Today's Brief 19/08/2024

1. Californium: Californium is a synthetic, radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98.

   
   

   It belongs to the actinide series and was first synthesized in 1950 by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, by bombarding curium with alpha particles (helium nuclei). It is named after the state of California and the University of California.

   
   

   Key Characteristics and Uses:

   
   

   • Physical Properties: Californium is a silvery-white metal that tarnishes in air. It is malleable and easily cut with a knife.

   • Radioactivity: Californium is highly radioactive. Its most stable isotope, Californium-252, has a half-life of about 2.645 years and is a strong neutron emitter.

     
     

     Uses:

     • Neutron Source: Due to its neutron emission, Californium-252 is used as a neutron source in various applications, such as in neutron activation analysis, cancer treatment (brachytherapy), and in starting nuclear reactors.

     • Scientific Research: It is used in scientific experiments that require intense neutron sources.

     • Detection of Explosives: Californium can be used in portable neutron-based devices to detect explosives and landmines.

     
     

     Hazards: Due to its intense radioactivity, californium must be handled with extreme care. Exposure can lead to severe health effects, including radiation sickness.

2.Ramsar Convention:  officially known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, is an international treaty adopted on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The convention is focused on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands around the world.

Key Objectives and Features:

• Conservation and Sustainable Use: The primary goal of the Ramsar Convention is to ensure the conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, regional, and national actions and international cooperation.

• Wetlands Definition: Wetlands, as defined by the convention, include a wide variety of natural and human-made habitats, ranging from rivers and lakes to coastal areas and coral reefs. The definition also covers certain water bodies that may be temporary.

• List of Wetlands of International Importance: One of the key features of the Ramsar Convention is the Ramsar List, which is a list of wetlands around the world that have been recognized as being of international importance. As of 2024, there are over 2,400 Ramsar sites covering more than 254 million hectares globally.

  
  

  Three Pillars of the Convention:

  
  

  1. Work towards the wise use of all their wetlands through national land-use planning, appropriate policies, and public awareness.

  2. Designate suitable wetlands for the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List) and ensure their effective management.

  3. Cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species.

     
     

• Meetings and Conferences: The Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) is the policy-making body of the convention and meets every three years to discuss the implementation of the convention and to make decisions regarding its future direction.

• Parties: As of 2024, there are 172 Contracting Parties (countries) to the Ramsar Convention, making it a widely recognized and accepted framework for wetland conservation.

3.National Geoscience Awards: The Ministry of Mines invites nominations for the National Geoscience Awards-2023 for contributions in the field of mineral discovery & exploration, fundamental/applied geosciences, mining, and allied areas. The awards, instituted in 1966 and given annually, are an initiative of the Ministry to encourage geoscientists to strive toward excellence.

 The National Geoscience Awards are of three categories:

(A) National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement: Award for Lifetime Achievement (single award) shall be given to an individual with an exceptionally high lifetime achievement for sustained and significant contributions in any of the disciplines mentioned in Clause-2 of NGA Regulation 2023. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000/- and a certificate.

  (B) National Geoscience Award: National Geoscience Award (10 Awards) shall be given to individuals or team(s) in recognition of meritorious contribution in any of the disciplines mentioned in Clause-2 of NGA Regulation 2023. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 3,00,000/- and a certificate. In the case of a team award, the award money will be equally divided.

 A nomination for a team award can comprise a maximum of FOUR members and the number of team awards shall not exceed FIVE.

(C) National Young Geoscientist Award: Young Geoscientist Award (single award) shall be given for outstanding research work in any field of geosciences to an individual below 35 years of age as on the 31st December 2022.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000 plus a research grant of Rs. 5,00,000/- spread over five years’ subject to satisfactory yearly progress and a certificate.

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