Sept-Oct-Nov. 2010 NEWSLETTER OF THE COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY spoken words. It was the reason why he suggested a Centre for Communication as the memorial for his illustrious father. The Minister congratulated Sri. Jose Mundassery for his valuable efforts to establish an institution committed for Communication studies and for creation of scientific temper through appropriate science communication activities among the public and promised a considerable financial support from the Government Sri M.A. Baby, Hon’ble Minister for Education, Govt. of Kerala is declaring the proposed of Kerala for the noble venture. Mundassery Centre at Cusat. Dr. Godfrey Louis, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr. M.V. Pylee, Cusat Vice Chancellor Dr. former Vice Chancellor, Prof. O.N.V. Kurup, Cusat Vice Chancellor Dr. Ramachandran Ramachandran Thekkedath said the Thekkedath and Sri. I.P. Paul, Mayor, Corporation of Trissur are on the dias. Mundassery Centre for Communication Studies to come up at Cochin University Cusat would have an criticisms on various social and new centre would focus on Science International centre of repute called literary issues created a niche of his Communication and philosophy of Mundassery Centre for Communication own in the contemporary literary world science and nurture interdisciplinary Studies in its campus at Kochi soon. of Kerala, the speakers remembered. studies. The centre would offer Post The proposed centre, instituted in Graduate courses and facilitate The proposed institution would be memory of Prof. Joseph Mundassery, doctoral and Post doctoral research, set up with a philanthropic financial the founder Vice Chancellor of Cochin besides short term courses in science support of Sri. Jose J. Mundassery, University was announced by Sri. M. communication. It would be an son of Professor Joseph Mundassery. A. Baby, Hon’ble Minister for institution committed to higher He has announced his decision to Education, Govt. of Kerala, at a small learning and research in science donate a sum get-together organized by Mundassery communication, history & philosophy of rupees Five family at the residence of late Prof. of science and related areas. Crores (50 Mundassery on 07 November 2010. million) for the The centre would hold Prof. Mundassery was a versatile proposed discussions, debates and cultural scholar in Malayalam and Sanskrit, a centre at shows, institute awards and silver-tongued orator and a talented Cusat. In his scholarships and associate with tutor in physics. Besides his welcome national and international institutions contributions in the educational sector speech Sri. to conduct various academic which revolutionalised the social Jose .J. Late Prof. Joseph programmes. Discussions are on to set scenario of the state of Kerala (as first Mundassery Mundassery up a reference library and a museum Minister for Education in the state of remembered his father as an excellent on the life and contributions of late Unified Kerala), his writings and communicator through written and Prof. Joseph Mundassery. The centre Tejus Sept-Oct-Nov. 2010 1 unprecedented in the retired from his Editorial... history of Kerala. professional career in 2003. In 1996 he started a On 7th November 2010 The donation will be paper mill in Meenkara, something remarkable and used to set up the Palakkad District, Kerala unparalleled happened in Mundassery Centre for currently employing more the history of higher Communication Studies, in than 200 people. education in the state of memory of Prof. Joseph Kerala. One gentleman Mundassery, a versatile I find myself short of offered Rs. 5 crore (50 scholar of Malayalam and words to thank my friend, Million) to our university to Sanskrit, a prolific writer Shri. Jose Mundassery, for and an eloquent orator. his benevolence. We can be set up a centre of Armed with a degree in proud of the fact that Mr. international repute for I am indeed happy to Electrical Engineering from Mundassery with all his research in science pen a few words about Jose the College of Engineering, experience and exposure is communication and Mundassery, a philanthropist Trivandrum, he ventured Worthy son of a Great father philosophy of science. That par excellence, who has abroad seeking higher convinced that it is safe to man is none other than initiated an innovative studies. He took a MBA in entrust such a large Shri. Jose Mundassery, the attempt in the higher Industrial Management amount of money with us youngest son of Prof. education scene of Kerala. from Illinois Institute of for a worthy project. I can Joseph Mundassery, our Mr. Mundassery may not be Technology, Chicago, and only hope that Jose first Vice Chancellor, and so familiar a figure for was the Vice President at Mundassery is opening a first education minister of Keralites, but he is an active Asea Brown Boveri when he path for others to follow. the state of Kerala. This figure in the socio-cultural magnanimous gesture is scene in the USA. Dr. Ramachandran Thekkedath Cusat Special Convocation on 04 December 2010 Cusat is conducting a This is the fourth special special convocation on 04 convocation organised by December 2010 to confer Cusat, upholding the honorary Doctorate on tradition of honouring great Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, sons of India who have made Chairman, National Human valuable contributions in the Rights Commission (& areas of Science, former Chief Justice of Technology, Humanities, India), Padmavibhushan Dr. Social service and Sri. Jose J. Mundassery is welcoming the invited guests to his E. Sreedharan, Managing Performing arts. ancesterial house. Dr. Ramachandran Thekkedath, Prof. O.N.V. Kurup and .Sri. M.A. Baby are looking on Director, Delhi Metro Rail The earlier recipients of Corporation & Padmabhushan the honorary doctorates of is mainly intended to Dr. Ramachandran Shri. Kalamandalam Cusat include famous cultivate a scientific Thekkedath proposed a vote Ramankutty Nair, renowned Physicist Dr. E. C. G. temperament in young of thanks. Kathakali Artist. His Sudharshan, Supreme minds through effective Excellency Shri. R. S. means of communication, Among others, the Court Chief Justice A. M. Gavai, Governor of Kerala he added. Mr. Jose function was attended by Ahamdi, ISRO Chairman and Chancellor of the Mundassery welcomed the former Vice Chancellors, Padhmabhushan G. University will confer the gathering. Prof. O. N. V. Syndicate Members and Madhavan Nair and Infosys Kurup, Jnanpith award close relatives and friends Degree of Doctorate.Shri. Chief Mentor Shri. N. R. winner and Dr. M. V. Pylee, of Late Prof. Joseph M. A. Baby, Minister for Narayanamurthy during former Vice Chancellor Mundassery besides media Education will attend the various occassions in the spoke. Cusat Vice Chancellor persons. • function. history of Cusat. Tejus Sept-Oct-Nov. 2010 2 “Climate Change has been happening for several centuries leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs. But what is happening in the last two centuries has been created by man and we are beginning to see its effect in the oceans and the atmosphere”, said Dr. Gangan Prathap, Director, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), New Delhi Delivering the inaugural address at the three day International Conference Dr. Gangan Prathap, Director, NISCAIR is inaugurating the International conference on Climate Change and Environment on climate change at Cusat. Dr. H. S. Rammohan (Syndicate Member), Cusat Vice (ICCCE-2010) at the Cochin University Chancellor Dr. Ramachandran Thekkedath, Dr. N. Chandramohanakumar of Science and Technology on 26 (Registrar) & Sri. Baby Chakrapany (Syndicate Member) are on the dais. International Conference on Climate Change held at Cusat October 2010, Dr. Gangan Prathap, a the international arena on the need Earlier, the message of V. S. former Vice Chancellor of Cusat said for immediate and aggressive actions Achuthanandan, Hon’ble Chief that extreme weather conditions like & international agencies have come Minister who could not make it to the excess rainfall and cyclone are being up with some general guidelines & inauguration, was read out at the seen along the coastline in the sub- goals to be achieved, given the unique function. “The climate change continent. Pakistan recorded the status of resource-need balance, each conference at Copenhagen could not highest temperature of 50 degree country might have to develop its own come to a resolution as the USA and Celsius while Russia had a summer customized action plan to meet these its allies did not allow it. The unbridled excess at 40 degrees... he added. goals. exploitation of humans, flora, fauna and the soil by the capitalists for over “We would try to bring out a white Recent meteorological reports three centuries has led to this critical paper on climate change after the from Kerala suggest that a 20 degree state of affairs,” the statement said. workshop,” the NISCAIR director said. rise in temperature will severely affect Prof. H. S. Ram Mohan, Director, Cusat Vice Chancellor Dr. our agriculture production, mainly staple food like paddy, wheat, coffee & School of Marine Sciences & syndicate Ramachandran Thekkedath, in his member welcomed the gathering and presidential address said that also our prized spices and condiments. Such temperature changes can result Prof. Dr. N. Chandramohanakumar, scientists around the world agree that Registrar, Cusat proposed the vote of there is no issue which demands more in excessive or unpredicted rains, particularly during the monsoons,