Media Release
Mangalore, Aug 18: The International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC 2011) witnessed a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind. A celebration of Chemistry should not be limited to just a series of events but there should be continuous attempts to popularize the subject.
The Chemistry department of St Aloysius College, Mangalore believes that Chemistry is the life and future. Hence in continuation with the celebration of International year of Chemistry, a one day programme was organized on August 16, for the students of Pre University Colleges on the theme“THE MANY FACES OF CHEMISTRY”.
It was an attempt to create an interest in Chemistry among young minds and an effort to generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry and hence to increase the public appreciation of Chemistry in meeting world needs. The programme included interactive sessions, followed by various competitions related to Chemistry.
The programme Coordinator Jenice Goveas said that there is a strong need to popularize basic sciences especially Chemistry as the country faces a serious crisis of lack of devoted and eminent researchers.
The youth today are carried away by lucrative careers which can give them fast money and so prefer professional courses over basic sciences. Hence a serious attempt has to be made to popularize the basic science courses and mould young minds to focus their attention on choosing a career of research in basic Science.
With this thought in mind the Chemistry Department of St Aloysius College, Mangalore felt that it is apt to organize Chemistry related competitions for the students of pre-university Colleges of Mangalore with the Theme “The many faces of Chemistry”.
The programme was inaugurated at 9.00 am by the Chief Guest Dr A MA Khader, professor of Chemistry, Mangalore University at the Eric Mathias Auditorium. Addressing the students he highlighted the contributions of Chemistry in the field of glucose sensors, mobile phones, Batteries, satellites etc. He encouraged students to pick basic Science courses and pursue research.
The principal of St Aloysius College Fr Swebert D’Silva said that many more events should be held to promote Science and also gave the students an idea of the numerous career options in Chemistry.
The inaugural was followed by a keynote address by Dr Indraani Karunasagar who spoke on how ‘Chemistry is life and life is Chemistry’. She explained the DNA helix and the recent developments in the field. She also stressed on how Chemistry related subjects are becoming increasingly popular and relevant for studies.
The day witnessed a series of competitions including seminar, model making, collage, treasure hunt, interactive chemistry, quiz and computational chemistry.
16 colleges from in and around Mangalore and Udupi districts took part enthusiastically in the different competitions. It was a pleasure to see the 130 participants all in different competitions spending a fruitful day discovering the many faces of Chemistry.
The event concluded with a Valedictory programme in the evening for which Fr Denzil Lobo SJ was the chief guest. Speaking to the students he said “Always develop a questioning spirit and it will take you a long way in your thirst for knowledge”.
He spoke about how even computers depend on Chemistry and its applications. Dr Ivan Pinto, Head of the Undergraduate Dept. of Chemistry addressed the students and reminded them of the national employability report 2011 compiled by aspiring minds which revealed that only 17.45 percent of technical graduates in the country are ready to be employed which meant that 82.55 per cent, engineering graduates are unemployable. He told them that there are vast opportunities beyond professional courses and asked them to pick basic Science by Choice and not by chance.
After a whole day buzzing with activities and interactions, students of Little Rock Indian School emerged winners and Mahesh P U College emerged Runners up.
The participating students and their accompanying staff members were pleased to have attended a programme of this kind and wished that many more such events be held in the future. The students felt that they learnt the practical aspects of Chemistry which makes the subject very interesting and a pleasure to learn.
“I hope many students benefit from this programme and realize that taking up Bachelor’s in Science is not necessarily for those left without a seat in professional courses but is for those keen and inquisitive minds who have a flair for research” said Joel Cornelio student co-ordinator of the progarmme and a student of second year MSc analytical Chemistry at St Aloysius College.
It was an opportunity to explore chemistry and discover Science as a career while we celebrated the contributions of Chemists to science, enabling young minds solve the ‘mystery of the many faces of Chemistry’, all in a day’s work.