The International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (IIUCNN) organized this seminar on September 4, supported by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) Alumni Award to Dr. Geethamma V. G. We greatly appreciate the wholehearted support of Mr. Adam J. Grotsky, Executive Director, Mr. Samuel Philip Mathew, Public Relations & Alumni Manager, Ms. Maya Sivakumar, Regional Officer, Chennai, and other staff in USIEF. The support from Prof. Sabu Thomas, Director and Dr. Nandakumar Kalarikkal, Joint Director, is also greatly acknowledged.
We faced
difficulties in organizing this seminar as with any other seminar. But the
major hurdle was quite an unexpected one. The seminar was scheduled on
September 4, 2013. Unfortunately, just two days ago different trade unions
declared a motor vehicle strike on September 4. Usually in Kerala, it ends up
almost like a bandh. At first we thought to postpone the seminar. But we
decided to go ahead with the seminar realizing many difficulties including
getting the convenient dates of the speakers.
The seminar
was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. A.V.George, Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kottayam. Prof. Sabu Thomas made the introductory remarks about the
Nanocentre. We were honoured to have Ms. Maya Sivakumar, Regional Officer-USIEF,
Chennai, with us during the inauguration and the forenoon session. She talked
about the activities of the USIEF and the Fulbright opportunities for students
and researchers. Dr. Latha M. S. delivered the vote of thanks. Dr. Nandakumar
Kalarikkal made the concluding remarks at the end of the programme.
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| Prof. A. V. George |
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| Ms. Maya Sivakumar |
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| Prof. Sabu Thomas |
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| Dr. Latha M. S. |
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| Dr. Nandakumar Kalarikkal |
Invited Lectures
The aim of
this seminar and the role of our institution are given in the proceedings of
the Seminar. The seminar focused the impact of polymers (plastics and rubbers)
on our environment. The following topics were discussed in the seminar.
· Is it possible
for a complete ban on polymer products?
· Recycling of
polymers
· Importance of
public awareness: role of legislative, judiciary and police
· Role of
product manufacturers
· E-waste
handling
· Polymer waste
and bio-waste
There were
nine invited speakers including academicians, government officials, activists
and industrialists. The morning session included technical talks and the
afternoon session comprised of general speeches regarding the waste management.
Prof. Sabu Thomas, M. G.
University, Padmashri Prof. P. I. John, Plasma Research Institute,
Gujarat, Prof.
Rani Joseph, Cochin University of Science and Technology and Prof. V.K.
Sasikumar, retired from Govt. Engg. College, Kozhikkode delivered
technical talks.
Mr. T. M. Muhammed Ja from Suchitwa
Mission, Government of Kerala, expressed his views on waste management. Mr. Jose Joseph
Moonjely and Mr. Shibu K. Nair who practise waste management
shared their views with the audience.
We believe and
really hope that the manufacturers can play a key role in minimizing the
plastic and rubber waste. Hence we invited a number of manufacturers to share
their views in the seminar. A few of them realized the intention behind conducting
this seminar and Dr. Ashok Menon from Sabic Technology Centre, Bangalore and Mr. Joseph John,
KA Pre-vulcanized Latex, Nagercoil, reached here at their own expense and delivered
lectures.
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| Prof. Sabu Thomas |
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| Dr. Ashok Menon |
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| Prof. Rani Joseph |
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| Prof. V. K. Sasikumar |
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| Mr. Joseph John |
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| Prof. P. I. John |
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| Mr. Jose Joseph Moonjely |
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| Mr. Shibu K. Nair |
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| Mr. T. M. Muhammed Ja |
Paper/ Poster Presentation Contests
In connection
with the seminar, we conducted competitions for students and research scholars to spread the word about waste management. The contest was
open to all disciplines. We decided to
include students from other disciplines as well along with science and
technology students since the issue has serious impacts on the society. We know
that it is not easy to find an immediate solution to the waste problem.
What we judged was their attitude and their efforts in finding a solution to
the problem, how genuine they were in addressing the problem etc.
There were five teams for the paper
presentation contest. They presented
their idea before the judging panel and defended the queries from the audience
as well as the judging panel comprised of four members. Based on their recommendation,
the following teams were given prizes.
1st Prize with a cash award of Rs. 5000/-:
Polymers and
Environment Awareness in the Primary & Secondary School Level
presented by Lini V. Korah, Riyas Subair, Salim
Gopi and Sreenath P. R.,
2nd Semester M.Tech. Polymer Science
and Technology
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kottayam
2nd Prize with a cash award of Rs. 4000/-:
Construction
Material from Recycled Polystyrene
presented
by Anurag Mohanan T. P. and Muhammed Raees
P. C.
3rd semester B.Tech. Instrumentation
Engineering
Cochin University of Science and Technology,
Kochi-22
There was only one poster in the
seminar and so there was no competition for the poster presentation. Considering
the quality of the poster, we decided to give a poster prize to the
participants.
Poster Prize with a cash award of Rs. 1000/-:
Tyre Scrap Recycling
presented
by Meenu N. and Manju G. R.
7th
Semester B. Tech. Polymer Engineering
Mahatma Gandhi
University College of Engineering, Thodupuzha
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| Muhammed Raees P. C. |
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| Salim Gopi |
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| Emmanuel |
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| Salva Jalsin |
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| Ajmal |
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| Swathy, Sanjay and Ajmal |
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| Riyas, Salim, Sreenath and Prof. Sabu Thomas |
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| Muhammed, Anurag and Prof. Aravindakumar |
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| Meenu, Manju and Prof. Sabu Thomas |
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| Mr. Varadarajan, Dr. Nandakumar and Dr. Soney |
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| Anagha M. G. |
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Organizers
