Category Archives: Education

Manju Makes it to Med College

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

 

M Manju with her parents at Dharmapuri Medical College | S Raju
M Manju with her parents at Dharmapuri Medical College | S Raju

Dharmapuri :

A first generation Arunthathiyar girl student attended her first class at Government Dharmapuri Medical College (GDMC), here on Monday.

M Manju, whose dreams of pursuing MBBS was facing financial hurdle, was helped by philanthropists across the State following an Express report shedding light on her plight.

Thanking Express for giving voice to her plea, Manju said, “Were it not for the news report, I would never have been able to enter the college.”

Following the publication of the report, judges and senior advocates from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court pooled Rs 85,000 for her studies. The DD was handed over to Manju by the Superintendent of Police Asra Garg.

“I will never forget the gesture. A day after the report came in print, people began calling on me promising financial assistance. A senior police officer from Salem bought me my first year books. The Madurai Bench judges and advocates pooled money for my fees. We had never seen each other, but still they came forward to help me. My dream is their gift,” says Manju, barely  able to hold back her tears.

The wannabe pediatrician said that the gesture had put responsibility of great magnitude on her shoulders. “I have to do justice their support. I will work harder than ever to express my gratitude,” she added.

Meanwhile, the senior police official, who bought Manju her first year books and did not want to be named, told Express, “I did it because she deserved it. I wish her all the best for her future.”

Manju’s success was a proud moment for the entire community in general and the family in particular, said her sister Tamizhselvi. “It was the dream of our entire family. Her success would inspire people from our community. She truly has become a role model,” she added.

100 Join on Day One

The first year classes started at the Government Dharmapuri Medical College (GDMC) here on Monday. As many as 100 students attended the class. Of the 100, 15 students are from other states.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by M Niyas Ahmed / September 02nd, 2014

Madurai Agriculture College: 50 years and going strong

Education, Records, All

Madurai :

Establishment of a student complex with dining hall, kitchen and laundry at a cost of Rs 3 crore; alumni guest house for Rs 2 crore; golden jubilee arch for Rs 1.9 crore; state-of-the-art research laboratory at Rs 3 crore and a department of biotechnology with advanced lab facility at a cost of Rs 15 crore are some of the highlights that have been proposed to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Agricultural College and Research Institute (AC&RI) in Madurai.

Announcing this at a press meet here on Thursday, K Ramasamy, vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), to which the AC&RI is attached to, said the institution is gearing up to hold events all through the year. The golden jubilee year will commence with a colourful inauguration on August 19 with national and international seminars scheduled every month by the college’s 12 departments.

Ramasamy, said that it was a major milestone for the institute which has produced thousands of professionals. “The institution has gained a place of eminence in the state spreading technical education to unreachable areas and at the same time bringing out thousands of professionals,” he mentioned.

The agricultural college in Madurai was second institution after the one in Coimbatore which was later converted into TNAU. The college in Madurai played a very crucial role in its early stages empowering farmers of Tirunelveli to manage the Tamirabarani river, which till date remains the only river where they control it along with the public works department. Later, it provided crucial technical expertise to farmers of Periyar ? Vaigai irrigation command area in the southern districts and developed number of crop varieties more suitable for this region.

The college also provided five paddy varieties, one blackgram variety, one kolingi (green fodder) variety along with a number of horticulture crops likes brinjal, snake gourd and bitter gourd, flowers like chrysanthemum and marigold. Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the college empowered farmers with its extension activities and many farmers from the region aided by its service rose to win number of awards, Ramasamy explained.

It was established as agricultural college on August 19, 1965 and inaugurated by then Chief Minister of State, S Bakthavatsalam

It was upgraded as Post Graduate Centre in 1969

It became constituent unit of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University since 1971

It was turned into research institute in 1980 with major disciplines as agronomy, plant breeding and genetics and agricultural entomology

Spread over 154 hectares, it was one of biggest campus next to Coimbatore

The institute produced 3142 under graduates, 1536 post graduates and 617 research scholars in this 50 years

Alumni of college include 12 IAS officers, 12 IPS officers, 14 IFS (Forest) officers, 10 IRS (Revenue) Officers, 3 IFS (Foreign Service) and one from Indian Railway Service

Sanila Velikeloth of Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons who was awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2013 was alumnus of AC & RI, Madurai

Several alumni work as scientists in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / August 15th, 2014

Hosur school kid wins free trip to Nasa

Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion
Picture for representation purpose
Picture for representation purpose

Krishnagiri:

A class 10 student from remote Krishnagiri district conceived an “artificial, imaginary” planet where human beings can live, and won a free trip to the National Aeronautics Space Administration in the United States. Kiruthika, the 14-year-old girl, student of a private school in Hosur, came up with the idea of imaginary planet, ‘Aparana Basaraya’, named after the great astronomers of India, Aryabhatta and Bhaskaracharya.

The ‘Aparana Basaraya’ concept was sent as an entry for the space settlement design contest conducted annually by Nasa-Ames Research Centre for School Students. As many as 1,567 students in 18 countries, including Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, UAE, India, the United Kingdom and USA, sent in over 562 entries. Kiruthika’s entry did not make it to the top 10 in the contest but her idea recevied appreciation and she was offered a free trip to Nasa. Six students from Jalandhar in Punjab won the grand prize for conceiving ‘Vona’, a settlement in Mars.

KiruthikaCHENNAI29aug2014

“My passion is biology but I decided to take part in the competition after my neighbour informed me about it,” says Kiruthika. Her project is about an artificial planet which can be positioned in space. It is cylindrical at the bottom and doughnut-shaped at the top. Humans can occupy the cylindrical shaped bottom area and the doughnut-shaped area can be used by cattle and others. Oxygen, water and other essentials reache the planet through less expensive sources. The project failed to impress but the jury accepted the idea and gave Kiruthika a chance to visit

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Education / DC / Sanjeevi Anandan / August 27th, 2014

‘DIET’ Develops Multimedia Based Smart Learning System for Schools

Education, Science & Technologies

Vellore :

The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) centre at Ranipet has come out with a first of its kind ‘Smart Learning System’(SLS) for the benefit of middle school students.

The multi-media based learning system packed in DVDs contains vivid explanations of lessons, add-on information and questions and answers as supplementary information for class 6, 7 and 8 textbooks, for the trimesters.

DIET principal A Basheer Ahmed told Express that a group of 25 teachers from government schools had prepared the SLS under the guidance of the DIET.

The purpose of the SLS is to make use of multi-media devices such as laptop and LCD projectors provided by the  State, while motivating teachers to make use of digital support, to explain the lessons to students better,  Basheer Ahmed said adding, “The SLS aims at overall development of students and teachers as well,” he added.

Around 20 to 28 lessons for English, Tamil, Maths, Science and Social Science subjects for classes 6, 7, 8 for one trimester are packed in four DVDs. Pictures, videos, animations and additional explanations for each lessons would enhance the grasping capability of students, Basheer Ahmed added.

The DIET would also prepare audio lessons for the visually-challenged children. We are in the process of handing over the DVD set to schools through the chief educational officer attached to the ‘Sarva Siksha Abyan’ Basheer Ahmed said while making a presentation of the DVDs to the CEO (SSA) on Monday. The CEO Anitha said, the distribution of DVDs to schools would begin soon after the nod from the government.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by V. NarayanaMurthi / August 27th, 2014

Rapid Strides in Genetic Diversity Study

Education, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Vellore :

Why is genetic diversity important for the survival of organism? This was one of the themes that was discussed at a three-day workshop on ‘Genetic diversity, molecular evolution and genomics’ held by the VIT University recently.

Professor S S Khora, Dean in-charge, School of Bio Science and Technology, VIT University said, the last few decades had seen rapid progress in understanding diversity at the molecular-level, thanks to the development of range of molecular tools. These tools had allowed scientists measure genetic diversity at various levels of population and address broad issues related to molecular evolution. Several laboratories in the country including VIT University were engaged in research in these areas, he pointed out. Professor R Uma Shanker from the University of Agricultural Science, Bengaluru, who was the convenor of the workshop, discussed a topic related to forest genetic resources. Dr G Ravikanth from ATREE, Bengaluru, delivered a lecture on DNA bar-coding.

Topics such as ‘Genomic tools in genetic diversity’ by Dr Nataraj Karaba, USA, ‘Molecular Evolution’ by Dr H A Ranganath and ‘Comparative Genomics’ by Dr R Siva of VIT University evoked good response.

The workshop provided an opportunity to students to get a hands-on feel of some of the software used in population genetics.

Around 200 students, research scholars and faculty members from in and around Vellore were present at the workshop, sponsored by the Indian Academy of Science, Indian National Science Academy and National Academy of Science.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / August 20th, 2014

32 alumnus to be honoured at celebrations

Education, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technologies

Trichy :

A total of 32 alumni will be presented with the ‘distinguished alumnus’ award at the celebrations on Saturday. The 32 alumni members representing big corporate houses will be presented the award for their achievement in their respective fields.

The success and contribution of the alumni are laudable. They lead some of the large business corporations, governmental departments, services, academia and others fields and most of them are expected to be present for the event as the institute has been sending out invites to every individual who passed out.

Theyjas Srivas, pursuing master’s degree in the mechanical engineering department said that the faculty members are the strength at NIT-T.

“NIT-Trichy stands like a monolithic structure among the peers because of its growth and leadership in the field of technical education. There is a month-long orientation programme for first year students immediately after their join. The objective of this orientation is to bring all students together on a common social-cultural platform and make them ready for a new learning experience,” which is unique, he says. He further added that focus on research and development is given priority and the collaboration with several universities abroad gives the students a lot of exposure.

Santhosh G, a third-year production engineering student said, “Thrust is given to the use of ICT in teaching, learning and administration. A state of the art video-conferencing facility has been established in the campus. The classrooms are also enabled for video-conferencing through NKN (National Knowledge Network) that interconnects all government institutions including IITs, NITs through high bandwidth internet.”

Meanwhile, enthusiastic students have also created a new website for the Golden Jubilee celebrations with a new logo and would be selling souvenirs bearing the logo.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy  /  TNN / July 19th,  2014

18-year-old scales heights to fund science project

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized
Funds collected from a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro were used to dedicate a mobile van housing science models, to Agastya International Foundation. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu
Funds collected from a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro were used to dedicate a mobile van housing science models, to Agastya International Foundation. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu

The youth had decided to seek donation from friends and relatives for the project but also wanted to do something physically demanding to achieve the goal.

City resident Mahesh Ramakrishnan on Wednesday dedicated to an NGO working for science education a mobile van funded through an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro.

The funds collected from the climb that took him to the top of Africa’s highest mountain last year, were used to dedicate the ‘Science on Wheels’ vehicle-an educational van where students can view science experiments — to Agastya International Foundation. Two vehicles were dedicated to students on Wednesday, one of which was funded by Mahesh and the other by State Bank of India. The climb has also generated enough funds for Mahesh to provide for the operational costs of both vehicles.

Participating at the launch function held at Ramakrishna Mission High School, the 18-year-old said he appreciated Agastya International Foundation’s mission to provide creating, innovative and engaging science education for underprivileged children in the country.

The youth had decided to seek donation from friends and relatives for the project but also wanted to do something physically demanding to achieve the goal. Hence, the decision to scale the mountain, he said. Beaming with pride, Ramakrishan said: “The aim was to collect US $25,000 but I ended up collecting $40,000.”

The mobile vehicles are aimed at encouraging students to get hands-on practical experience of science through experiments outside the classroom. K.V. Sai Chandrasekhar of the foundation said each mobile science vans had 150 to 200 science models covering a wide range of topics in physics, chemistry, biology and maths.

The two mobile vans would be visiting government-aided schools and schools run by the Chennai Corporation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Society / Staff Reporter / Chennai – August 14th, 2014

Three Centuries, All The Way From Black Town

Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

StGeorgeAngloIndianSchoolCHENNAI08aug2014

Chennai :

As the school guard rings the bell, children and teachers walk along the arcaded corridors and the school echoes with the now rare Anglo-Indian accent. St George’s Anglo Indian School will soon turn 300, just 75 years younger than Madras itself.

Considered the oldest school in South Asia, its seeds of the school were sown in 1715 as the Male Orphans’ Asylum, a home for the orphans of British soldiers. From the British’s ‘Black Town’, the school was shifted to the Egmore Railway Station in 1872, and finally established itself as the Civil Orphans’ Asylum in its present location on Poonamalle High Road in 1904.

Today, the orphanage building — Conway House – still stands, with the structure mostly unchanged but now painted a lime green. Most of the blocks in the school are single-storeyed red buildings with wooden windows and quaint, green painted grills. The school chapel that stands in the middle of a large, overgrown lawn appears straight out of an English village — a warm and homely exposed-brick building with steep tiled roofs and spires — the way it was in 1884.

“The orphanage now has 30 children, there were 300 when I joined,” says Isabel Manoharan, the oldest staff member of the school, who joined the school in 1976. “The Anglo-Indian community now has greatly reduced. Earlier the orphanage was open only to Anglo Indian children, and then we began taking children whose fathers were Anglo Indian, now we take them if one parent is an Anglo-Indian,” she says.

The orphanage students study in the school, which is government aided. “There are around 600 Anglo Indian students in the school today,” says N George, Headmaster of the school. The school provides midday meals to deserving students and the government aid helps in the fees of the Anglo-Indian students.

“We have been carrying forward the old traditions of the schools,” George says. One of the long standing traditions is hockey, and the school has a strong team that takes part in national and State level tournaments.

The tri-centenary celebrations are scheduled for April 2015 and the countdown has already begun, with events and competitions. “Alumni from across the globe are expected for the event,” says Isabel. The school will also be holding a carnival to join in celebrating Madras Day, with stalls, photo exhibitions and competitions.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Student / by Archita Suryanarayanan / August 08th, 2014

Chennai college whizkids glow in solar energy

Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized
V.Vaikunth and S.Christopher pose with their rooftop solar panels and solar devices. (Photo: DC)
V.Vaikunth and S.Christopher pose with their rooftop solar panels and solar devices. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: 

S.Christopher and V.Vaikunth are no ordinary engineering students. They are creating a revolution in the solar power industry, designing and manufacturing their own solar powered devices. These third year engineering students at Sathyabama University have started to make waves in the industry. They have installed their devices in more than 10 educational institutions and commercial establishments.

“There are several misconceptions about solar energy such as they can be used only for a short period. We wanted to disprove these, so we began a company to produce and install solar powered devices. We have been working together for six years on solar research and have done several installations,” Christopher, the mechanical engineering student said.

Asked about their unique selling proposition (USP), the young entrepreneurs instantaneously said, “We refurbish solar panels which are as old as 10 years and reuse it, which brings down the cost of the project, as people think solar is expensive.” The two young students started a company “Vaik & Chris Stalz” to commercialise their products. Vaik & Chris Stalz, which has a gamut of solar household products also plans to produce solar bike, solar car and solar quadrapros.

Continuing their success story, Vaikunth said that they had not only ventured into the solar power industry but computer accessories too. “We have come up with a change in the computer’s printer, according to which a person need not use the printer’s inbuilt cartridge, and can instead use an external toner, which we have developed so that your ink does not get exhausted,” Vaikunth, a third year electronics and instrumentation student said.

Presently, these young entrepreneurs have installed solar powered street lights at Sathyabama University, and a solar power generation unit at a voluntary service organisation in Chengalpattu.

Let’s make history in solar power and become a global leader in this technology to make India’s flag fly high, was what these students said when asked about their ambitions.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / August 03rd, 2014

MSU’s research on earthworm to enhance U.S. study on artificial liver

Education, Science & Technologies, World Opinion
Prof. Vaithi Arumugaswami
Prof. Vaithi Arumugaswami

It can make a breakthrough in the field of regeneration of organs

What is common between earthworms and liver, a lot says researchers.

Since liver, like earthworm, has got regenerating capacity even though 80 per cent of the glandular organ gets damaged, it is believed that some of the crucial findings of the research being done on the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University campus on earthworm’s regenerative capacity and its genome may help in devising a bio-artificial liver through the researches going on in the highly sophisticated laboratories of the Cedars — Sinai campus in the United States.

The MSU research has attracted the attention of Prof. Vaithi Arumugaswami of Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars — Sinai, U.S., who is actively working with a team of scientists on bio-artificial liver through stem cell research for the past few years. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University’s Department of Biotechnology, that has established one of the well-equipped labs in the country, is conducting researches on earthworm and mice to study their regenerative capacity after almost completing the gene mapping of earthworm by a team of researchers led by S. Sudhakar, Head, Department of Biotechnology, MSU.

“Since many of the genes of the earthworm resemble the gene found in humans, we, through the stem cell research, can make a breakthrough in the field of regeneration of organs like liver. We’re working towards this direction,” says Dr. Sudhakar, who had worked in the U.S. for several years.

When he recently met Prof. Vaithi Arumugaswami, the meeting gave a lot of confidence for both sides about significant progress in their respective researches and taking it to the next level with their findings.

“Since viral infection or alcoholism cause liver cirrhosis and liver cancer that ultimately leads to death, we’ve to look for liver transplantation involving huge sum of money and have to wait indefinitely for cadaveric transplantation or for a brain-dead patient. As liver has got regeneration capacity, we, through our researches, try to devise a bio artificial liver,” says Dr. Vaithi, who was at MSU for delivering lectures for the students of biotechnology on Monday.

Towards this direction, Dr. Vaithi, who hails from Kadayam in Tirunelveli district and did his master’s degree in veterinary science Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and his team are now conducting researches on mice, rat and pig by overloading its liver with liver-toxic medicines like paracetamol or dimethyl-nitro-amine.

“With the gene mapping we have the basis to show a lot of similarities between earthworm, mice and pig, we hope that we can take the research on realising the dream of bio artificial liver to the next level,” hope Dr. Vaithi and Dr. Sudhakar.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Special Correspondent / Tirunelveli – August 06th, 2014