Page 31 - The Indian EYE 040425

Newsmakers of the Week APRIL 04, 2025 | The Indian Eye 31

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

ANITA ANAND & KAMAL KHERA DIVYA TYAGI

Two Indian-origin Ministers in Student Solves Century-Old

Canada PM’s Cabinet Maths Problem

wo prominent Indian-origin ministers, Anita Anand and Kamal Khera, ivya Tyagi, an Indian-origin student at Pennsylvania State University,
have been appointed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly
has made headlines by solving a century-old mathematical problem
Tformed cabinet. Anand, 58, serves as the Minister of Innovation, Science, Dthat promises to revolutionize wind turbine design. Her ground-break-
and Industry, while Khera, 36, takes on the role of Minister of Health. Their ing research revisits a complex equation first introduced by British aerodynam-
inclusion marks a significant representation of diversity in Canadian politics. icist Hermann Glauert in 1926, which has been pivotal in understanding how
Anita Anand, originally from Nova Scotia, has had a distinguished career
in both academia and politics. Before entering public service, she was a law wind turbines harness energy from the wind.
Tyagi’s innovative approach simplifies Glauert’s third-order polynomial,
professor at the University of Toronto and held the J.R. Kimber Chair in In- enhancing its accuracy and applicability in modern engineering. This signifi-
vestor Protection and Corporate Governance. First elected as a Member of cant breakthrough, published in the journal Wind Energy Science, could lead
Parliament for Oakville in 2019, Anand previously held key positions such as to more efficient wind turbines capable of generating greater energy outputs.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of National Defence. She was According to Tyagi, even a mere 1% improvement in the power coefficient
also considered a frontrunner to succeed Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister can substantially increase a turbine’s energy production, potentially powering
but ultimately decided to withdraw from the leadership race earlier this year. entire neighborhoods.
Kamal Khera, born in Delhi and raised in Canada, is one of the youngest
The original equation primarily focused on the maximum power coef-
women ever elected to the Canadian Parliament. She was first elected as the ficient, which measures how effectively a turbine converts wind energy into
Member of Parliament for Brampton West in 2015. Khera has a background electricity. However, it overlooked critical factors such as the total force and
as a registered nurse and has served in various capacities, including Minister moment coefficients acting on rotor blades. Tyagi’s refined model addresses
of Seniors and Parliamentary Secretary to several ministers. Her commitment these gaps, providing a more comprehensive understanding of turbine dy-
to healthcare is evident as she emphasizes her nursing experience in her new namics under operational conditions.
role as Minister of Health.
Tyagi’s work was part of her undergraduate thesis for the Schreyer Honors
College and has garnered praise from her professor and co-author, Dr. Sven
Carney’s cabinet is notably smaller than Trudeau’s previous Schmitz. He noted that while three other students attempted to tackle this
team, comprising 13 men and 11 women. This streamlined complex problem before her, Tyagi was the only one who succeeded. Schmitz
described her solution as “elegant,” emphasizing its potential to inspire fur-
approach aims to create a more focused government capable ther research and exploration in aerodynamics and renewable energy.
of addressing pressing national issues. Anand and Khera’s ap- In recognition of her exceptional achievement, Tyagi received the Antho-
ny E. Wolk Award for the best aerospace engineering thesis. As she continues
pointments not only highlight their individual qualifications but her studies in computational fluid dynamics, her research is expected to in-
also symbolize the increasing influence of women of Indian her- fluence future advancements in wind energy technology globally. Divya Tyagi
stands as a testament to the impact of innovative thinking and perseverance
itage in Canadian politics. in solving long-standing scientific challenges.
Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com