[Assam] Dr Phukan Delivered a Talk in IIT Guwahati

[Rajen & Ajanta Barua]

Friends:
We are glad to announce that Dr Arvind Phukan from USA delivered a talk to the IIT Guwahati Engineering Students on 8th September 2008 on the important topic "Challenges and Solutions to the Clean and Safe Water Problems in the Developing Countries".  

An engineering graduate of IIT, Banaras, in 1960, Dr.Phukan is an civil engineer and has earned his Doctorate in Engineering from Imperial College of Science & Technology, London, UK, in Soil Mechanics. Dr Phukan has a wide engineering career and specialises in Civil, Geotechnical, Structural & Environmental Engineering. He had been a Professor of Civil Engineering, University of  Alaska for 20 years where he was awarded 'Excellence Service Award'. He is the author of the first educational text book of its subject matter, "Frozen Ground Engineering"- Prentice Hall Inc.1985 which is now an engineering text book on the subject. He is also the co-author of four (4) other engineering books and thirty one (31) technical papers published in journals and International conferences. Dr Phukan is heavily involved in Rotary foundation. He has been a Charter Member of  Anchorage Midtown Rotary Club, Anchorage, AK for last 20 years. He was the District Governor in District 5010, Siberia/Far East Russia, Alaska USA and Yukon Territory Canada. He is now retired and lives in Seattle, USA. A Rotarian of repute, he visits India often and interacts with many Rotary clubs in India. He is now heading the Task Force for a multi million dolllar Ethiopian Water Project under Rotary Club. 

Dr Phukan is also a Director of Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters in USA and heads the committee for "Developing Mitigation Strategies for Brahmaputra River Basin (BRB) Flood and Erosion Problem" formed under FASS. On the same day, the committee had its first kick off meeting in IIT Guwahati where Dr. Rajib Goswami (WRD) gave a detail presentation of the BRB Flood and Erosion problem.  The meeting was attened by, among others Dr Chandan Mahanta (IITG), Dr Rajib Goswami (WRD), Dr Arvind Phukan (USA). Mr Shantikam Hazarika (FASS President)  and others. Dr. Nayan Sarma (IIT Roorkee) who could not attend the meeting, sent his valuable input in the issue for discussion. Detail discussions of the meeting will be published later.
Rajen Barua
Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters
Houston, Texas