Latest news with #ArtiGarg
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Meet Pedicularis rajeshiana: The new plant species from Himalayas
1 2 3 4 Prayagraj: A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the western Himalayas of India, with the identification of a new plant species, Pedipularis rajeshiana, in the high-altitude regions of Rohtang Pass. Ace scientist Arti Garg, formerly the head of the Botanical Survey of India in Prayagraj and currently with BSI Dehradun, has classified this unique plant under the family Orobanchaceae. Garg has named the species after her husband, Rajesh. The discovery has been officially documented in the prestigious journal Phytotaxa, based in Mongolia. Pedicularis rajeshiana belongs to a group of plants known as "Louseworts", which are hemiparasitic, meaning they derive some nutrients from other plants while still performing photosynthesis. According to Garg, what distinguishes this species from others in the Pedicularis genus are its unique floral characteristics and pollen structure. Notably, Garg has previously made significant discoveries, including identifying the world's oldest known Banyan tree (500 years old), a 600-year-old Khirni tree, and an 800-year-old Parijaat tree. Unlike its close relatives P. porrecta and P. heydei, the new species is smaller in size and has fewer flowers and leaflets. One of its most striking features is the deeply-cut lower lip (labium) of the flower and the unique positioning of its stamens — the parts that produce pollen—at three different levels inside the flower. In addition, its pollen grains show a rare structure with a croton-like surface texture and a distinct shape, which was confirmed using light and scanning electron microscopes. Remarkably, during the fieldwork, two flowers were found with a twin "galea"— a hood-like part of the flower — a trait never observed before in this genus. Scientists believe this may be an evolutionary adaptation aimed at improving pollination efficiency. The plant was found at an altitude of 4,390 metres (about 14,400 feet) in the Rohtang Pass, a rugged and ecologically rich area in Himachal Pradesh. The Rohtang region, part of the Pir Panjal mountain range, is known for its extreme climate, including heavy snowfall and storms. Pedicularis rajeshiana was spotted growing in small, scattered patches in shaded rocky slopes. It thrives in very specific microhabitats, making it rare and possibly endangered. This discovery was made during a plant survey under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) and the Botanical Survey of India, as part of the "Flora of India" project. Detailed lab analysis was carried out on various plant parts, including pollen grains, to confirm its uniqueness and establish it as a new species. India is home to 83 known species of Pedicularis, with 36 species found in the western Himalayas alone. Due to their parasitic nature and specific habitat requirements, many of these plants are endemic — found only in certain regions. The identification of Pedicularis rajeshiana adds to this rich biodiversity and highlights the ecological significance of high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems. Conservation efforts will be important to protect this rare discovery.
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AVEVA announces Arti Garg in new Chief Technologist role
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has announced Arti Garg as its Chief Technologist as the company focuses on future-facing technologies. Joining AVEVA in March, Arti will focus on defining and driving long-term and future-facing technologies and technology considerations for AVEVA and its industrial markets. In this role, she will be largely externally oriented and future-focused, looking specifically at new and emerging technologies and how they can be best applied within industrial manufacturing and critical infrastructure to meet AVEVA's customers' needs and ensure the company delivers on future business objectives. Arti's remit will include a deep and thorough understanding of new and emerging technologies, including Generative AI, and methodologies for effective use and customer adoption. Arti brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise, having led Technology Strategy & Evaluation for the Office of the CTO at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Her distinguished career spans several data science leadership roles in both the computing and industrial sectors; along with significant experience in the U.S. government at the White House Budget Office and as a legislative adviser in the U.S. Congress. She holds a PhD in Physics from Harvard University and an MS in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University. 'We're delighted to welcome Arti and her deep expertise to AVEVA. Her role will be pivotal in ensuring that AVEVA remains at the cutting edge of technological advancements, supporting our expanded CONNECT SaaS/Subscription strategy and addressing rapidly changing technology trends within our markets. This strategic position underscores our commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and innovation to ensure we continue to drive value for our customers', comments Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer, AVEVA. Arti Garg, Chief Technologist, AVEVA, adds: 'I'm delighted to be taking on this new role at AVEVA. It is exciting to join a company which has a rich history of innovation in the industrial automation and critical infrastructure sectors. I am looking forward to all aspects of the role, including continuing to keep AVEVA at the forefront of innovation.' About AVEVA AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, sparking ingenuity to drive responsible use of the world's resources. Over 90% of leading industrial enterprises rely on AVEVA to help them deliver life's essentials: safe, reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. By connecting people with trusted information and AI-enriched insights, AVEVA helps them engineer capital projects more efficiently, operate better and create sustainable value, from the plant to the cloud and beyond. Through our industrial intelligence platform, CONNECT, and our trusted and secure information management applications enriched with industrial AI, AVEVA empowers businesses to drive deeper collaboration between teams and to accelerate insight across their ecosystem of suppliers, partners and customers. Named as one of the world's most innovative companies, AVEVA's open solutions draw on the expertise of more than 7,000 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers. The company, which has operations around the globe, is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Learn more at Copyright © 2025 AVEVA Solutions Limited. All rights reserved. AVEVA Solutions Limited is owned by AVEVA Group Limited. AVEVA, the AVEVA logos and AVEVA product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of AVEVA Group Limited or its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and other countries. Other brands and product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.
