Satyendra Nath Bose deserved a Nobel: CERN DG

Satyendra Nath Bose towers over Higgs in world of physics Find out more about this 20th century physicist - http://toi.in/Olfe1Z

Kolkata, Sept 3: Acknowledging celebrated Indian scientist Satyendra Nath Bose's contribution to discovering the 'God particle', CERN Director General Rolf-Dieter Heuer said the 'historic father' deserved a Nobel but did not get it.

"He (Bose) has certainly contributed a lot to physics. The level of his contribution is immense...I would say he is one of them who deserve a Nobel but did not get it," Heuer told reporters here after delivering a lecture on 'The Large Hadron Collider: Unveiling theUniverse'. "We won't give a particle someone's name unless that person has contributed immensely, right?" he said.

The long-sought particle, known as Higgs boson, is also partly named after Satyendra Nath Bose, who worked with Albert Einstein in the 1920s and made discoveries that led to the most coveted prize inparticle physics. In July this year, scientists at European nuclear research centre CERN discovered the 'God particle' in its physical form in a giant collider.

Asked if India has approached CERN for an associate membership, Heuer said, a formalapplication was awaited, while verbally, India has expressed its interest to be part of the iconic organisation. "Your former president Pratibha Patil had visited CERN in October last year and she was very positive about it. There are some formalities left and we are yet to receive a written application," he said.

India is currently an observer to CERN and an associate membership would open up avenues for not only students and researchers, but also industry. "Students can train and educate themselves with the wide resources available in an international environment. Your industry can also compete with other member companies for tenders for orders," he said.

Homi Bhabha, professor Bikash Sinha of the department of atomic energy, said formalities for the CERNmembership were almost over with only the sanction from the finance ministry being awaited. Heexpected the membership process to be completed within this year.