Latest news with #TechnologyandEnvironment
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
KSCSTE to host R&D summit
The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) will host a research and Development (R&D) summit in Thiruvananthapuram on August 7. The event aims to connect research outputs from R&D institutions under the Science and Technology department with real-world market needs. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the summit that will also feature presentations, one-on-one B2B sessions, storytelling case studies and the formal signing of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to foster collaborations beyond the summit. KSCSTE executive vice president K.P. Sudheer, who addressed a media conference, said the programme will serve as a strategic platform to bring together and connect key stakeholders, including investors, institutions and industries, and to engage with the research and development outputs of Kerala's institutions.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
‘Back-to-Labs' programme helps Kerala women scientists return to research after career breaks
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Marriage, maternity, and family – the hurdles before aspiring women in a patriarchal society are numerous. Career break is not a pleasing term to be seen in a resume, but things have not hit a dead end for science researchers, as the 'Back-to-Labs' programme tries to support those who had to take at least a year off from their respective fields. The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), which organises this scheme, has produced a startup grant, three awarded patents, four filed patents and several international publications, through its 86 scholars. Initiated in 2007, the programme began as a 'hand-holding' system of support for women scientists who had to take a break from their research career due to various reasons. The council provides a monthly stipend of Rs 60,000 and an annual sum of Rs 75,000 to post-doctoral fellows for two years. 'After the age of 35, it is difficult for women to pursue a career in the research field. In such circumstances, programmes like these will help scholars,' said scholar Minu P, who had to take a break due to familial situations and pandemic crises. Many women quit their research careers due to the lack of support, she added. Minu is planning to take her career forward in the research field. A patent holder for developing water purification nanocomposite films, Bindu M, expressed her happiness at being able to pursue her subject, which is relatively difficult. Another scholar, Chinthu T Udayarajan, who completed her post-doctoral fellowship in food sciences recently, is all set to get into the shoes of an entrepreneur of craft chocolates.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
ABS cells to be set up in academic and R&D institutions for regulating use of bio-resources
In a move to regulate the commercial use of biological resources, the State government will soon make it mandatory for academic and research institutions to establish Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) cells. The proposed units will regulate research activities to ensure that benefits – both monetary and non-monetary – are shared with resource providers. The revenue generated from these activities will be directed to local bodies in order to boost biodiversity conservation efforts. Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has initiated steps to implement the Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated Therewith and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations, 2025. The new regulations call for a regulatory mechanism that grants approval to institutions for conducting research, bio-surveys, bio-utilisation or any commercial use of biological resources, including digital sequence information. These will particularly apply for research collaborations with foreign entities, particularly those involving the deposition of novel microbial strains in overseas repositories for publication in international journals. Key departments, including the Higher Education department, and agencies like the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), have been formally notified about the legal requirement to establish ABS cells. According to V. Balakrishnan, member secretary of the KSBB, all institutions engaged in foreign research collaborations involving flora and fauna will now be required to seek prior approval. Approval will also be mandatory for any commercial use of notified species, even if foreign collaboration is not involved. ABS cells will be responsible for reviewing and screening proposals to ensure compliance with the Biodiversity Act. Each ABS cell will be headed by a five-member committee of subject experts and coordinated by a nodal officer. A State-level committee, chaired by the KSBB chairperson, has already been formed to oversee the examination of applications. The National Biodiversity Authority, which recently issued the new regulations, has also outlined specific benefit-sharing amounts for the commercial use of biological resources or associated knowledge for their commercial utilisation. Applicants with an annual turnover up to ₹5 crore will not be required to pay any fees. However, those with a turnover between ₹5 crore and ₹50 crore will need to pay 0.2% of the annual gross ex-factory sales price of the product. For companies with a turnover between ₹50 crore and ₹250 crore, the fee will be 0.4%, while those with a turnover exceeding ₹250 crore will pay 0.6%.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Faecal coliform in Puducherry's Thengaithittu, Kuruchikuppam beaches exceeds safe limits
Levels of faecal coliform at Thengaithittu, Kuruchikuppam and Kalapet beaches in Puducherry have been found to be 10 times more than the prescribed safe limit, according to the Annual Environment Survey report 2024, released by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE). The Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC) said the water samples collected from Thengaithittu beach, Kuruchikuppam beach and Kalapet beach in January, July and October 2024 showed high levels of faecal coliform at 1600 MPN/100 ml, which is far exceeding the permissible limit of 100 MPN/100 ml. MPN is Most Probable Number, an estimation used to measure microorganisms in water. Kuruchikuppam beach recorded the highest level of faecal coliform at 1600 MPN/100 ml in January, followed by Thengaithittu beach and Kalapet beach with levels of 800 MPN/100 ml during the same period. PPCC said the water level in three beaches did not comply with the Central norms of Class SW-II water - 100 MPN/100 ml (for bathing, water sports and commercial fishing). PPCC attributed the high levels of contamination due to release of untreated sewage into the beaches. According to N. Ramesh, Member Secretary of PPCC, 'Four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with varying capacities will soon be installed to improve the water quality and bring down the levels of faecal coliform. The establishment of 15 MLD STP at Dubrayapet and 11 MLD STP at Karaikal is nearing completion. The PPCC has also readied an action plan for restoration of polluted river stretches in Puducherry and Karaikal while a 3 MLD STP with Faecal Sludge Treatment plant has been planned near the Sankaraparani river in Puducherry. The Biological Oxygen Demand at Chunnambar stood at 9.4 mg/litre, 7.2 mg/litre in Kanagan lake and 8.8 mg/litre in Arasalar lake as against the standard 3 mg/litre. PPCC said the primary reason for contamination is the unchecked flow of untreated sewage from residential areas, which continued to affect the waterbodies.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Pledges, awareness rallies mark Environment Day celebrations
Sapling planting drives, environmental pledges and awareness rallies marked the celebration of World Environment Day on Thursday. At an event hosted by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment and Puducherry Pollution Control Board at Gandhi Thidal, Lt Governor K Kailashnathan presented prizes to the winners of environmental awareness competitions and government departments and industries that excelled in promoting environmental awareness. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Speaker R. Selvam, K. Lakshminarayanan, Public Works Minister, Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary, Ashish Madhaorao More, Secretary of Science, Technology and Environment and Y.L.N. Reddy, Special Secretary participated. The Lt. Governor also administered the environmental day pledge to officers and staff at a function at the Raj Nivas. At the Chief Secretariat, Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary administered the World Environment Day pledge to officials and staff. S D. Sundaresan, Secretary to Government and Labour Commissioner, read out the Tamil version. At JIPMER, the Department of Horticulture led the celebration with a special mass tree plantation drive, themed 'One Tree for Jipmerite.' Arulrajan, Chief Wildlife Warden, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, along with Vir Singh Negi, JIPMER Director, launched the campaign. According to a press note, the campaign will be carried for a year. All employees of JIPMER will be planting one tree on their respective birthdays inside the campus using saplings supplied by the Horticulture department. In Cuddalore, NLC India Limited organised an event at the 'Golden Jubilee Park', which was attended by Samir Swarup, Director (Human Resources), M. Venkatachalam, Director (Power), Appakannu Govindarajan, Chief Vigilance Officer, and with senior officials, representatives of recognized Trade Unions, OBC Association, SC/ST & ST Welfare Federations, employees and the public. A 'Waste to Eco-Friendly' exhibition showcasing innovative models and concepts demonstrating how waste materials can be transformed into useful and environment-friendly products was opened by Mr. Swarup.
