A two day National Level Symposium on Modern
Biological sciences ( SyMBioS '08 ) was organized
by the Department of Biosciences & Research,
Shri Nehru Maha Vidyalaya ( SNMV) College of
Arts & Science, Malumachampatti, Coimbatore
on 21st & 22nd January , 2008. Prof.C.Ramasamy,
Vice-Chancellor, Tamilnadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore was the Chief Guest for the symposium.
In his inauguraladdress he said that science
and technology is responsible for the economic
evolution happened in India, during the 1990's
and early part of this Century. By the year
2020- 2030, the demand for food will be expected
to about 250 mt. He emphasized that basic biological
and agricultural sciences alone could provide
good yielding varieties of crops to meet the
expected food grains in the years to come.
He has also highlighted the importance of microorganisms
in agriculture and their ability to solve many
human diseases. Only limited numbers of microorganisms
are utilized at present and many species are
not yet to be exploited, which are known to
survive under extreme hot and colder temperatures
with wide range of pH. Research on these organisms
will definitely give fruitful results in food
production and environmental restoration and
management. At present our mother India is facing
several challenges like, poverty, diseases and
genetic disorders etc., and hence research in
the field of biotechnology will overcome these
problems in the future. He also added that the
GM-Crops, BTCotton, Golden rice and Edible vaccine
are the novel products of biotechnology.
Many eminent scientists delivered lecture on
the importance of basic biological research.
Dr. K.R.S. Sambasiva Rao, Director, Centre for
Biotechnology, Nagarjuna University, Guntur,
Andhara Pradesh had stressed the need of stem
cell research and its potential clinical applications”.
Dr. A. Panneerselvam, Professor and Head, Dept.
of Microbiology, A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College,
Pondi gave a lecture on “Biological potential
of Marine Actinomycetes”. Followed
him, Dr. R. Viswanathan, Senior Scientist, Sugarcane
breeding institute, Coimbatore talked on 'Molecular
basis of disease resistance; Plant defence Mechanism'.
Dr. Mokesh Doblle, Professor, Dept. of Biotechnology,
IIT, Chennai gave Lecture on marine microorganisms
mediated biofouling and biodegradation of polyolefines.
Followed his lecture Dr. N. Godhantaraman, Scientist,
ENVIS Centre, University of Madras, Chennai
has delivered lecture on microorganisms and
its potential applications in environmental
management. He had alsohighlighted the objectives
and activities of the ENVIS Centre to the participants.
Dr. S. Ramesh, Professor & Head, Sri Paramakalyani
College, Alwarkurichi spoke on 'The Evolution
of Molecular Phylogeny'. Finally, Dr. D. Mangalaraj,
Prof. & Head, Dept. of Nanoscience technology,
Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore spoke on
'Different nano structured metal oxide semi
conductors and its applications.
Shri Mangilal Jain, President, Shri.M M Bhuradia,
Secretary and Shri Chandrakanth, Joint Secretary
and Dr. T. Kulandaivelu, Principal of the College
also stressed the importance of basic biological
science and advised the young researchers and
students to concentrate more on these modern
applied biological research of social relevance.
Dr. R. Ragunathan, Dean and Organizing Secretary
of the Symposium consolidated the outcome of
the symposium. As many as 100 oral presentations
were made on different areas related to environmental
biotechnology, microbiology, nano-science and
technology. Many students and young researchers
from various colleges and Universities participated
the symposium and there was healthy deliberation
and interaction.
Dr. R. Ragunathan Dean, Faculty
of Science SNMV College of Arts & Science,
Coimbatore. E-mail: raguhar@yahoo.co.in
