Category Archives: Science & Technology

A recyclable and reusable cast for arm fractures

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Marnu Prasad displaying his award winning invention, Uni-cast.  

Kerala student Manu Prasad bags design award for his ‘Uni-cast’, which he says addresses multiple hygiene issues

Innovation has always been the passion of Manu Prasad and his urge for invention has bagged the prestigious Lexus Design Award for him in the student category this year.

Mr. Prasad, 26, an electronics engineer, is presently pursuing an Advanced Product Design course at the Kerala State Institute of Design.

He is all smiles as he speaks to The Hindu about his invention — a resizable and recyclable cast for treating arm fractures.

He says that he has already filed an application to obtain patent for the universal cast, christened Uni-cast.

Research at hospitals

Mr. Prasad came up with the idea after a series of research work at various hospitals across the State.

According to him, this unique cast is a low-cost product and for that reason, accessible to every one.

Mr. Prasad said the Uni-cast can overcome several problems.

The product has been designed to address various problems associated with traditional casts, like sweating, itchiness, dry cell accumulation, bad odour, difficulty in keeping the cast dry, hygiene issues and neck pain, he said.

Unlike the conventional system, the Uni-cast is both light-weight and waterproof, Mr. Prasad said.

“The product is ergonomically designed so that it can be used for both hands. Uni-cast is recyclable and can even be remade, leaving zero waste behind,” he said.

Sporty look

Moreover, Mr. Prasad’s invention has got a sporty look, making it different from the traditional casts and braces.

The award was presented to Mr. Prasad at the Design Festival 2019 held in Pune a week ago.

P.B. Venugopal, president of Lexus India, said, “India possesses an incredible depth of design talent, and we wanted to give these designers an opportunity to exhibit their skills.”

With the theme ‘Design for a better tomorrow’, Lexus Design Award India (LDAI)-2019 was open to emerging designers, both professionals and students

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Health / by Radhakrishnan Kuttoor / Pathanamthitta – February 12th, 2019

CMFRI opens doors to marine wonders for public

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives & Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel

Institute celebrating its 72nd Foundation Day; exhibition from tomorrow

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) will throw open its doors to the public on Tuesday as part of its 72nd Foundation Day celebrations. The public can view splendours of the marine world like precious pearls in the deep sea and the process of extracting them from farmed pearl oysters.

The exhibition will be a display of diverse marine aquatic species as well as a platform to understand the latest developments in marine research. The National Marine Biodiversity Museum at the CMFRI is rich with collections from a wide spectrum of niches ranging from estuaries to coastal and deeper waters of the Indian seas, various laboratories, newly-designed marine research aquarium, hatcheries and other facilities. The exhibition will be open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., said a press release here.

Whale shark, the largest fish, horse shoe crab, sea snakes, sea birds, pearl oyster, sea cow, dolphins, and sharks can be viewed. Antarctic krills, a favourite food of penguins and blue whales, is also available at the museum. The marine research aquarium showcases different marine ornamental varieties including bat fish and lion fish.

Those curious about the latest research developments in marine fisheries may visit various laboratories dedicated to bioprospecting, ocean acidification, fishery biology, environmental research, climate change and cell culture. The fish ageing laboratory will help uncover the secrets behind estimation of fish age which is a revolutionary step in marine fisheries research. Visitors can also acquire knowledge in the area of developing medicines from marine organisms for various diseases.


Among the research facilities of the CMFRI, the scanning electron microscope that produces images of a sample in higher resolution that is 10-lakh fold is expected to draw the attention of visitors.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – February 04th, 2019

Mohandas College of Engineering students find new way to disinfect water

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Here’s a solution to counter the lack in quality of packaged water distributed in the city.

Thiruvananthapuram : 

Here’s a solution to counter the lack in quality of packaged water distributed in the city. Even as concerns are being raised over the safe consumption of bottled water in the city, a group of students from Mohandas College of Engineering have come up with an innovative solution which helps in getting rid of the E-coli in the water and acting as a disinfectant. 

The project titled ‘Design of a water disinfection system using silver and copper nanoparticle impregnated coconut shell waste carbon’ was proposed by a team of students- Shilpa K Nayana, Akhila Krishnan C and Shilpa Raj S from Mohandas College of Engineering and Technology (MCET), Nedumangad. They were guided by their professors, K M Usha, the principal investigator and  S S Shijina, the co-investigator of the project.

“ The inspiration behind this project is the sense of responsibility towards society as citizens in general and biotechnologists in particular. After the floods, the presence of E- Coli had become a major concern with many packaged water bottles testing positive to the presence of the bacteria. This is why we thought of developing a project using raw materials which could not only help in purifying water but also act as a disinfectant which can kill 99 per cent of E Coli,” said  Shilpa K Nayana, one of the innovators.

Decontamination of drinking water by making use of the raw materials, which are available in abundance, is the prime objective of the project. The project envisages to set up a synergetic system capable of adsorption as well as destructing microbial organisms. This innovative attempt makes use of anti-bacterial property of nanoparticles and absorption. Silver and copper are synthesised and impregnated onto the coconut waste to provide disinfection against E Coli and other organisms. “Unlike the normal water purifiers that only help in purifying water but fail in disinfecting, our innovation has both the purifying and disinfecting facility,” said Shilpa. The students say the procedures are cheap and safer.  It also helps in recycling water thereby reducing the demand for fresh water. 

The team was also selected for funding by Kerala Technological University (KTU) Center for Engineering Research and Development (CERD) under the scheme ‘CERD Student Project 2018’. The team has also bagged the second position in idea presentation at ‘TheTech Conclave’, which is the flagship event of Drishti, the annual technical festival of College of Engineering, Trivandrum.  ‘Engineers for society’ was this year’s theme. This accomplishment has paved the way for direct entry to ‘Idea Day’ by Kerala Startup Mission.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Steni Simon / Express News Service / January 16th, 2019

Engineering a change in toilet technology

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Though advancements have been made in the field of technology, maintenance has always been a plaguing issue and the least addressed.


B P Deepu

Thiruvananthapuram :

 Though advancements have been made in the field of technology, maintenance has always been a plaguing issue and the least addressed. This is where the US-based Caltech and Thiruvananthapuram-based Eram Scientifc Solutions,  come in. The companies have collaborated with each other to bring out Seva, e-toilets which are able to self-clean and are self-reparable. The aim is to address the issue of water scarcity which is prevalent in many cities.

Clement Cid, the Senior Research Engineer in Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Reinvent the Toilet Challenge in 2012. He was in the city as part of the project. According to him,  the biggest challenge was to create a cheap, safe and clean toilet for over 2 billion people across the globe.

He brought out a technology that uses electrochemical mechanisms to treat disinfected water. But his collaboration with Eram in 2013 paved the way for a revolution. “We met with Eram in a sanitation conference and with the support of Gates Foundation, we were able to make a prototype and were able to run it for a year. The result was positive,” he said.

 Clement believes the new e-toilet system will help in bringing a change in the Indian sanitation system. 


“Maintaining toilets is a big issue in cities where sewerage systems are haywire.  The self-sufficient toilets will help municipalities and cities which are facing these issues,” he said.

‘Toilet of the future’


The ‘Toilet of the future’ concept was introduced by Gates Foundation and the Caltech group led by Michael Hoffmann. Clement was among the team members. Using sophisticated solar-powered treatment units, the team thought of working on a sensor system that would help in minimising the use of skilled repairs. 

The same concept is used in Seva e-toilets. “The toilets will be equipped with sensors which can monitor leaks. Once the issue is detected, an operator is alerted who can easily come and fix it,” he said.        Clement also added the idea is to install the toilets in public places. Later this technology can be introduced in household units and e-toilets. Caltech has started trials of its system in different places in Kerala. The trial run of the Seva prototype will be tested in Coimbatore. “Once the trial is completed, it will be installed in several cities where there are no proper sewer lines,” Clement said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Steni Simon / Express News Service / January 12th, 2019

New genus of tarantulas recorded in Kerala

Agriculture, Education, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

(From left) Annandaliella ernakulamensis, which is found only in Thattekkad in Ernakulam; Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica from Chinnar in Kerala; and Poecilotheria rufilata that the survey team recorded from Achenkovil.

Recent floods could have affected survival of rare spiders, claims arachnologist

Kerala is home to around six species of large, hairy spiders called tarantulas. But a four-year Statewide survey by a team from Kuravilangad’s Deva Matha College now shows that Kerala may be home to more than 11 species of these often iridescently-coloured arachnids.

New genus and species

The research project, for which a team led by Sunil K. Jose (assistant professor at Deva Matha College) surveyed several districts including Kasaragod, Kollam and Ernakulam for tarantulas, has identified four genus of the large spiders (Sahydroaraneus, Chilobrachys, Neoheterophrictus and Thrigmopoeus) that have not been recorded in the State before.

Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica from Chinnar in Kerala

For instance, the team recorded Chilobrachys fimbiratus (also called the Indian violet spider, which is endemic to the Western Ghats of Karnataka and Maharashtra) in Kasaragod district.

Similarly, they spotted the Rameshwaram Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica) which has so far been recorded only from Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district (found only on the Rameshwaram Island and Mandapam area here) from Chinnar in Kerala. This tarantula has been classified as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Totally, tarantulas from seven genus have now been recorded in the State.

Poecilotheria rufilata that the team recorded from Achenkovil

The range extensions of the genus and species had been described in the report submitted to the University Grants Commission, which funded the work that focused on studying spiders belonging to the family Theraphosidae, said Dr. Jose. He also presented the results at the recently-concluded international conference of the Asian Society of Arachnology at Bangkok, Thailand.

Kerala floods

While deforestation was one of the threats that the forest-dwelling tarantulas faced along the Western Ghats, the recent floods that Kerala witnessed could have affected the species in those areas too, said Dr. Jose.

“All tarantulas seen in Kerala except those in the genus Poecilotheria [tiger spiders] live in burrows in the ground. These would have become submerged during the floods,” he said.

Yet another threat that tarantulas face is collection for the illegal pet trade across the world. Kerala’s colourful tarantulas belonging to the genus Poecilotheria and Haploclastus were collected illegally and were available for sale on the internet for as high as $275, he added.

Tarantulas are a group of large, hairy spiders that can live up to 10 to 20 years.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by Staff Reporter / Kochi – December 04th, 2018

Polytechnic girl from Wayanad wins laurels at ‘Startup Yatra’

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

The first and second runners-up received Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.

Winners of the grand finale of the Startup Yatra with Kerala Startup Mission CEO Saji Gopinath in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday | Express

Thiruvananthapuram :

Final year Mechanical Diploma Polytechnic student Arunima CR from Wayanad, who developed a solid waste cleaner that helps clean up water bodies sans manpower, bagged the Best Womenpreneur Award at the grand finale of the ‘Startup Yatra’ held at Technopark on Tuesday.

According to Arunima of Government Polytechnic College, Meenangadi, who won the award that carries a cash award of Rs 75,000, “Solid waste cleaner can also clean drains and remove solid waste from water sources, including streams, rivers and ponds. Significantly, it can avoid the workers’ direct contact with waste materials.”

The event marked the conclusion of the state-wide initiative by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) to nurture aspiring entrepreneurs in Kerala’s tier 2 and 3 cities and help them realise their startup dreams. An Android app developed by Rashida V P from Kasargod for farmers in agriculture sector emerged the first runner-up. Andrea Antony from Kottayam won the second runner-up for her idea Min_Rov (Mind Rover), a concept for functioning a brain-control wheelchair.

The first and second runners-up received Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.

Around 80 innovative ideas were pitched in the finale by as many as 180 participants and 20 ideas notched-up honours. Heroes of the eight boot camps held in various districts were given a cash award of Rs 50,000 each.

The winners included :

Devi V S  (Thiruvananthapuram), Jithin J (Kollam), Thomas Syriac (Kottayam), Sachu Sivaram S (Ernakulam), Varsha J (Thrissur), Mohammed Shaheer (Kozhikode), Aneesh (Wayanad) and Harris (Kasargod).

Other awards:

Best Technology Startup: Winner  Amal C Saji (Ernakulam), First Runner-Up-Rahul KS (Ernakulam), and Second Runner-Up Annie Sam Varghese (Thiruvananthapuram); Best Social Startup: Winner – Risvan Ahammed K (Kasargod), First Runner-Up – Ushanandini (Ernakulam), and Second Runner-Up- Nowrin N (Thiruvananthapuram); Best Sustainability Startup: Winner- Kevin R (Kottayam), First Runner-Up – Amaljith S B (Thiruvananthapuram), and Second Runner-Up – Ragesh (Kottayam).

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Services / November 28th, 2018

S.K. Satheesh takes aerosolresearch to new heights

Records, All, Science & Technology

S.K. Satheesh

The Kerala scientist bags Infosys Prize for 2018

S.K. Satheesh has spent over 25 years of his career as a scientist studying atmospheric aerosols and their impact on the earth’s atmosphere and climate. His pioneering work and commitment to research fetched him the Infosys Prize 2018 for physical sciences on Tuesday.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Satheesh is currently Professor, Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and Director, Divecha Centre for Climate Change.

The prize instituted by the Infosys Science Foundation carries a gold medal, citation and a purse of $100,000 or its equivalent in rupees.

The press note announcing the winners of this year’s prize said Dr. Satheesh was selected for his pioneering work in the filed of climate change. “His studies on black carbon aerosols, the dark, light absorbing micrscopic particles which greatly influence the energy balance of the atmosphere over the Indian subcontinent, have enabled a better understanding of the role of these particles on climate change, precipitation and human health.”

“Dr. Satheesh’s work on measuring, quantifying and analysing the impact of black carbon aerosols is important not only to climate science, but also to our society that has to mitigate and cope with climate change, possibly the most important threat to humanity,” reads the citation.

Dr. Satheesh’s research is currently focussed on the the impact of aircraft emissions on the ozone layer. “Aircraft flying at high altitudes emit a tremendous amount of black carbon which can reach the stratosphere and deplete the ozone layer, leading to catastrophic effects for life on earth,” he explains. “With the volume of air traffic going up, it is easy to imagine the volume of carbon in the atmosphere.”

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram  – November 15th, 2018

Mobile app for pepper farmers

Agriculture, Science & Technology

A farm worker harvesting pepper at a plantation at Mepadi in Wayanad district. | Photo Credit: K. K. Mustafah

App connects framers with research institutions, govt agencies

The International Pepper Community (IPC) and All India Spices Exports Forum (AISEF) have jointly developed a personalised mobile application for pepper farmers aimed at better management of their crop and marketing the produce.

Santosh K. Sarangi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will launch the app at a function here on November 14.

Outlining the scenario that led to the launch of the app, AISEF Chairman Prakash Namboodiri said the effort is to empower pepper farmers to utilise the potential knowledge and expert network that the country has created to support them.

The farmers are so widely spread out that access to knowledge specific to their issues is beyond their reach.

The app will directly connect the framers with agri-research institutions, government and its agencies and the national and international markets. The farmers will get guidance on pepper farm practices, fertilizer recommendations, and pest and other diseases identification. The app would also guide the farmer through price movements and assist them selling their produce.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – November 13th, 2018

Wayanad vets score a first in bovine surgery

Agriculture, Records, All, Science & Technology

Veterinarians of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University performing surgery on a cow after giving inhalation anaesthesia.

Give inhalation anaesthesia to open udder to remove tumour

A team of veterinarians at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookode under Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has successfully performed gas anaesthesia on a bovine, a first in the State.

Under the procedure, vapours of isoflurane, a general anaesthetic, is delivered to the lungs using oxygen as carrier gas with the help of a gas anaesthesia machine.

Also called inhalation anaesthesia, this method is widely practised in human anaesthesia and anaesthesia of pet animals such as dogs and cats.

“It is for the first time in the State this method of anaesthesia is practised on a cow – that too in one which weighing 300 kg,” says S. Sooryadas, assistant professor, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology at the varsity.

The cow had a tumour like mass in the udder towards the base of her two teats, which was obstructing milk flow, Dr. Sooryadas, who led the surgery, said.

Apart from the anaesthesia, it is for the first time the udder of a cow is being opened for surgical removal of a tumour like mass, he said.

“Gas anaesthesia in cows requires a dedicated anaesthesia machine that is manufactured for the particular purpose,” P.T. Dinesh, assistant professor at the department, said.

Such machines are imported and may cost around ₹25 lakh. Hence, as an alternative, doctors at the surgery department modified their small animal anaesthesia machine to suit it for the procedure in the cow, Dr. Dinesh, who was also in the surgery team, said.

Cost of machine

“The cost of the customised machine will come around ₹2 lakh. The gas anaesthesia procedure is the first of its kind for a cow in our State,” he added.

N.S. Jinesh Kumar and Reji Varghese, assistant professors, were the other team members.

The doctors have been invited to present a paper on the procedure at the annual congress and national symposium of the Indian Society for Veterinary Surgery to be held in Gujarat from November 22 to 24.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by F.M.  Manoj / Kalpeta – October 30th, 2018

At 60, NAD on indigenisation path

Records, All, Science & Technology

P. Upadhyay, chief general manager, Naval Armament Depot, Aluva. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The facility at Aluva supports operations of the Indian Navy

With its focus on innovation and indigenisation, the Naval Armament Depot (NAD) at Aluva has over the past 10 years designed specialised equipment and set up facilities to support naval operations, according to P. Upadhyay, chief general manager of the depot which is celebrating its diamond jubilee.

Its latest R&D product is a ‘gun stand’ for light and medium machine guns on board warships. “Designed to take care of the pitch and roll of the ships, it allows gunners to exploit the weapon optimally under these difficult conditions,” says Mr. Upadhyay.

The depot has made over 700 such stands for naval ships. Not surprisingly, it is keenly studying if certain navy-specific weapon components that the Ordnance Factories are rather slow in delivering thanks to low volumes or non-availability of vendors can be manufactured locally in the depot. “Yes, the idea is to manufacture bolt ammunition, chaff rocket hardware for which naval quality requirement is different from that of the other Services and anti-submarine rocket hardware within the depot.”

When there was a huge delay from Ammunition Factory at Khidki in Maharashtra in carrying out proofing of naval grenades, the depot set up an in-house facility in 2012 to do the job.

The NAD also conducts safe disposal of life-expired ammunition using its demolition ground or by breaking them down using other means. On the horizon is a demil facility for the purpose, but there’s no space for the same on the campus – located in a thickly populated suburb.

“The depot’s expansion has been marred by non-availability of land. While we identified nearly 1,000 acres of land at Mupliyam in rural Thrissur and a few other areas, little headway has been made. The issue has however been taken up with the State administration,” says Mr. Upadhyay.

Rubber moulding

In view of the requirement for rubber components in very small volume, the depot is setting up a rubber moulding facility for manufacturing rubber parts for naval rockets and guns.

The NAD’s expertise in handling classified explosive cargo – for the Services and the PSUs – at the Cochin Port has come in for appreciation, he points out. But there’s a manpower crunch. While there has been an incremental increase towards the sanctioned strength of 710 personnel, at 583 people, it still falls short. The management is now pinning its hopes on the report of the Naval Standing Establishment Committee that has recommended augmentation of manpower.

The depot is holding an exhibition of armament for the public on October 22 as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations. Rear Admiral R.J. Nadkarni, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command, is inaugurating the exhibition. The three-day celebrations also include a technical seminar on naval armament and ammunition and the release of a special day cover by India Post. Vice Admiral A.K. Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, is set to be the chief guest of the event.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /  Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by S. Ananadan / Kochi – October 22nd, 2018