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S.K. Satheesh takes aerosolresearch to new heights
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
23-year-old Keralite appointed head coach of FC Barcelona academy in Bengaluru
Hayden Jose is still in ecstasy, hardly able to believe that he has indeed landed the job, which till a couple of weeks ago appeared too far-fetched that he didn’t even dare to dream of it.
As fate would have it, the 23-year-old B.Tech. graduate from Mukkattukara in Thrissur is now the head coach of the football giant FC Barcelona’s youth academy in Bengaluru. The papers from Barcelona confirming his one-year contract with the academy landed in his inbox late on Monday night, which he saw only when he woke up the next morning.
Things had moved too fast for Hayden, holder of D License, the license required for professional football coaching. For, the job with the marquee brand in the world of football had come calling way too early in his fledgling grass roots level coaching career.
Call from Barca
He was just three months old in his first assignment as coach at the Bengaluru-based Gameday Academy, which is being run in association with the Scotland football club Rangers FC, when a couple of weeks ago he received a call that probably changed his life for ever.
“It was from Jordi Escobar, the technical director of Barca Academy in Bengaluru. My jaw dropped the moment he said Barca,” recollects Hayden, who, however, is a hardcore fan of the English giant Manchester United.
Mr. Escobar happened to see a session led by Hayden at Gameday Academy and was impressed with what he saw.
He secured Hayden’s number from a friend and the call was followed by a hour-long meeting.
The next thing he knew he was at a trials for the job with seven others. He bagged it, and on Monday he was at the academy drilling young under-16 talents.
It was a day spent with young talents during a stint playing with Ethihad Santos, a super division side playing in Ernakualm Football League, that Hayden realised his true calling.
“I helped a kid and he was all smiles. That is when I decided this is what I have to do, bring smile to the face of countless youngsters,” recollected Hayden who was still an engineering student at that time.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by M.P. Parveen / Kochi – November 15th, 2018
Girl on a mission
When kids her age were busy playing outside, she chose to remain inside
Kochi :
When kids her age were busy playing outside, she chose to remain inside. Perhaps the world outside did not hold a candle to what kept her indoors. Ever since her grandfather dusted off a ‘bulbul tarang’ from the attic three months ago, she was intrigued. Seven-year-old Angelin Maria Able is probably the youngest musician to play the instrument in the state.
A Kothamangalam native, Angelin was introduced to the world of music when she saw her grandfather C K Alexander, a retired art teacher of Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, cleaning and oiling the old bulbul tarang, and playing a few tunes on it. “Immediately fascinated by the instrument that is rare now, she attempted to copy my father without success,” says Able C Alex, Angelin’s father. Not one to give up, she made several attempts to master the tune Alexander played.
Noticing her genuine interest in mastering the instrument, Alexander took it upon himself to teach the basic 101 of the bulbul tarang, which was once famously known as Indian Banjo. “Playing the keys on bulbul tarang is difficult because it requires flexibility in fingers. But Angelin kept practising. In no time, she was at ease with the instrument and could easily play popular songs on it,” says Able. The first song she learnt was the National Anthem.
Bulbul tarang, a string instrument, is said to have evolved from the Japanese taishogoto. It has two strings and keys that resemble those of a typewriter. While it is comparatively easy to master, the instrument itself is a rarity as hardly anyone manufactures it anymore.Angelin now plays with a bulbul tarang which is over 40 years old. “My father had bought it from Kolkatta during an all-India tour some 40 years ago. It was a rarity in south India because it was prominent in the north,” says Able. Alexander had already mastered the instrument under the tutelage of a north Indian who was in Kerala for job-related reasons. However, due to other commitments, the instrument was soon forgotten. During this time, the bulbul tarang also lost its prominence from the music scene.
The Class II student of St Stephen’s Bes-Ania School is now on a journey to revive the instrument back to its glory. “None of the kids studying with Angelin had ever heard of the instrument until she began learning it. Her teachers were also intrigued after my wife, who is also a teacher at the school, showed them videos of her performances,” says Able. Angelin is now getting ready to perform at the Children’s Day celebrations at her school.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Anna Binoy / Express New Service / November 12th, 2018
Mobile app for pepper farmers
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
Burial urn of Megalithic era unearthed
Largest urn unearthed so far is indicator of a culturally-oriented society
A huge burial urn dating back to the Megalithic era that was unearthed while clearing a private road to a house at Hydermettu, near Nedumkandam, recently is believed to be one of the major findings that would shed light on life in the pre-historic era on the western side of the Western Ghats.
The urn is said to be the largest one unearthed from the region so far. It is 3-ft wide at its mouth and its shape is a variant of other ones explorated in the district. Moreover, there are art works on it — a pointer to the cultural awareness of a society that belonged to the pre-historic period.
A large number of burial urns have been unearthed from Ramakkalmedu, Mundieruma and Puzhpakandam nearby in the recent past. However, they were comparatively small in size and do not have notable decorative works, said V.M. Safeer, Head, Department of History, MES College, Nedumkandam.
Mr. Safeer said the burial urns unearthed from the region belonged to 1,00 BCE and 500 BCE. Some of the urns have remains of iron weapons and pieces of bones. “Their period can be known only through carbon dating,” he said adding that some might be aged only a few hundred years.
Valuable evidence
The importance is that the findings in the hinterland of the erstwhile Muziris port is valuable evidence of a culturally-oriented society. The new finding is on the hill area bordering Tamil Nadu and believed to be linked to a settled life there. Burial urns, dolmen and hero stones are spread over a large area on the western side of the Western Ghats
Though individual studies were conducted in the past, specific studies and research are needed to throw light on the importance of these historical remains, he added.
Kerala Council for Historical Research chairman P.K. Michael Tharakan told The Hindu on Sunday that small-sized burial urns were unearthed from different areas in the State. However, it needed a study connected to the other ones unearthed in the region. It pointed to the need for a surface exploration there. On the basis of the evidence, further explorations could be taken up and it may lead to valuable conclusions with regard to the lengthy history of human habitation in the district. The Archaeological Department was undertaking excavations at historically important sites, he said adding that the district, especially the Anchunadu valley, was a treasure trove for historical studies.
At present, the KCHR was on a project to explore the historic importance of Kottappuram, he said adding that the High Range area on the Western Ghats needs a comprehensive exploration of its past. It was also the hinterland for moving hill produce to Muziris port and had a civilised society from the early period.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Giji K. Raman / Idukki – November 11th, 2018
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Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika award for environmentalist T P Padmanabhan
Kochi :
T P Padmanabhan, environmentalist and director of Payyannur-based Society for Environmental Education in Kerala (SEEK), an organisation spearheading environment protection campaigns and agitations, has won this year’s Social Service Award of Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika, a sister publication of The New Indian Express.
The award carries a plaque, citation and a purse of Rs 1 lakh. This year’s winner was selected by a jury comprising environmentalist M K Prasad, writer N Sasidharan and literary critic G Madhusudanan.
Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika had instituted the award in 2013 to honour persons who dedicate their lives to social service. Sixty-eight-year-old Padmanabhan has been working relentlessly for environment protection for the past several decades. He became the director of SEEK from 1987 and also the editor of the organisation’s mouth piece ‘Soochi Mukhi’.
He was the key person who led various agitations in Kerala seeking protection of the environment which included the famous Silent Valley movement that set the stage for environmental activism in the state.
The previous winners of the award are V P Suhara, social worker from Kozhikode: Raziya Banu, a social worker from Palakkad; V C Raju of Murikkasseri, Idukki; Krishnan Pallam of Pattambi, who runs the destitute home ‘Abhayam’; and Sajini Mathews, who founded Snehabhavan at Muttam, Melukavu.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / November 09th, 2018
Thiruvananthapuram student wins stamp designing contest
Every year, the council conducts stamp designing contest.
Thiruvananthapuram :
The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare has selected the stamp designed by Aneet Salu of Nirmala Bhavan school, Thiruvananthapuram, from the Children’s Day stamp-2018 state-level competition. Aneet is a Class IV student. His design was selected by noted art director Nemom Pushparaj.
Every year, the council conducts stamp designing contest. Governor P Sathasivam will distribute the award to Aneet and rolling trophy for the school will be given at the state-level Children’s Day function to be held at Nishagandhi auditorium on November 14.
This year, the stamp designing competition was conducted on the theme “Navakerala Srishttikkayi Namukkorimikkam”. ( Let us unite for building a new Kerala). Aneet Salu has a twin brother Adeeep Salu, who is also interested in drawing.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / November 04th, 2018