Dear Dr. Thapa,
Thanks for the article. The title is quite interesting, “Nanotechnology May Help Nepal Achieve MDGs”. However going through your article, I can not link the Nanotechnology with the achievement of so called MDGs. One thing I am still unclear that whether you said for R&D of nanotechnology or the application of its findings in Nepal. I think you are not talking about the R&D, because you may know that, if we could invest for such a broad prospective of the nano-science and technology, and if we have such facilities in our country, then probably we do not have to even think for such ACHIEVEMENTS. Now lets back to the Application of the technology in Nepal “BY 2015 AD”, which seems a good jock.
You said that the solar energy harvesting and storing, and new fuels, hydrogen generations etc..etc.. Let me ask you, which one of these technology is cheaper then hydropower energy that naturally most feasible in Nepal? Solar energy?? In the present stage and even after 5 years, the solar energy is much expensive then the conventional energy sources. Even people from developed country are not attracting towards the solar energy due to its higher cost-per-watt. Of course this is the ultimate source of clean energy, but not within a decade, as your limit is 2015. Interestingly, you said about 3D and small-size solar cells with higher efficiency, of course these cells are recently developed in lab (may be in Georgia Tech.?), but such cells are only suitable for spacecrafts, satellites systems etc. right now, you can not even imagine the cost of such electricity if you want to use in households or general purpose in Nepal. Yes, these can be a mainstream energy source, if the technology goes in right track, after few decades. I don’t want to comment on your Quantum efficiency definitions. Next thing, the Hydrogen fuel and other alternative fuels, here both of these are not establish yet due to the efficient catalyst that need for such system and storage problem. However, some cars and devices are lunching these days in develop countries only as a model or to be the first of the company race, so far it need more than a decade for such technology to come in mainstream (though it is not sure yet).
Agriculture is the main industry of Nepal and it is certainly fruitful to improve the present situation of farming in Nepal. There are a large number of scientific agriculture techniques that can be employed to improve the quality and quantity of the harvesting (I think agriculture scientists have good knowledge about it). The techniques you suggested, based on the nanomaterials, are far from the reality of the present situation. First thing is, we (farmers) even can’t afford the good quality of fertilizers with sufficient amount. Nanomaterials can not drastically change the production or any other indicator alone as you say within the timeline. Yes they can fine tune the production a bit. It is good idea to monitor the condition of soil and crops with the help of sensors. But do you think we are on that level to use it in near future..?? As, in our country, the labour cost is very low, is it wise to install such sensing nano-systems and monitor it through satellite or computerized systems? Everywhere money matters; we should use the technology suitable for us. You talked about the magnetic nanomaterials (probably Ni, Co or other particles) to remove the metallic contamination of the soil, do you have any calculation of how much magnetic materials need to remove the magnetic contamination from a Ropni of land? Its cost and effectiveness? One big question is “Toxicity of the nanomaterials”, and still the scientific communities have not detailed list of safe nanomaterials. Though, the techniques you said can be feasible after a decades or latter your time line 2015. It is different thing to obtain research result in test tube and in real field.
Most of the thing you right in your article is true if you just talk about the nanomaterials and its application. But it does not make any scene to achieve the MDGs by its applications. We do not need to introduce any new technology to meet the proposed goals; our present techniques and expertise will be enough to meet it if governed properly. Right now we need primary healthcare, more doctors, and health workers than sophisticated Lab-in-chip devices. I know, there are a fraction of people who even can’t afford to buy a 5 rupee ticket for the free medical check-up in the villages. And I am sure, the situation will not change much even after 5 years. I think the Goals by the UN are focusing towards them. I appreciate your writing, as we have lack of scientific writers, and lots of people do not have knowledge about the recent developments and technologies. The scientific community must be careful to deliver their knowledge to normal people. I hope you will consider it in future.
