About Us
Preamble
Incorporated in 1981
Over
the last 25 years, ASIOA has shown consistent growth in the membership and
monetary strength. To date there
are 116 Life members, and a floating number of regular members, post-doctoral
fellows, and student members. Nearly
700 scientists of Indian origin have been transient members of ASIOA. Annually
we meet at Experimental Biology Conference, and have active Neuroscience and
Toxicology Divisions. Most of our
senior members are PhDs working as Professors at various Graduate and Medical
Schools, Scientists at National Research Laboratories, different Medical
Centers, or in Pharmaceutical Industry. Some
of our members testified at Congressional Committees on Scientific matters, and
even served in the administrations of US Presidents. We publish 4
quarterly Newsletters.
Under UNDP sponsored programs like TOKTEN, some of our members visited Research Laboratories in India, gave Scientific Lectures and Instrumentation, and served as conduits for the transfer of Technology. Here in USA, we train the new Immigrants of Indian Scientists and Doctors in Biomedical Research, mentor the junior faculty and post-doctoral and pre-doctoral fellows. We also provide laboratory facilities and guidance to young Indian students who are in High School or College to undertake research projects during Summer.
Bylaws
What ASIOA stands for
In brief, the purpose of this Association is to promote fellowship among scientists of Asian Indian Origin living in America, to act as a scientific and educational society, to establish open channels of communication among all scientists and to act as a fraternal organization and a charitable association.
The Association is an outcome of the aspirations of hundreds of scientists of Indian origin who attend annual or other periodic national meetings of various professional societies appropriate to their interest and yet have had no mechanisms to discuss or exchange matters of mutual interest or even extend fellowship while in attendance at these meetings. The Association aspires to act as a fraternal organization for all scientists of Indian origin. Professional Scientists group have joined ASIOA as a Division. These Divisions organize their own Division meetings during annual conventions most appropriate to their discipline. At present we have several Divisions operative.
To provide a forum for interaction of scientists in different disciplines and to stimulate frequent activities at a local level, the Association has established local chapters in major metropolitan areas and at places where there is enough interest in the activities of the Association. These chapters organize a variety of activities such as seminars, lectures and reception to fellow scientists visiting from India.
The Association aspires in promoting and facilitating a scientist exchange program with India. We also wish to extend all we can in furthering the scientific developments in India.
Brief History
April
1980
First Annual (organizational) Meeting was held in Anaheim, CA
September 1981
Association was incorporated
April 1983
First Annual
Banquet was held at Khyber Indian Restaurant, Chicago, IL. Keynote address was
given by Honbl'e K. R. Narayanan, Indian Ambassador to the United States.
Apri1 1984
Canadian Chapter was formed
Apri1 1984
Second Annual
Banquet was held at Washington University Club, St. Louis, MO., Keynote was
given by C. K. N. Patel, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, and
Director of Research, Physics Department, Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, N .1.
September
1984
First Directory of Members was published
December 1984
Washington D.C. Chapter was inaugurated by Dr. J. S. Rao, Science Consul,
Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. Keynote speaker was Dennis Johnson, former
U.S. Science Attache to India.
January 1985
Chicago Chapter was inaugurated. Chief Guest was Donald Langenberg,
Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago.
April 1985
Third Annual
Banquet was held at Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA. Guest speakers were P. Dr. Om
Bahl, Chairman, Department of Biological Sciences, State Univ. of New York,
Buffalo, NY, and Dr. Sat yen Pitrode, Distinguished Engineer and President,
Martek Corp., Chicago, IL.
Apri1 1985
Los Angeles Chapter was inaugurated at Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA. Guest
speaker was film star Kabir Bedi.
June - July -
August
1985
Association organized three landmark science seminars in Chicago a the
Museum of Science and Industry in conjunction with the science exhibits from
India, "India: A Festival of Science", These were organized along with
the Museum of science and Industry and Festival of India Committee of Chicago.
July 1985
Second
Membership Directory was published.
April 1986
Fourth Annual
Banquet held at Washington University club, St. Louis, MO. Guest speaker:
Dr. J. S. Rao, Science Counsellor, Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.,
Dr. Venkat N. Reddy delivered keynote address. Dr. Reddy is the Professor and
Director of Eye Research Institute at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan.
February 1987
Toxicology Division of ASIOA formed.
March 1987
Fifth Annual
Banquet held at Vista International Hotel, Washington, D.C. Honbl'e P.K. Kaul,
Ambassador of India was the chief guest and Dr. Raj Gopal, Manager,
Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, P A delivered the keynote address.
March 1987
ASIOA and the
Third World Academy, based in Italy signed a collaborative agreement to enhance
the scientific exchange programs between the scientists in the Third World and
in Western Countries.
June
1987
Third
Membership Directory Published.
May
1988
Dr. C. Kumar
N. Patel was the first recipient of the "Distinguished Scientist
Award" of ASIOA.
May 1988
Council unanimously voted to fix $150.00 for the Life Membership.
May
1988
Sixth Annual
Banquet was held at Waldemar's European Cafe & Restaurant, Las Vegas. Inder
Dr. Verma of Salk Institute was our Guest Speaker.
May 1989
Seventh Annual
Banquet was held at Tandoor Indian Cuisine in Gretna, CA. Dr. Sayed Ahmed Meer,
Councillor to the Secretary of State, USA was the keynote speaker. Dr. Virendra
B. Mahesh, Regents Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Endocrinology, Medical
College of Georgia received "Distinguished Scientist Award " .
April 1990
Eighth Annual Banquet was held at Royal
Frontier Restaurant, Washington, D.C. Bonbl'e Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Charge
D' Affairs, Embassy of India was the Chief Guest.
Dr. Philip Schambra, Director, Fogarty International Center, NIB was the
keynote speaker.
Dr. Premkumar E. Reddy received "Outstanding Senior Scientist Award;
Dr. Guruprakash Singh received "Young Scientist Award", Dr. Barihara
M. Mehendale was presented with "ASIOA –service Award".
October
1990
Division
of Neuroscience of ASIOA met is St. Louis, MO. Dr. Shahebarao P. Mebedik
received" Senior Neuroscience Achievement Award"
February
1991
Annual
Banquet of Division of Toxicology of ASIOA was held in Dallas, TX.
March,
1991
Annual Banquet and Award Ceremony of the
Washington D.C. Chapter of ASIOA was held at Tandoor, Rockville, MD. Dr. Ayerb
K. Omaya, President, Foundation for Fundamental and Applied Neurosciences,
Bethesda, MD was the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker.
April
1991
Ninth Annual
Banquet was held at Taj Mahal Hotel, Red Carpet Inn, Atlanta, GA. Honbl'e
Ambassador, Dr. Abid Hussain, Embassy of India was the Chief Guest.
Dr. Harihara M. Mahendale gave the keynote address. A. K. Ganguli,
Vice-President, Schering- Plough Corp., NJ, and Dr. Janardan K. Reddy, Professor
of Pathology at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, were the
recipients of "Outstanding Senior Scientist Award", while Dr.
Shivendra V. Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, University of
Miami, FL, received "Young Scientist Award". "Distinguished
Service Award" was given to Dr. Durisala Desaiah, Professor of Neurology,
Univ. of Mississippi, MS.
April
1992
Tenth Annual Banquet of ASIOA was held at Radisson Suites, Fullerton, CA
on April 7, 1992. Dr. Sudhir Gupta, President of ASIOA conducted the
proceedings. Dr.Inder Chopra, Professor of Endocrinology, UCLA School of
Medicine was the Chief Guest. Dr. Harihara M. Mehendale, DeGree Professor in
Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, T .A-
received the "Distinguished Service Award".
March
1993
Eleventh Annual Banquet of ASIOA was held at
Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Orleans, LA on March 29, 1993. Dr. Jamal Mustafa,
President of ASIOA conducted the proceedings. Indian Ambassador, Honorable
Sidhartha Shankar Ray was the Chief Guest. Dr. James w. Fisher , Regents
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University
School of Medicine gave the Keynote Address. Dr. Ganshyam Pandey, Professor of
Pharmacology at Illinois State Psychiatric Institute, Chicago received the
"Distinguished Service Award" .Dr. Ravi Kambudur of the National
Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD received the "Young Scientist
Award".
April,
1994
Twelfth Annual Banquet of ASIOA was held at Inn
At The Park, Anaheim, CA on April 25, 1994. Dr. Murali Pagala, President of
ASIOA conducted the proceedings. The Consul General of India at San Francisco,
Honorable Sushil Dubey was the Chief Guest. Dr. Thomas Cesario, Dean of the
School of Medicine, Univ. of California at Irvine gave the Keynote Address.