memory of Kalpana Chawla, the woman astronaut of Indian origin, who died in the Columbia spaceshuttle disaster this year.

The exhibits focussed on the laboratory’s breakthroughs in nuclear and water technologies, technologies for cultivation of potato and onions in the deserts and early sprouting of grains, water desalination plants etc. Dr PK Khatri demonstrated various instruments developed by the laboratory for measuring the amount of radiation left in an area, when it has been subjected to a nuclear strike. While these instruments were imported earlier, now they are being produced at defence laboratories, saving valuable foreign exchange.

The amniotic membrane also called biological bandages developed by the laboratory was also displayed. It is a great boon to patients suffering from wounds caused by leprosy, injuries, bed sores, ulcers, burns of the cornea, conjunctival defects etc.

Dr SK Jain demonstrated the methods to purify water for the people of the Thar desert and also methods to produce sweet water out of non-drinkable water found in the deserts. It is a great help for the troops deployed in the western borders of Rajasthan where water is a scarce commodity. Dr Jain said that the DLJ has developed a special membrane, which can even treat sea water to make it potable for seafarers of Navy and Coast guard.

To provide effective camouflage to the troops developed in the deserts, where natural cover is next to nil, the technology developed for the same was also on display. This camouflage helps to seek or hide from the electronic eyes of the enemy radars and photographic equipment.

The exhibition was a great success as a large number of students who were having their summer holidays thronged the venue. It enabled the local public know the work being done by the defence laboratories to provide latest technology to the Armed Forces deployed in the deserts of Rajasthan, jungles of North-east, snow-capped mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, and the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.