Category Career Queries

Which are the famous buildings in Pampulha Modern Ensemble?

 The Sao Francisco De Assis Church

The Sao Francisco De Assis Church remains in use as a church and is considered to be the greatest masterpiece amongst all the buildings in the ensemble. It was designed in the form of a parabolic wave with reinforced concrete. The church is popular for its bold, unusual and striking forms, which also prevented it from being consecrated as the then Archbishop declared the church unfit for religious purposes. After many struggles, the church finally got its status in 1959.

The Pampulha Art Museum

Now an art museum, this building was functioned as a casino till April 1946. The casino ceased to exist as Gaspar Dutra, the former president of Brazil, prohibited gambling across the territory, it was converted into an art museum in 1957. The museum now boasts a collection of over 1,600 works including a collection of pieces by plastic artists and modernists.

The Ballroom

The Casa de Baile, known as the ballroom house, was inaugurated with the other buildings in 1943. However, in 1948, it ceased to function due to lack of visitors. Today, it houses the Centre of Reference in Urbanism, Architecture and Design. Situated on an artificial islet, it can be reached by crossing a bridge.

The Golf Yacht Club

The Golf Yacht Club has been turned into the Yacht Tennis Club today. Used as a place for entertainment and sports until the 1960s, it changed hands due to lack of funds. The original building was in the shape of a boat overlooking the lake. But over the years several modifications have been made.

The Kubitschek House

This was also designed in the 1940s along with the other buildings. It was intended to be the weekend residence of Juscelino Kubitschek. Today, it is a cultural space and a museum where objects from the time of the construction of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble have been collected.

 

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What is the history of Pampulha Modern Ensemble?

Juscelino Kubitschek, the former mayor of Belo Horizonte and former president of Brazil, wanted to develop an area around the artificial lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state. Therefore, around 1940, he commissioned the design of a set of buildings from renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. Oscar was also responsible for the construction project of the current capital city of Brazil, Brasilia.

Oscar worked in collaboration with renowned engineer Joaquim Cardozo, and artists including Candido Portinari, to build a casino, a ballroom, a church, a golf yacht club and a hotel around the artificial lake. Except for the hotel, the cultural and leisure complex was inaugurated on May 16, 1943.

The team exploited the plastic potential (the moulding capability) of concrete, and integrated plastic arts (any art form which involves modelling or moulding in three dimensions) such as sculpture and ceramics in the buildings. Landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx reinforced the links between the buildings through designed gardens and a circuit of walkable spaces.

The Pampulha ensemble reflects the way principles of modern architecture evolved in the early 20th century from rigid constructivism and adapted organically to reflect local traditions, the Brazilian climate and natural surroundings.

The ensemble was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.

 

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What is the career in the field of Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright law?

In today’s innovation-driven world, where corporate giants clash regularly over ideas and trademarks, copyright laws play and important role. They protect intellectual property (IP), which can be defined as any intangible property that is a product of creativity, and is covered by copyrights, patents and trademarks. With authors, musicians inventors and entrepreneurs lining up to protect their work, careers in intellectual property rights (IPR) are booming.

How it works

Intellectual property law enables individuals to claim exclusive rights and financial gain from what they invent or create, which is a benefit to both creators and the public. IP lawyers procure the right to new ideas and protect the existing creations. The job involves applying for patents, obtaining copyrights and defending it in case of infringement.

What are the job prospects?

There is a lot of patenting activity in countries across the world. And so, the field offers a plethora of jobs ranging from an IPR attorney, who has specialized in copyright infringement law, to patent specialists involved in preparing patents. Intellectual property lawyers also assist in licensing inventions, transferring proprietary technology, drafting licensing agreements, negotiating settlements, and conducting IP due diligence.

What is IP?

Intellectual property is any tangible commodity that is a product of creativity.

What are patents?

A patent is a right granted by the government to inventors in order to exclude others from copying or sharing their products without their permission.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device that is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others.

What is a GI tag?

A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin because of which they posses qualities or a reputation. GIs are part of the intellectual property rights that come under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. In India, GI registration is administrated by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999. GIs are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuff, handicrafts, and industrial products.

What to study?

People from different academic backgrounds can study law. Most law schools offer copyright law as a specialization with the law degree. Some offer separate short-term postgraduate diplomas on the subject.

Where:

  • The Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur; and Amity Law School, New Delhi: Bachelor of Law (LLB) with specialization in Intellectual Property Rights.
  • N.C. Banerjee Centre for Intellectual Property Rights Studies, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad: IP specialization in LLM and PG Diploma in Patent Law.
  • Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal’s Institute of Intellectual Property Studies, Mumbai: PG Diploma in Patent Law and Practice and PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights Management.

 

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What is the history of Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis?

The Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis consist of the ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes, San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Senora de Loreto and Santa Maria la Mayor. Only Sao Miguel is in Brazil, while the others are in Argentina.

Lying at the heart of a tropical rainforest in the land of the Guarani indigenous communities, these Jesuit missions were built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Each of the five-ruins has a specific layout.

These ruins are part of the 30 missions founded by the Jesuit Order in the rainforest stretching across Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The missions combine Spanish baroque architecture, and indigenous building technology with the religious symbolism of both local traditions and European Catholic liturgy.

During their time here, the Jesuits brought many changes to the lives of the native population by harnessing their natural resources and transforming their landscape.

This led to the Guaranitica War of 1756 and the later expulsion of the Jesuit order in 1767. Post this, these sanctuaries were abandoned.

Sao Miguel das Missoes

Also known as Sao Miguel Arcanjo, this church was built between 1735 and 1745. Among all the structures, this church is in a better state of conservation. Considered one of the beautiful representations of the Jesuit missions in Brazil and a very important historical record of humanity, visitors can see the ruins in the day, and watch a show in the evening which tells the story of the place in different languages.

San Ignacio Mini

The mission in Argentina was constructed in 1666 in Spanish baroque style, heavily influenced by indigenous motifs. The mission had a central square with buildings clustered around it. After the war, it was abandoned like the other missions and churches. However, its ruins were opened to the public many years later after conservation efforts stabilized the remaining structure. This is the best preserved among the ruins on the Argentine side.

Santa Ana

Not far from San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana is another mission in ruins. It was founded in 1633 during the Spanish colonial period. It was added to the UNESCO heritage list with the three other missions in Argentina in 1984.

Nuestra Senora de Loreto

This was one of the first missions to be founded by the Jesuits in the early 1600s. located near the San Ignacio Mini mission, the Loreto is not as well-preserved as the San Ignacio Mini or Santa Ana. It is mostly covered in vegetation, but one can still see the ruins.

Santa Maria la Mayor

This mission was founded by the Jesuits in 1626. This mission is the least preserved compared to the others. It had a sizable plaza, printing press and a prison. A church, which is in a total shambles, was also a part of this settlement. The chapel found in the settlement today is a recent 20th century addition.

 

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Dietitian: A ‘healthy’ career choice

With the world dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, dietitians/nutritionists play a very important role in preventive healthcare. They evolve many diet regimes which help in improving immunity and controlling diseases. Today, people from all walks of life, including professionals, sportpersons, businessmen, housewives, and of course people suffering from chronic diseases visit dietitians.

The nutritionist/dietitian’s job is to research the nutritive value of food and understand all food advise people on eating habits and plan diets that will improve health.

With growing general awareness that preventive nutrition can prevent cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, etc. rather than treat a condition after it manifests itself clinically, the role of a dietitian/nutritionist has gained greater significance. Consequently, a career in this field has become attractive.

How to start

On complexion of class XII, science stream students have the option to enroll for the three-year B.Sc/BA course in nutrition but many students study dietetics only after a graduate degree in any one of the following disciplines: home science, medicine, science (with chemistry and/or microbiology), hotel management, and catering. Six-month/one-year certificate/diploma courses in nutrition are also offered by some institutes and universities. You can also sign up for correspondence courses in food and nutrition.

In B.Sc Home Science (Hons), a student can specialise in food & nutrition in the second and third year. The Honours programme admits only students from science backgrounds as its subjects include biochemistry, botany, physics, zoology and chemistry.

At the postgraduate level, you can either do a one-year post graduate diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition (DDPHN) or a two-year Master’s programme.

Skills and Aptitude

A person opting for a career as dietitian/nutritionist must have an interest in food/food preparation. He/she should also possess good communication skills to interact with people, individually and in groups. In addition he should have patience and a genuine concern for fellow beings.

Career options

  • In hospitals, dietitians work closely with doctors to prepare diet plans for patients as per their needs. They also check quality and hygiene levels in hospital kitchen.
  • In the processed food industry, a dietitian works on the development and improvement of food products and production methods.
  • In hotel industry, dietitians plan for different types of guests and also supervise food production process.
  • Spas and clinics hire dietitians to use them for designing healthy, low-calorie monthly food charts for their customers.
  • Nutritionists have a slightly different field. They work in the areas of food science, community development, research projects and FMCG companies. Their work relates to research aspect. They go beyond diets and move into the science of biochemistry and food science.

 

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What do we know about the platinum group of metals?

A group of six metals – ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum-are known as the platinum group of metals or PGM. The group is called by this name because platinum is found more than the others though all of them are very rare.

The platinum groups of metals have physical, chemical and anatomical similarities. They are dense, stable and are often recycled to have longer lives. The group has a variety of highly specialized uses.

Platinum is a silvery white metal that is more expensive than gold. It is used to make jewellery. Platinum and palladium are often used as catalysts. Iridium and rhodium are harder and have a lot of alloying applications. There are very few minerals containing the platinum group of metals, and they are found mainly in South Africa and Russia.

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