CESS NEWS ISSN 0972-3633 CESS NEWS Newsletter of the Centre for Earth Science Studies Vol. 16 March 2006 No. 1 CESS ORGANISES XVIII KERALA SCIENCE CONGRESS - 2006 Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam, Executive Vice President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment delivering the presidential address. Seen on the dias from left to right are Dr. K.R.S. Krishnan, Member Secretary, KSCSTE, Prof. C.G. Ramachandran Nair, Chairman, KSC Committee, Dr. V.N. Rajashekharan Pillai, Acting Chairman, University Grants Commission, Dr. Harsh K. Gupta, former Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, Dr. P.K. Iyengar, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. M. Baba, Director, CESS, Dr. J.K. Sharma, Director, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Dr. Prakash Kumar, PSO, KSCSTE. The Eighteenth Kerala Science Director, Kerala Forest Research for Science, Technology & Congress was held at the Centre for Institute, read out his inaugural speech. Environment and the creditable Earth Science Studies between 29th to In his speech, the Chief Minister endeavours such as “Sastraposhini” – 31st January 2006. In the inauguration reminded the scientists of the Prime a scheme for science education, rd function held on 29th January, Dr. A.E. Minister’s speech at the 93 session of SPYTiS – scheme for financial and Muthunayagam, Executive Vice the Indian Science Congress in which technical assistance to talented young President, Kerala State Council for he stressed the need to evolve a high school students, Biotechnology Science, Technology and Environment knowledge based system for farmers Incubator Facility in support of new (KSCSTE), presided. In the absence of to make full use of the newer biotechnology products and a the Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri. technologies. He highlighted the programme to enhance the livelihood Oommen Chandy, Dr. J.K. Sharma, formation of the Kerala State Council of traditional bamboo dependants. The CM talked about the state’s proneness to natural hazards of different kinds and the pioneering efforts made by CESS to suggest mitigative measures. He also announced the government’s plan to bring out a new policy and an act for disaster management. In his presidential address, Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam, Executive Vice President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment spoke about the importance of science and technology in modern life. He highlighted the efforts the Council has Dr. V.N. Rajashekharan Pillai, Acting Chairman, University Grants Commission releasing the proceedings of the 18th Kerala Science Congress. taken to stimulate scientific research Roorkee; Dr. R.N. Iyengar, IIT, Kanpur; Dr. P.K. Thampi, Advisor (Retd), CESS; Dr. C.P. Rajendran, Dr. N.P. Kurian and Dr. S. Murali Das (Scientists of CESS). Topical lectures on science were delivered by Dr. K.G. Nair, former Director, Sophisticated Test and Instrumentation Centre, Prof. M.K. Prasad, former Pro-Vice Chacellor, Calicut University and Dr. K.R.S. Krishnan, Director, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. On the second day more than 200 papers were presented in five parallel sessions and a poster session. The papers belonged to nine subject categories, namely, physical sciences, Clockwise from top left (1) Dr. P.K. Iyengar, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission delivering chemical sciences, life sciences, forestry, the P.K. Gopalakrishnan Memorial Lecture. (2) Dr. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Acting Chairman, wildlife and environment, earth system University Grants Commission delivering the P.R. Pisharoty Memorial lecture. (3) Prof. C.G. science, health science, agriculture, Ramachandran Nair, former Chairman of the erstwhile State Committee for Science Technology and fisheries and veterinary science, Environment delivering the first P.T. Bhaskara Panikkar Memorial Lecture. (4) Dr. Harsh K. Gupta, former Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Government of India delivering the Keynote engineering and technology and Address in the theme session. biotechnology. There were about fifty papers in the competition section for December 2004 event and the to be operational by 2007. the Young Scientist Award in each contributions made by CESS in The following speakers delivered subject category. understanding the phenomena behind lectures on various topics of the this event. India has gone ahead with The third and final day of the Kerala Congress focal theme “Natural Science Congress 2006 had three the development of an integrated Hazards and Management Strategies”: monitoring system for the oceanogenic sessions followed by the valedictory disasters that include tsunami and Dr. C.V.R. Murty, former Director, session. The first session showcased storm surges. This system is expected Central Buildings Research Institute, four science and technology institutions of the State. · Departments of Biosciences of Kerala University · National Transportation Planning and Research Centre. · Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology · Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. The second session had presentations by sixteen school students who participated in the National Children’s Science Congress. The children were awarded a cash incentive of Rs. 2000 by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. In the third session, Prof. C.G. A scene from the poster presentation hall. Ramachandran Nair, former Chairman Committed to Our Earth, Our Future 3 NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CLOUD PHYSICS A National Workshop on Cloud Physics was conducted by CESS during March 24-25, 2006. Organised as a part of the project on Cloud Physics being taken up by CESS, the workshop brought together several scientists working in areas related to cloud physics and research students from different Universities and institutions. The Workshop was inaugurated by Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam, Executive Vice Prof. J. Srinivasan, Chairman, Mechanical Sciences Division and Professor, Centre for Atmospheric President, Kerala State Council for and Ocean Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore speaking during the panel discussion at the Science, Technology and Environment, National Workshop on Cloud Physics held at CESS during March 24-25, 2006. in a function chaired by Prof. R.R. Science, Bangalore, Dr. R. Vijayakumar, at least one instrumented aircraft Kelkar, former Director General, India Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, has to be established. Meteorological Department. Pune, Dr. Someshwar Das, National · Suitable co-ordinated programmes The speakers at the Workshop included Centre for Medium Range Weather in cloud physics, including Prof. R.R. Kelkar, Dr. P.V. Joseph, Prediction, NOIDA, Dr. K. airborne measurements and Emeritus Scientist, Atmospheric Parameswaran, VSSC and others. The modelling, should be evolved by Science Department, CUSAT, Prof. J. Workshop concluded with a Panel CESS, SPL, IMD and CUSAT, and Discussion which recommended, among Srinivasan, Chairman, Mechanical · CESS should take the initiative other things, that: Sciences Division, and Professor, to conduct SERC schools in Centre for Atmospheric and Ocean · A national facility for conducting cloud physics and related Sciences (CAOS), Indian Institute of cloud microphysical parameters with themes Subhash, N., Shiny Sara Thomas., Technology, Chennai, Eds. G. Bhakar of Research Papers, Western Ghat Cell, Rupananda J Mallia and Mini Jose. (2005) Raju, et al, Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Planning and Economic Affairs Dept., Tooth Caries Detection by Curve Fitting pp.544-552. pp.34-38. of Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission: A Comparative Evaluation Chattopadhyay, S. (2005) “Ecological Mahamaya Chattopadhyay. (2006) with Reflectance Spectroscopy, Lasers in security as a base for social security: “Catchment characteristics and water Surgery and Medicine, Vol. 37, pp 320- Context Kerala. Geog. Rev of India, quality: A case study from a forested 328. Vol.67. No.2, pp. 109-125. watershed in upper Kall Ar Region, Trivandrum”, In: Sustainable Natural Radhakrishna, T. and Chetty, T.R.K. Soman, K. (2006) “Biogeochemical Resource Development, Compendium (2006) “ Symposium on supercontinents indicators of landuse changes in the of Research Papers, Western Ghats Cell, and evolution of earth in the context provenance of south Kerala rivers”, In: Planning & Economic Affairs Dept., pp. of Indian shield” Jour. Geol. Soc. India, Sustainable Natural Resource 19-23. 2006,Vol. 67, 255-259. Development, Compendium of Research Papers, Western Ghats Chattopadhyay, S., Asarani, L. and Battacharyya, P., Bhattacharyya, K.K., Cell, Planning & Economic Affairs Sangeetha, P.V. (2006) “Water quality Kumar, V., Nayak, B., Mohandas, P.N., Dept., pp.1-5. variations as linked to landuse pattern: Vidyadhar, A., Narayanaswamy, A case study in Chalakudy river basin, Chattoraj, U.S. and Maulik, S.C. (2006) Narayanaswamy and Terry Machado (2006) “Significance of water harvesting Kerala”. Current Science, Vol.89, No.2, Studies on medium grade ilmenite- 2163-2169. depleted beach placer deposit of structures in lateritic terrain: A case study Chavakkad ponnani coast, Kerala. In: from Amachal watershed region, Rajendran, C.P., Kusala Rajendran, Proceedings of the International Trivandrum”. In: Sustainable Natural Duarah, B.P., Baruah, S. and Anil Seminar on Mineral Processing Resource Development, Compendium Earnest. (2006) Reply to comment by Committed to Our Earth, Our Future 5 Trivandrum on 20 February 2006. CESS ESTABLISHES PERMANENT GPS · “Environmental sustainability and STATIONS