Seminal scientist

"Some people see things that are, and ask: why? We dream of things that never were and ask: Why not?” This is the message for Zoroastrian youth from Dr Zarin Turel, currently adjunct professor of chemistry at Mithibai College, Bombay. In this post-retirement appointment she is a guide for MSc and PhD students, 34 of whom have completed their degrees under her guidance. Sadly, not one has been a Parsi, she laments.
Well known in scientific circles in India and abroad, Turel has presented research papers at various national and international fora. The thrust of her extensive research has been the use of nuclear energy for agriculture, environment (she has done a study of the aquatic environment in Bombay and surrounding areas), geology (discovery of ores containing new and rare elements like the platinum group of metals), medicine study of metals as carcinogens in breast and brain tumors) and dietetic research in nasogastric feed in cancer patients to ensure that the feed is well fortified with macro and micro nutrients. The scientist has developed new and rapid radiochemical separation procedures for employing analytic techniques as well as pilot plant processes for extraction of rare metals from ores, the procedure for which has been patented. So many countries have benefitted from her work that should some Zoroastrian entrepreneurs harness her research on using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, they could set up profitable businesses.

Zarin Turel, researcher, professor, guide

The satisfaction at achieving something which has not been done before is exhilarating, admits Turel, who has attained, a DSc in atomic energy, which is the equivalent of three PhDs! Having spent the better part of her life doing research in radio and nuclear chemistry for peaceful purposes, the science scholar has received many awards in India and abroad. In 2012 the Biographical Society of Great Britain declared Turel International Scientist of the Year ­— 2011. The Association of Chemistry Teachers and Tata Chemicals presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Turel is the only woman and the only Parsi on the Roll of Honor of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi for which she won the Silver Jubilee Oration Award.
Having completed her BSc and MSc in Ahmedabad from Gujarat University, Turel came to Bombay where her father was transferred. As a major in inorganic chemistry, she was immediately appointed as research assistant in chemistry at the Institute of Science. She then began to work toward her PhD in radio and nuclear chemistry, a fascinating field of research at that time, under the guidance of Dr B. C. Haldar, former head of the chemistry department and ex-director of the Institute of Science, Bombay, whom she holds in high esteem. For her post doctoral degree Turel went to the University of Maryland, USA, where her area of study was instrumental neutron activation analysis.
The widely traveled Turel has been invited by several countries including the US, UK, France, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Japan, Brazil among others, to give talks on her work. As a result she has had the opportunity to visit nuclear installations all over the world. With 200 published papers, she is an excellent coordinator for scientific events and has been invited to hold and manage conferences, workshops, symposia, etc worldwide.
A nature lover and a voracious reader, Turel is deeply conversant with astrology, in which field she is self taught. She also takes a keen interest in blood donation drives and helps people procure blood of rare blood groups. Turel may be contacted over the telephone at 022-65822367.
The scientist and her husband Dr Rustom Turel, now spry senior citizens, reside in Bombay’s Behram Baug in the leafy suburb of Jogeshwari. He holds a PhD in neuro-chemistry, having done his post doctoral research at the Kennedy Shriver Center, Boston, USA. Their daughter Kismet, a PhD, is in government service in Lucknow while son Cherag lives and works in San Francisco, USA.
"As a practicing Zoroastrian it has always been my endeavor in life to follow the preachings of our Prophet — good thoughts, good words and good deeds — which summarize the philosophy of life and our religion,” Turel maintains when queried about her views on the religion.