Florida News
PAINTING ‘MY MEDITATION,’ SAYS TALLAHASSEE ARTIST SANJIT DATTA
At the age of 82, Tallahassee painter Sanjit Datta doesn’t see the need to stop indulging in his passion. Painting is “my meditation, I became devoted to it when I was a third-grade student,” says the Florida capital resident of 41 years whose solo exhibit “East Meets West,” is ongoing through May 28 at Venvi Art Gallery.
About 35 oil and acrylic paintings by Datta are on show at the Venvi gallery, 2901 E. Park Ave., Suite 2800, in Tallahassee. Nearly 150 people, including Mayor Andrew Gillum, attended the exhibit reception on April 15. Datta’s paintings often contain Indian motifs and themes and showcase imagery. A native of Calcutta, Datta earned his master's degree in Graphic Design at the Government College of Art and Crafts in that city, and was a winner of the Latham Foundation's international poster competition. He worked at J. Walter Thompson as an associate art director for 13 years. 
Later, he studied Television Graphic Design at Birmingham University, and Creative Typographic Design at the Bournville Art College, in England. Datta, who has created logos for institutions such as the Florida Channel, worked at WFSU TV in Tallahassee as a graphic designer for 30 years.
To view Datta’s paintings, visit www.venviartgallery.com/sanjit-datta.html
TAMPA USF’S Yogi Goswami chosen for 2016 Böer solar energy award
D. Yogi Goswami
Renowned researcher, entrepreneur and solar energy expert D. Yogi Goswami of the University of South Florida in Tampa has been named the 2016 winner of the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit. Goswami's work focuses on reducing costs and developing efficient, effective storage methods for solar energy as well as harnessing solar energy as a catalyst to address environmental problems.
The Böer Medal, which comes with a $60,000 award, recognizes an individual who has made significant pioneering contributions in solar energy, wind energy or other forms of renewable energy as an alternate source of energy through research, development or economic enterprise, or to an individual who has made extraordinary, valuable and enduring contributions to the field in other ways. The medal will be awarded later this year.
Goswami is the 13th recipient of the medal, which is named in honor of Karl Wolfgang Böer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics and Solar Energy at the University of Delaware and founder of the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC).
With 18 patents, more than 300 papers and 16 books (authored or edited) to his credit, Goswami brings much practical knowledge to his work as distinguished professor of chemical engineering at USF, where he also is director of the Clean Energy Research Center. He has received the highest awards of many professional societies, including the International Solar Energy Society (ISE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), ASME and ASES.
Goswami earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Delhi, and his master's and doctorate at Auburn University. Before joining the faculty at South Florida, he served on the faculties of the University of Florida, North Carolina A&T, and Tuskegee Institute. He also is a visiting professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.
101st MATA DI CHOKI CELEBRATED AT TAMPA SANATAN MANDIR
More than 450 devotees attended the 101st Mata Di Choki celebrated with Jagrata as the grand event at Sanatan Mandir April 9 in Tampa.
Mata Di Choki began as a once-a-month choki in 2008 for Vaishano Devi devotees. On this occasion, the “Mata Ki Mandli” team of bhagats that sing monthly along with priests Pandit Manikya Sharma and Pandit Rushi Vyas were recognized. Vimal Kaushal and other mandli members were presented with “Mata Di Chunnis” as a token of appreciation by temple President Pankaj Patel and Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Pawan Rattan. 
Pandit Sharma was specially recognized for contributing to make Mata Di Choki a hallmark of events.
Sanatan Mandir is at 311 E. Palm Ave. For information, call (813) 221-4482 or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org
