Editor’s Observe: In a protracted profession in industrial laser supplies processing, it has been my honor to be related to numerous important contributors to this know-how. One who stands out, and who’s very deserving of recognition, is Prem Batra. I first met Prem in 1976 when he joined the Laser Institute of America (LIA), after I was nominated as President Elect. From that day ahead till his retirement in 2007, Prem was the staunchest, most lively, and dependable of Industrial Laser Options member. I might at all times depend on him as a member of the Materials Processing Committee, stepping as much as assist the LIA to develop this sector. However extra importantly, Prem was a buddy, particularly of my spouse Ginny, with whom he at all times volunteered to workers LIA displays at occasions. Merely put, I might at all times rely on Prem for assist. Through the years, it was a pleasure to be taught about his early days in India and to change into acquainted with members of his household.
We went our separate methods after 2007 and it wasn’t till Elizabeth Kautzmann, “Laser Liz” to all her buddies, not too long ago referred to as the next to my consideration. Prem is a modest individual, whose cussed efforts to ascertain LEOT deserve belated recognition.
That is the story of the LEOT program and the way it got here to life at Cincinnati Technical School (CTC).
Prem Nath Batra was born in India and his household have been refugees. Though his household had virtually nothing, Prem was devoted to his research and to pursuing a greater life. Prem obtained his BSc from DAV School, and went on to get his M.Sc. in Physics from Indore College in 1964. Upon ending his research, he was employed on at DAV School as a lecturer of Physics. His professor and head of the Physics division, Dr. Satpaul Passi, gave him a brand new guide on lasers to check, saying, “Prem, here’s a guide. They coined a brand new phrase ‘Laser.” As future would have it, lasers would change into Prem’s lifelong ardour.
In 1965, Prem joined Punjab Agriculture College as an Assistant Professor of Physics. After three years, he had the chance when supplied a scholarship to return to America to pursue a doctorate on the College of Cincinnati in Ohio, which he accepted and the place earned a Ph.D. in 1973. Whereas pursuing this diploma, Prem didn’t overlook about lasers. He took a number of programs referring to Electro-Optics at College of Cincinnati. He then began instructing for the College of Cincinnati after ending his diploma.
In 1974, whereas working on the College of Cincinnati, Prem discovered about Leon Goldman, MD, the daddy of medical laser purposes in Dermatology; Prem was reminded of the guide his professor gave him on lasers. He visited College Hospital (then Basic Hospital) to talk with Dr. Leon Goldman and James Rockwell, Jr., a laser security specialist. This go to fueled Dr. Batra’s imaginative and prescient of creating a laser curriculum, envisioning that this new know-how would want a proficient workforce to assist reply the decision of industries.
In late 1974, Dr. Batra and James Rockwell met with Dan Hull, then the President of the LIA, to debate the curriculum for laser training. Whereas instructing on the College of Cincinnati, Prem made a proposal to the College to start out a brand new program referred to as Laser Electro Optics Expertise (LEOT). His request was declined since lasers weren’t quite common at that time.
However Prem didn’t quit. He met Thomas Stark, Dean of Arithmetic and Sciences Divisions on the Cincinnati Technical School (CTC), now Cincinnati State Technical and Group School, who additionally believed in the way forward for the LEOT Program and agreed to assist Prem to meet his dream of beginning that program. Prem joined as school at CTC in 1976.
The Ohio Board of Regents gave their approval to supply the LEOT Program in addition to $40,000 for tools in 1978. The primary group of scholars have been admitted in September of the identical yr. On the time, CTC was and nonetheless is the solely two-year school in Ohio to supply a program in Electro-Optics. This system attendance grew and in 1982, the LEOT program needed to be transferred from the Physics Division to the Engineering Applied sciences Division, the place it may very well be built-in with Manufacturing Engineering Expertise and Electromechanical Engineering Expertise. Dr. Batra was allotted a 2500 sq. foot lab house at CTC.
Due to his persistent efforts, Prem was awarded a $225,000 grant by the Division of Schooling for use for this system. This system was additionally awarded the “State of Ohio Program Excellence Award” offered by former Ohio Governor, Richard Celeste. In 1991, Dr. Batra was awarded the “Excellence in Educating Award” from The Higher Cincinnati Consortium of Faculties and Universities.
Lab tools was procured via many different supporting grants and industrial presents which grew to become an integral a part of the hands-on sensible coaching. A memorable second was in 1982 when Dr. Batra and his college students constructed a 30 W carbon dioxide laser by utilizing outdated elements from the Electronics lab. He and his college students have been very excited by the success of the mission and determined to take this laser to the ICALEO Convention by the LIA in Florida, the place the school obtained publicity and extra job alternatives for the scholars. When Dr. C.Ok. Patel, who made the primary carbon dioxide laser, visited CTC, he was impressed to see the laser that was comprised of outdated elements.
The college students who attended Dr. Batra’s program at CTC have been required to take part within the cooperative training program, which enabled college students to alternate course work with on-the-job laser expertise within the industries. College students of the LEOT program have benefited from working with a number of trade and analysis firms similar to GE, Procter & Gamble, Milacron, Laser Facilities of America, Raytheon, Cincinnati Electronics, and Armco Analysis.
Prem grew to become a member of the Laser Institute of America (LIA) in 1976 and he was elected a Fellow in 1989. He served the career as chairman on the LIA Schooling committee, and a member of Laser Security committees for a decade. He was elected to the LIA Board of Administrators, and he additionally was elected to Fellow of the Laser Surgical procedure and Medication Affiliation (LSMA).
The Annual Laser Symposia held within the spring of every yr at Cincinnati State introduced wonderful visibility to the LEOT program and allowed networking between the college students and world leaders in Lasers. Prem invited colleagues from his community of photonics pioneers in addition to trade representatives who detailed the newest developments in medical tools, surgical methods and manufacturing purposes to inspire his college students. Among the pioneers included Dr. Theodore Maiman (who constructed the primary laser), Dr. Artwork Schalow (who first described the speculation of LASER), Dr. Leon Goldman (the primary person of lasers in Dermatology), and Dr. C.Ok. Patel (who constructed the primary carbon dioxide laser).
Over the years, visiting alumni have shared their gratitude to Dr. Batra and in 2000, a scholarship was began in his honor. This system has over 5 hundred alumni working in almost each state in america who’ve established, superior, and impressed much more laser purposes. Prem Batra retired in 2007 after 30 years of instructing on the College of Cincinnati.
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