1 JosephiteNewsletter Volume 13 | Issue 3 | St Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bangalore- 27 | January - March 2020 birth certificates that are the to confront this emergency daily obsessions of the powers together, and find innovative that be, have sharper relevance ways to take our unfinished work now in the wake of the pandemic forward. caused by the coronavirus. We see markets crashing, people When we look at our institution’s in panic, and misinformation history, we will find many everywhere. instances in the past when the Josephite spirit has been tested, In these dark times, we must each and has responded in abundance. find an internal compass that This, too, is an opportunity for us must guide us. If we look within, to forget small differences and we will find the discernment that rise to the challenge of being will guide us to the necessary human. next step. At the fag end of the semester, at a time reserved for Principal’s Note goodbyes to those leaving the institution, we must instead focus In my last message, I spoke of on staying safe, and on the well- how simple acts of nature can being of our loved ones. remind us of the fragility of human presence on this planet. We do not know what the next Those remarks, made in the few weeks might bring, but let context of focusing on serious us resolve first to rally around the issues like climate change rather institutional ideals of faith and than the trivia of ancestry and toil. Let us be strong in our resolve 1 2 2 College Events Republic Day Protocol in charge: Mr. G Anuplal The 71st Republic Day was celebrated on the 26th of January, 2020 on the College Grounds. Fr. Rector and Fr. Principal, escorted by the Chief Protocol Officer of the College Lt. Dr. B. V. Somashekariah, Registrar Dr. Melwin Colaco, NCC & NSS Officers and Student Council Leaders, arrived at the venue in a ceremonial procession. After inspecting the Guard of Honour accorded by the Cadets of 1 Karnataka Armoured Squadron, 1 Karnataka Air Squadron and both Units of National Service Schemes, Principal Fr. Dr. Victor Lobo SJ unfurled the Tri-Colour. After the administering of the National Pledge, various officials of the college and Student Association Representatives greeted the Rector BJES Institution of constitutional democracy.’ The and the Principal with tricolours and keynote address was delivered flowers. In a solemn and impressiveDay by Advocate General Ravi Verma. Piping Ceremony in his capacity as The highlight of the programme was Honorary Major, assisted by NCC Coordinator: Mr. Clement D’Souza the group discussion which reflected Officers, Squadron Leader Dr. Paul the priorities of the institution, viz. Newman and Lt.Akshay Mandlik, along BJES Institution Day is intended how to implement and promote with Fr. Dr. Victor Lobo SJ conferred to share the recent developments constitutional values through ranks on CSUO Diya D’Souza and CQMS in the area of curricular and curricular and co-curricular activities. Allen I Fernandes (both from I karnatak co-curricular activities for the year On this day, the BJES, Bangalore Jesuit Armoured Squadron), Leading Flight 2019-20 in all 17 institutions and 5 education society, felicitated faculty Cadet Chaitra R and Cadet Anush campuses run by BJES. It was the members who retired after reaching N Shetti (both from I Karnataka Air 4th consecutive year that St Joseph’s superannuation. Believing that the Squadron). College (Autonomous) took charge real measure of Josephite and Loyola of co-organising the institution day institutions lies in our students, both In his inspiring Republic Day Message, along with 16 other BJES institutions. the Josephite and Loyola institutions the Rector Fr. Dr. Melwyn D’Cunha SJ engage in real-world implications enlightened the student community It was a shared responsibility, and of promoting social justice through different activities. This was brilliantly on how even ordinary citizens can this year the event took place on showcased through different on and do extraordinary services for the February 7, 2020. The main theme off stage group activities and games. Motherland. He gave the examples of of this year’s BJES institution day this year’s Padma Shri Awardees Sri was –‘Educators – torchbearers Harkala Hajabba and Ms.Tulasi Gowda whose exemplary voluntary services benefited thousands of ordinary citizens. In his message,the Principal highlighted the importance of National Service and maintaining the unity and integrity of our Country. He specially congratulated the NCC Cadets and NSS Volunteers of our college who are rendering valuable services in this direction. The Formal Programme concluded with the National Salute by the Chief Protocol Officer Lt.Dr.B.V.Somashekariah. The Management hosted the customary Tea Party for the Staff and Student Leaders. 2 3 Departments Jazz’ was held on January 7, 2020 at Department of Biotechnology and Department of the Department of Biotechnology. Microbiology, Bangalore University Biotechnology CZBT alumni of the college came from January 27, 2020 to February 8, back to lead a panel discussion on 2020. the various postgraduate and career Doodle Competition options available to students. Bhavya Mr. Madappa M B successfully Green Gene Guild, the Biotechnology Krishnan, who is currently doing a completed his doctoral viva-voce association, organised a doodle Masters programme in Genomic and defended his PhD thesis titled competition on December 4, 2019, for Medicine in the UK, Manasa Sharma, ‘Study of Chemical Composition all students to generate awareness who is doing an MSc in Biotechnology and Genetic Variability among some on plastic pollution. The subject for at Ramaiah Institute of Applied Garcinia Species from Western doodling was ‘Journey of Plastic Sciences, Dhruv Kumar Jain, Ghats’ under the guidance of Dr. A K from Hand to the Environment’. Mr currently on a year gap and working, Bopaiah on February 10, 2020. Anisto Isaac Saju, Ms Kruthika P, and and Naksha Kasal, who is working Ms Misbah Rehman won the first, at International Stem Cell Services, second, and third prize respectively. HCG, led the panel discussion. They talked briefly about opportunities for Workshop on Research postgraduate programmes in India and abroad, competitive exams, industry opportunities etc. Almost fifty students from across different science streams attended the panel discussion. Students from CBBT and CZBT Furthering international across all years participated in Tackle collaboration, St. Joseph’s College Fest 2020: A hands-on learning (Autonomous) joined hands with carnival on February 8, 2020. The Department of Biotechnology Seattle University, a Jesuit institution Biotechnology department had put conducted a workshop on in Washington, USA, to conduct up various stalls namely, ‘Centrifuge’, ‘Introduction to Research’ for a joint course on Biodiversity and ‘Mushroom Cultivation’, ‘Protozoans’ undergraduate students. The Environmental Health. etc as exhibitions/demonstrations for workshop covered the basics of school students. how to convert a research idea into The objectives of the course were an executable research proposal. to learn more about biodiversity, as Students from CBBT and CZBT won well as the social, cultural aspects overall championship for ‘Biogala Ten students across different science of Bangalore and Southwest India, 2020’, the Life Science fest at Christ streams were selected to be part of the increase global awareness of issues University. workshop, based on an assignment with urban development in cities given to interested students prior and surrounding regions, interact Dr. Sunita Agarwal, director of to the workshop. Dr. Reeteka Sud, with peers and faculty from another Agarwal Hospitals, managing trustee Neuroscientist at NIMHANS, was the culture and reflect on religious, of Gene Research Foundation, and instructor for the workshop which cultural, and scientific experiences chairperson of MANA Cells, delivered was conducted on November 16, through writing and presentations. a talk on ‘MANA Cells’ on February 2019, followed by one on December The first phase of the course was18, 2020. Students of CBBT and CZBT 12, 2019. During the days following conducted in Bangalore and Coorg were given insights on gene therapy the first session, students workedfrom December 13-22, 2019. Twelve and functioning of MANA cells. on their own research proposals undergraduate students from Seattle which were presented and peer and University, accompanied by three Selected first year CBBT and CZBT instructor feedback were given. faculty members from their students were accompanied by Dr. Biology department joined twelve Susan Mary Philip to a visit to the Proposals included on areas like undergraduate students from St. Lab Culture exhibition at InStem, phytochemical analysis of Banana, Joseph’s College (Autonomous) to Bangalore, on November 23, 2020. analysis of changes in the gut participate in the course. Dr. Lindsay Lab Culture was an innovative microbiome, link between air Whitlow, Dr. Carolyn Stenbak, and exhibition facilitated by the Museum pollution and hypersensitivity, Dr. Michael Zanis from Seattle and Field Stations Facility and the remote controlled wheelchairs, University and Dr. Susan Mary Philip, Communications Office at the etc. Dr. Susan Mary Philip was the Dr. Madappa MB, and Dr. Syed Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster coordinator of the workshop which Wajeed from the Natural Sciences (BLiSC) where the visitors could see was partly funded by the DBT Star departments of St. Joseph’s College some research presented in a novel College grant. (Autonomous) co-taught the course. way. Students also interacted with Mr. Elios Sprung, energy expert of College, Careers and all that Staff/Student Achievements Indo German Energy Forum, who Jazz Dr. Grace Prabhakar attended a spoke about challenges of renewable A panel discussion on career options UGC-sponsored refresher course in energy and showcased solutions titled ‘College, Careers and all that Life Sciences- Interdisciplinary at the that Germany is working towards. He 3 4 also discussed the affordability and Research Journal of Pharmacy, 10 (5): Stephen, A.