Category Archives: Science & Technologies

Scientists come together to use renewable energy in villages

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Eleven scientists from across the country are back in school in Coimbatore — this time to brainstorm, collaborate and come up with ideas to use renewable energy to mitigate climate change. They are participating in a 21-day winter school organised by Tamil Nadu Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute in Coimbatore.

One of the villages that will serve as a model is Thalinji, near Tirupur, where electricity is being generated using biomass. “Four years ago, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) set up a 100 cubic metre biomass plant to generate electricity for 120 houses and 28 streetlights in association with a non-governmental organisation, Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Development Society,” said S Kamaraj, professor and head, department of bio-energy. The village generates 12 units of power every hour using the biomass plant, maintained by SAG Federation and women self-help groups. There are seven solar-powered street lights as well.

“In Gujarat, there is abundant availability of biomass, so I am looking to learn the various methods of using it as an energy source and implement the most viable one with the help of students and researchers there,” said Modi Vijayesh Mahendrabhai, assistant professor, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat.

Another participant is looking forward to learning the latest technology and replicating it in tribal villages in Vellore district. “We are working on a project on using waste land and waste water to create an algae and extract biofuel. This winter school will definitely give us more insight to our project,” said S Joshua Davidson, assistant professor, KVK, Vrinjipuram, Vellore.

According to the ministry of new and renewable energy, India is endowed with renewable resources and there is a potential to generate an additional 80,000MW of renewable energy. “At present, the total renewable energy power generation in India is 28,000MW of the total 2,30,000MW, which works out to 12.7%,” said K Alagusundaram, deputy director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

With concerns about environmental degradation and climate change increasing, the importance of renewable energy for power generation is attracting greater attention, he added.

K Ramasamy, vice-chancellor, TNAU, urged that biomass availability in Tamil Nadu should be identified and a data bank should be created. “Energy plantations and biomass processing industries should be promoted to create energy-efficient technologies for biomass-based power generation,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Komal Gautham, TNN / November 09th, 2014

Engineering heritage centre opened

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies

An engineering heritage centre has been established at Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam near Sriperumbudur to showcase the growth of various branches of engineering. The centre was inaugurated by A. Sivathanu Pillai, managing director of BrahMos Aerospace recently. Dr. Pillai, distinguished scientist, Defence Research and Development Organisation, traced the development of space and missile technology in India under the leadership of Vikram Sarabhai and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

He appreciated students’ effort in fabricating and displaying various engineering gadgets and emphasised that creative and innovative thinking was the need of the hour. “A strong industry-institute interaction and joint patents should be part of core activity in any technical institution” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – November 15th, 2014

Now, diabetes clinic at Siddha Research Centre

Nature, Science & Technologies

Arumbakkam-based Siddha Central Research Institute will launch a special outpatient service on Friday to mark World Diabetes Day.

The service will be offered every Monday from 8 a.m. till noon.

Further research

The institute will also take up further research on one of its medicinal product — the D5 choornam — used to treat diabetes.

“We conducted a year-long study on a group of patients that included only those who had been detected with diabetes within six months of its onset. We found that the medicine was effective on the control group. From tomorrow we have decided to provide the choornam to all patients coming to the clinic but we will continue our research to test the medicine’s efficacy on chronic diabetics,” said institute director general R.S. Ramaswamy.

The study was conducted in three centres — Chennai, Puducherry and Palayamkottai.

The next step in the study, which will be launched on Friday, will include long-term diabetic patients with diabetes-related complications, Dr. Ramaswamy said.

The institute is a unit of Department of AYUSH.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – November 14th, 2014

Death centenary of a Dravidian leader

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized

 

Pandit Iyothee Thass / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Pandit Iyothee Thass / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
He had his roots in The Nilgiris: Nilgiri Documentation Centre

The Kotagiri based Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) has pointed out that 2014 marks the death centenary of a pioneering Dravidian leader who had his roots in the Nilgiris.

Stating that not many are aware of this, NDC Director Dharmalingam Venugopal has in a statement issued here on Wednesday pointed out that Pandit Iyothee Thass (1845-1914), who was born in Coimbatore, was brought up in the English household of George Harrington in Ooty. His father worked for the Harringtons. Thass was originally named Kathavarayan.

Tamil scholarThass became a well known Siddha practitioner and Tamil scholar with expertise in the traditional knowledge on astrology and palm-leaf manuscript reading. In 1870, Thass founded Adhvaidhananda Sabha in Ooty. In 1891, he established an organisation called the Dravida Mahajana Sabha, and organised the first conference at Ooty. In that conference, 10 resolutions were passed including the one on enacting a criminal law to punish those who humiliated untouchables, creating separate schools and providing scholarships for matriculation education for untouchable children; providing employment for educated untouchables, and representation for untouchables in District Boards and Municipal Boards.

In 1898, Thass visited Sri Lanka and converted himself to Buddhism under the influence of Colonel Olcott of Theosophical Society and founded ‘The Sakya Buddhist Society’ at Royapettah, Madras. In 1907, Thass launched his journal ‘Oru Paisa Tamilan’ as an organ of this organisation.

After a year the name was changed to ‘Tamilan’. It was edited, published and owned by Thass. The average circulation of the weekly was 500. The ‘Tamilan’ is considered the most renowned journal in Dalit print history because of its rich content and ideology.

In 1881, when the colonial Government planned to carry out the second census, Thass gave a memorandum to the Government requesting that the people of depressed classes in Tamil speaking land should be considered as Adi-Tamilar and not as Hindus.

Thass died in 1914. The institute for Siddha Research in Chennai is named after him.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Special Correspondent / Udhagamandalam – November 13th, 2014

An in-house force charting an affordable way

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies

 

The 24-year-old is planning to make a venture out of a low-cost electric mobility scooter, a design improvised from existing models by his father. Photo: M. Moorthy / The Hindu
The 24-year-old is planning to make a venture out of a low-cost electric mobility scooter, a design improvised from existing models by his father. Photo: M. Moorthy / The Hindu
Naidhroven and his father, who have congenital muscular dystrophy, are working at making mobility devices affordable

As soon as Naidhroven A. sees a visitor approaching his house, from his first floor balcony, he quickly descends in a customised lift.

The 24-year-old and his father, R. Aravamudan (60), who were diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy, are working at making mobility devices affordable.

A battery-operated electric mobility scooter that Naidhroven uses to move around the house was put together by his father. While Mr. Aravamudan has built the prototype scooter, Naidhroven is soon planning to make them available commercially, at low cost.

When Mr. Aravamudan could no longer walk after a fall, he decided to build a scooter at home instead of buying an expensive one for himself. “My dad could not walk after 2010 and wanted a scooter that was tailor-made. I had a fall in 2012,” said Naidhroven, who has completed his MBA.

Mr. Aravamudan who runs an electrocardiogram machine-making business unit from home said he was able to cut costs by using locally-sourced materials. “Videos on YouTube were of great help when I was starting,” he said, adding that his background in electronics engineering and an interest in automobiles and mechanics helped to a great extent.

Naidhroven said they spent between Rs. 8,000-10,000 to build the basic prototype that they use. “The imported models were quite expensive; so, my father started making the scooters to fulfil our needs. We then thought that we could help others as well,” he said, adding that the designs themselves are not new, and were improvised from existing ones. “We outsourced processes that required certain expensive machines, and assembled it at home,” he said.

Naidhroven is raising funds for the commercial venture through a bank loan as well as through Indiegogo, a crowd-funding platform. “I want to develop a low-cost scooter that can be controlled using a mobile application and also low-cost wheelchairs that can be used to climb stairs,” Naidhroven said.

He uses two variants of the scooter, modified for indoor and outdoor use.

Radha Aravamudan, Naidhroven’s mother, said they have not bought mass-marketed assistive devices, and have instead tried to make similar ones at home for themselves in order to be independent.

Naidhroven can be reached at naidhro@gmail.com.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Society / by Asha Sridhar / November 10th, 2014

Blue Boys Team of Fathima School Invent Water Alarm

Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

BlueBoysMPOs11nov2014

Chennai :

To create environmental awareness in Saidapet, three teams — the Eco-friendly, the Blue Boys and the Go-Green — were started in Fathima Matriculation Higher Secondary School.

The Blue Boys team contributed with a water alarm.  Afrith of Class 10 invented the alarm.

One day when Afrith was alone at home, he saw water overflowing from the tank, which led to the invention.  He decided to create an alarm to alert people when water overflows from the tank.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Student / by Express News Service / November 11th, 2014

Aachi’s Lab a Boon to Operators

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies

AachiCF08nov2014

Chennai :

Aachi group launched a state-of-the-art comercial food testing labaratory, Scientific Food Testing Services (STFS), recently.

The laboratory, which is located in Anna Nagar is a boon to all manufacturers and operators in Tamil Nadu and nearby towns, said a press release.

STFS was inaugurated by Dr K Alagusundaram, Deputy Director General, Indian Council for Agricultureal Research (ICAR).

He also released the first copy of information handbook and brochure of Scientific Food Testing Services. The vote of thanks was delivered by Abishek Abraham, executive director, Aachi group.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / November 08th, 2014

Scientists come together to bring about changes in villages through renewable energy

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Thalinji, a small village near Tirupur where electricity is being generated using biomass, is a model for mitigating climate change using renewable resources.

“Four years ago, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) set up a 100 cubic metre biomass plant to generate electricity for 120 houses and 28 streetlights in association with an NGO named non-conventional energy and rural development society,” said S Kamaraj, head of bioenergy department.

The village generates 12 units of power every hour using the biomass plant which is maintained by SAG Federation and women self-help groups. There are seven solar-powered street lights as well.

Eleven scientists from across the country have come together to bring about a change in Indian villages and to give them facilities without disturbing the ecosystem or affecting the climate.

They will participate in the 21 days winter school organised by Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute in the city and learn methods of using renewable energy to mitigate climate change.

“In Gujarat, there is abundant availability of biomass, so I am looking to learn the various methods of using it as an energy source and implement the most viable one in our state by education the students and researchers there,” said Modi Vijayesh Mahendrabhai, assistant professor, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat.

A participant from Raipur is looking forward to learn the latest technologies and replicate them in tribal villages in Vellore district.

“We are working on a project on using wasteland and waste water to create an algae and extract bio-fuel from it. This winter school will definitely give us more insight to our project,” said S Joshua Davidson, assistant professer, KVK, Vrinjipuram, Vellore.

With India generously being endowed with renewable resources, there exists a potential of the order of 80,000 MW, according to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

“At present the total renewable energy based power generation in India is 28,000 MW out of the total 2,30,000 MW which works out to be 12.7% only,” said K Alagusundaram, Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

With concerns for environmental protection and climate change increasing, the importance of renewables for power generation is attracting greater attention, he added.

TNAU vice chancellor K Ramasamy said that that biomass availability in the state should be identified and a data bank should be created.

“Energy plantations and bio mass processing industries should be promoted to promote energy efficient technologies for biomass based power generation,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Komal Gautham, TNN / November 07th, 2014

Chennai lab to help set up Botswana leather park

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Chennai :

Several African countries have been taking advantage of India’s expertise in the leather sector and the latest to join the bandwagon is Botswana. Scientists from Chennai-based Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), who have already been offering expertise to the governments of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia, will now help establish a leather park in the land-locked country in southern Africa.

A survey will be conducted and a feasibility report submitted. CLRI bagged the project based on a proposal sent to the government of Botswana three months ago.

“It is a $30,000 project. The park the Botswana government will be setting up would be a full-fledged industrial complex. It will be similar to the one we have in Kolkata but in terms of size, it will be smaller than the one we have here,” said Dr B Chandrasekaran, chief scientist, Centre for Human and Organisational Resources Development, CLRI.

He said a team of experts from the CLRI would conduct a large-scale survey in the African country and a feasibility report would be submitted to its government in three months time. “It is basically taking stock of the situation. The survey will include the animal and human population, meat-eating habits, raw material use, import and export of hides (animal skin), machinery, manpower and status of industries. The report will also suggest suitable location and all that is needed to set up an integrated park,” said Chandrasekaran.

CLRI has already been providing advice to other African countries, including Ethiopia, where they have been working on an 24.4 crore project to develop a leather Institute. They have also offered expertise in developing academic curriculum and investments in the field in Egypt and Sudan.

“Manpower in India and China is no more cheaper and manufacturers are looking to Africa as the next hub. That is the case in any sector. In Botswana, too, we can, in the future, play a role in establishing institutions for manpower development for the park,” Chandrasekaran said and added that offering expertise would also help in expanding India’s commercial relations.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by U. Tenonmayam, TNN / November 04th, 2014

Fellowship for Chennai diabetologist

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

 

V. Mohan, chairman and chief diabetologist of Dr. Mohan’s Specialities Centre, has published 870 research papers in high-impact journals and textbooks — Photo: Bijoy Ghosh / The Hindu
V. Mohan, chairman and chief diabetologist of Dr. Mohan’s Specialities Centre, has published 870 research papers in high-impact journals and textbooks — Photo: Bijoy Ghosh / The Hindu
The Fellowship of The World Academy of Sciences was recently conferred upon city-based diabetologist V. Mohan.

This is one of the most prestigious science awards and is conferred annually on top scientists in various disciplines, globally, according to a press release.

Dr. Mohan, chairman and chief diabetologist of Dr. Mohan’s Specialities Centre, has published 870 research papers in high-impact journals and textbooks and his work has received 23,813 citations till date.

He is one of the few practising medical doctors in the world to be conferred this prestigious fellowship, a press release said.

The award was presented to him at the 25th general meeting of The World Academy of Sciences held in Muscat on October 27.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / Chennai – November 02nd, 2014