Sciences

Scientific mysteries are everywhere around us but the most complex of them lies much closer - inside the human mind. Understanding how the brain works, how it gives rise to the mind, and why it makes us do the things we do is the prime goal of Psychology. Meet Dr Priyanka Kacker, Assistant Professor, Institute of Behavioural Science (IBS), Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), Gandhinagar, who has done extensive research in areas like human development, clinical, social behaviour and cognitive processes. She has been awarded with EET-CRS Honourable Mention Academic Achievement Award 2017 for her contribution in the field of psychological research.

Our future challenges in environmental, economical, and societal sustainability demand more efficient and benign scientific technologies for working with chemical processes and products. It demands the highest level of scientific creativity, insight and understanding from chemistry researchers towards achieving this goal. Meet Dr. Ravi Varala, Head of Chemistry Department and R&D Cell, Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Basar Campus, Telangana, who has recently been honoured with Outstanding Scientist in Chemistry - 2017 Award by Venus International Research Foundation for his contribution, research excellence and accomplishments in the area of Chemistry.

Over 99% of plastics are fossil fuel origin and their rapid increase has put tremendous pressure on the already limited non-renewable resources on earth. There is a worldwide concern regarding the development of biodegradable polymer materials as a remedy towards harmful effects caused by plastic waste on the environment. This provides researchers with a huge prospect of developing biopolymer-based functional ingredients to design improved or novel industrial applications. Meet Akola based Dr. Prasad Andhare, whose research opens up new possibilities of application of microbial biopolymers as emulsifier, thickener, viscosifier and stabilizer agent in various industries.

Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs. It is a health profession that links health sciences with chemical sciences and aims to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. As a medical discipline closely related to human life, research and development in this field is of paramount importance. Many educators in India are contributing significantly towards advancement of this science, overcoming the challenges and constraints in-spite of limited availability of resources. Meet Nirav Soni, working as Asst Professor in A-One Pharmacy College, Anasan, Ahmedabad, who in just couple of years in his teaching career, has already bagged multiple awards for his research efforts and innovative teaching-learning methodologies.

One of the most useful extant remains of a plant that can survive for millions of years under favourable conditions is its pollen or spores. The study of these particles, called Palynology, gives clues to the life, environment, and energetic conditions that produced them. Meet Dr. Daramsothu Seetharam, a Palynologist, Palaeobotanist and a UGC - RGNF Senior Research Fellow at Osmania University, Hyderabad, who's research in this field has provided fascinating insights ranging from Telangana region's geological evolution to how allergies and asthma get developed in residents of certain regions.

Fringed by Pir Panjal range and bestowed with verdant green meadows, alpine mountains and stunning natural lakes, Poonch is one of the most scenic places in Jammu and Kashmir. However, bounded by Line Of Control on its three sides, the area is in the news these days for its counter insurgency operations. In the midst of the tensions prevailing in the area, here is a zoologist who is spinning the web of skills development among the masses for their social upliftment. Meet Dr. Shamim Banday, an award winning professor of Zoology working in Government Degree College (GDC), Poonch; who has been instrumental in making his district shine on the world map.

The research of Rahul Tiwari, a second year BSc Physics and Mathematics student of R.D.S.H. National College, Mumbai, shows that a unique approach of embedding a laser dye Stilbene-3 (STB) in a solid host like sol-gel glass shows excellent spectroscopic properties that can have potentially wide ranging applications. He won the first prize in the discipline of Pure Sciences in the recently concluded State Level Inter University Research Convention, Avishkar, held at Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded.

Sandip Arsude, a graphology expert, founded International Institute of Graphology in Pune in 2012 with his better half Sonali Arsude. Their institute's major goal is to do intensive research and coaching in Graphology and to increase the awareness about it in the society. They have Identified handwriting traits that reveal diseases and physical challenges, analyzed more than 25,000 samples and trained more than 500 students in Graphology.