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- Delivered Lecture at the Two–day National Conference on Youth Development at RGNIYD July 7, 2023
During the Two-day National Conference on Youth Development titled Youth in the 21st Century: Prospects and Psychosocial Challenges, organised by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with ICMR – NIRT, Chennai, Dr Dhamodharan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, presented a lecture on Status of the Youth in Fishing Community in Terms of Education, Health, and Violence.Abstract
Over sixty percent of the fisher population in India is Below Poverty Line (BPL). For traditional fishers, fishing is their primary source of income, and they have no other options. Hence, families in the coastal village are socially, financially, and educationally disadvantaged and frequently face financial difficulties. Additionally, the literacy level of the fishing community is deficient. Fishers have met an unbalanced diet, tension, excessive drinking, tobacco usage, and harmful behaviours. Fisher communities are often underprivileged and constitutionally and communally isolated from other communities. Limited research has been conducted on the fishing community youth, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Hence, the study needs to be understood and conducted for the fishing community youth regarding education, health, and violence. The empirical study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry fishing community youth. The study tools used for the data collection are a semi-structured questionnaire for youth for their perspective on health care, school, violence, and family support and a semi-structured questionnaire to the parents regarding their perspective on their children’s education, health, violence, and family support. Twenty case studies were conducted in the selected clusters. Also conducted were key informant interviews with fishing community leaders in four clusters. The results showed that more than 50 % of participants face verbal violence, more than 80 % face physical violence, and nearly 25% face sexual violence. The fishing community is an under-educated, predominantly nuclear family, and the family income is less than ten thousand rupees monthly. Physical abuse had significantly associated with place of residence, Puducherry residing youth had more physical abuse than Tamil Nadu. The social-economic condition of the family and the parental education seemed to be better in the state of Tamil Nadu as compared to Puducherry. Youths from Puducherry had a greater risk of experiencing physical and verbal abuse. Parents had a relatively low level of awareness and understanding of child rights and laws. The study’s results helped to understand the problem of fisher community youth and their perception of parental care, education, health, and violence.
Practical Implementation of the Findings
- Social welfare department and local NGOs to take up need-based intervention programmes for the welfare of the fishing community and youth.
- The youth welfare department understands the problems of youth in the fishing community.
- Policymakers to develop policies and legislation for the youth of fishers in the education and health sectors.
- Understanding the problems and violence against the youth of the fisher community, as well as helping the Non-Government Organisations for making intervention programs at the community level.
- Assist the school administration in better understanding the Fisher community students’ situation and creating counselling centres in school settings.
- Semester Abroad Programme- Spring 2024 July 5, 2023
Embarking on a semester abroad is an unparalleled adventure that broadens horizons, challenges perspectives, and opens the door to a world of endless possibilities. A Semester Abroad Programme beckons students to immerse themselves in a tapestry of cultural diversity, academic excellence, and personal growth. The Semester Abroad Programme-Spring 2024 applications are now open, urging you to make your January-June Semester international! Through this transformative journey, participants are in for a voyage of self-discovery, forging lifelong friendships, embracing new languages, and acquiring a global perspective that transcends borders.30+ Universities, such as the University of California- Berkeley, UC Davis, Monash University, University of Wisconsin, University College Dublin and many more, are lined up for the programme. Meritorious students can obtain scholarships through various proficiency tests and study at enthralling destinations such as The United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, and many others.
At SRM University-AP, the Semester Abroad Programme, meticulously organised by the Directorate of International Relations and Higher Studies, aims to provide a life-changing experience that profoundly influences individuals’ perspectives and nurtures a global mindset. With each step taken beyond the confines of their comfort zones, students take off a path that enriches their academic journey, shapes their character, and empowers them to become global citizens of the 21st century.
Continue reading → - Multidisciplinary Challenges in Green Smart Cities Implementation June 30, 2023
As the world grapples with the escalating challenges of urbanisation and environmental degradation, the concept of green smart cities has emerged as a promising solution. Green smart cities integrate advanced technologies, sustainable practices, and innovative urban planning to create environmentally friendly, resource-efficient, and liveable urban spaces. However, implementing green smart cities poses numerous multidisciplinary challenges that require careful consideration and collaborative efforts from various fields.Assistant Professors Dr Dhamodharan M and Dr Aehsan Ahmad Dar from the Department of Psychology have published a chapter titled Multidisciplinary Challenges in Green Smart Cities Implementation in the book Green Blockchain Technology for Sustainable Smart Cities in Elsevier, which is Scopus Indexed.
Focusing on challenges in green smart cities implementation will help the policymakers, government, and public to get aware of the problems related to all aspects. Implementing green smart cities may provide difficulties in the previously described dimensions of governance, economics, social interaction, technology, and ethics. Therefore, as the world’s population grows, there is a need to adapt to the changes, such as green smart cities. Government, policymakers, and the general public should adopt solutions to societal issues supported by science and research. The next generation will find it convenient and necessary to develop green smart cities. The world will prosper with green smart cities if policymakers, the government, and the people simultaneously identify the issues and begin the work properly with the right strategy and support.
Abstract
Villages are the pride of the nation. Nevertheless, cities reflect the nation’s growth and prospects. Department of Economic and Social Affairs in the United Nations explained that the universe’s people will be nearly 70 % in urban areas by 2050. Cities worldwide are facing important issues with increasing urbanisation, environmental sustainability, unemployment, slums, and mitigation of climate variation. So, policymakers and researchers focused on the concept of a smart city to manage these challenges. Consequently, the concept of “Smart Green Cities” came into the picture. Smart green cities are the collaborative hub linked with business, government, education, and the public to generate comfortable living in urban environments by encouraging change with scientific-based problem-solving. In simple terms, Green smart cities are technologically advanced in solving problems without harming the environment. For Implementing green smart cities, developed and developing countries are collaborating and signing a memorandum of understanding with one another. Government representatives, educators, and the public should cooperate to make a green smart city successful.
Green smart cities make global connectedness, productivity, efficiency, and revolution possible. Meanwhile, poorly regulated green smart cities will result in environmental difficulties like socioeconomic inequalities, poor public safety, and conservational destruction. Furthermore, implementing green smart cities is not a simple strategy. This chapter discusses multidisciplinary challenges in green smart cities’ implementation. People face challenges through green smart cities implementation in the following sustainability dimensions such as Blockchain challenges, Governance challenges, Economic challenges, Social challenges, Technology challenges, Environmental challenges, and Ethical challenges.
Collaborations
- Dr Dhamodharan M, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, SRM University-AP.
- Mr Vimalkumar, Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad, Kerala
- Dr Aehsan Ahmad Dar, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, SRM University-AP.
- India’s 3rd Best Private University in Nature Index Ranking for the Second Consecutive Time June 28, 2023
SRM University-AP has been ranked 3rd among all the private universities in India for the second consecutive time in the recently announced Nature Index Ranking. With 13 quality research publications, the university stood on top of the chart from March 2022 to February 2023. The six-year-old multidisciplinary research-intensive university has climbed up 13 spots, ranking 32nd among all reputed Indian universities, institutes of national importance and research institutions in India.Dr P Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor of SRM University-AP, extended his heartiest congratulations to the faculty and research scholars who have published in Nature Index Journals during the stated period. “We are proud of our faculty and research scholars who are working dedicatedly towards their research. Their recognition serves as a testament to the unwavering goal of the varsity in intensifying research, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit on the campus’’, commented Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor of SRM University-AP.
The Nature Index tracks the affiliations of universities and research article contributions in a selected group of 145 high-profile scientific journals chosen by an independent panel of expert research scientists in different fields. Ranking criteria involve counting the number of published research articles by institutions in Renowned publishing groups. The Nature Index provides absolute Count and fractional Share counts of article publications at the institutional and national levels and, as such, is an indicator of global high-quality research output and collaborations.
Each year, Nature Index ranks the leading institutions, which can be companies, universities, government agencies, research institutes, NGOs, and countries, by the number of scientific articles and papers published in leading journals. The ranking involves research fields, such as life sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences. The Index helps assess research excellence by institutions, regions, and research disciplines.
Continue reading → - World Environment Day Celebrations – An Initiative to Beat Plastic Pollution June 27, 2023
The Department of Environmental Science and Engineering celebrated World Environment Day on June 05, 2023, initiating awareness of the need to combat the climate crisis posed by global plastic pollution. The department organised two invited lectures from industry experts to expound on the theme of World Environment Day 2023, “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”. Efficient ways to tackle plastic pollution in the country and local waste management systems and policies were key points of discussion. Prof. K V Jayakumar, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal and Mr M V Chary, President, Jindal Urban Waste Management, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, were the invited speakers.
Prof. K V Jayakumar lent thought-provoking insights into the types of water and how marketing strategies sell water at high prices to consumers. He also shared his experience of his visits to other countries in Europe and Asia where water is utilised wisely. Apart from water and plastic pollution, he also addressed the pressing issue of climate change happening over the years and the consequent increase in temperature. Prof. Jayakumar also suggested the book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, which is often viewed as a landmark work of environmental writing, focusing on the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment.
Mr M V Chary shared in-depth information about the Jindal Urban Waste Management at Guntur, stating the various source of waste, collection points, transportation to the Jindal Waste – Energy Plant, and how waste is converted to energy (through incineration) at the plant. Unique aspects of the plant were also discussed at length, along with a video presentation demonstrating the complete working of the plant. The interactive session with Mr Chary, wherein he shared his expertise in the industrial sector, was beneficial for the students.
A pledge was taken by all participants at the end of the seminar emphasising the importance of saving the environment, sustainable resource management and the need of awareness among all in reducing the pollution as well as global warming and climate change.
Dr Karthik Rajendran, HOD of the Department, delivered the welcome address and the event witnessed an active participation of 85 participants which constitutes Professors, Faculty, PhD Scholars, Undergraduate students from various departments. There were also faculty and scholars from neighbouring colleges such as Acharya Nagarjuna University, Sidhartha Mahila Kalasala and Ministry of Culture, New Delhi.
Continue reading → - Physics Graduate Secures Two International Internships June 26, 2023
In an era where competition in the job market is on the peek, internships give you an edge over the rest of your peers. It gives you an opportunity to get real-time experience and put to practise what you have learnt. But not everyone manages to acquire an internship, while most students manage to barely secure a single internship, Md Shoaib, has bagged not one, but two exciting international internships in the field of Quantum Physics!
Here’s what Md Shoaib has to say on his remarkable achievement: “ I am excited to delve deeper into this topic and participate in enriching lectures, workshops, and interactions with experts in the field. It will be a valuable experience to learn from renowned Quantum scientists from various countries and broaden my understanding of Quantum Cryptography.”
Md Shoaib, a BSc Physics (Hons) with Research student has secured the prestigious Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) internship programme along with a Summer School “Quantum Cryptography” internship offered by the University of Gdańsk, Poland. The internships not only offer a stipend but also covers travel, accommodation and logistic expenses.
We wish Md Shoaib the very best in his endeavour!
- SRM University-AP Signs MoU with DBS Bank, India June 23, 2023
Hatchlab Research Centre, a technology and livelihood incubator, under The Directorate of Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship has accomplished a milestone achievement as it joined forces with DBS Bank, India. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two parties in order to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the varsity. The collaboration aims to empower startups and offer incredible opportunities for our entrepreneurial community at SRM University-AP.
Senior Vice Presidents, Mr Sushant Shetty and Mr Rama Rao Peri, other senior members of the leadership team from DBS Bank India, Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP ; Dr R Premkumar, Registrar, SRM University-AP and Mr Udayan Bakshi, Associate Director – Entrepreneurship and the leadership team of Hatchlab Research Centre graced the occasion.
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- Harnessing Body, Mind and Spirit June 23, 2023
“Yoga is not just physical exercise. It is a union with the self, union with the universe. The universe lies outside and inside us. If we connect with ourselves, that means we are connecting with the universe” said Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP on the occasion of International Yoga Day Celebration held on June 21, 2023.
A yoga session was held under the joint venture of the Directorate of Sports and Directorate of Student Affairs. Prof. Arora, who participated as the Chief Guest in the programme addressed the staff and students through a session on Meditation and Wellness and announced the starting of a Yoga Club in the varsity.
Dr Abdul Mohimin, Assistant Director of Sports, spoke at length on the practice of yoga. Additionally, students of the varsity demonstrated dance yoga and clap yoga sessions, which left the audience invigorated. Dr R Premkumar, Registrar; Prof. Vishnupad, Dean-SLASS; Dr K Mohan, Director-ITKM; Dr Vijay Kumar Upadhyay, Director-Sports; Dr Manish Kumar, Director-Human Resources; Mr Pankaj Belwariar, Director-Communications; Mrs Suma N, CFAO; faculty; staff and students participated in the celebration.
- MoU with NITTE (Deemed to be University) to foster research in Biological Science June 21, 2023
SRM University-AP inked an MoU with NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, on June 16, 2023, to promote academics and research in Biological Science. The MoU was signed at the NITTE Mangalore campus by Dr R Premkumar, Registrar, SRM University-AP and Prof. Dr Harsha Halahalli, Registrar, NITTE, in the presence of Prof. Dr MS Moodithaya, Vice-Chancellor, NITTE.
Prof. Dr MS Moodithaya termed this association a very important one for the university and expressed his confidence that the formal agreement will foster a mutually beneficial relationship through knowledge exchange, academic excellence, and research of societal relevance between the Universities. “I hope this collaboration can leverage both university’s strengths and complementary skills to undertake research projects that require a combination of expertise. I look forward to the synergy leading to more comprehensive and impactful research outcomes”, commented Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP, in response to the MoU.
Prof. Jayaseelan Murugaiyan, Head-Department of Biological Sciences, SRM University-AP and Dr Krishna Kumar, Associate Professor, NITTE University Centre for Science, Education and Research (NUCSER), have been collaborating for the last couple of years in the field of antimicrobial resistance. Prof. Anirban Chakraborty, Director- NUCSER and Prof. Jayaseelan Murugaiyan, SRM University-AP, are the authorised representatives from the respective universities. The Director, R&D; Director, Projects and DST-NUTEC; Director, Academia- Industry collaborations; Director, Institute Innovation Council; and Director, PG Studies and Clinical Research were among the others present on this occasion.
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- Best Paper Award: Conferred to Dr Raviteja KVNS at RAISE 2023 June 20, 2023
The Department of Civil Engineering is glad to announce that Dr Raviteja KVNS, Assistant Professor, has received the Best Paper Award for his paper titled “Compressibility Characteristics of Bentonite Amended Fly Ash Liners Exposed to Phosphate Contamination” at the 2nd International Conference RAISE 2023 (Recent Advances in Sustainable Environment) held on May 15-16, 2023. Dr Raviteja collaborated with Dr Janga Jagadeesh Kumar and Dr Krishna R Reddy, Civil, Materials and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago for the research paper. Their cutting-edge research focused on developing alternate liner materials for waste containment systems.
Abstract
Waste containment systems like landfills, and impoundments are often lined with low permeable clays of hydraulic conductivity less than 10-7 cm/s. However, it is often challenging to get large volumes of low permeable clays near the project site. Conveyance of large volumes of clay from distant locations can be unsustainable due to the associated carbon emissions and energy costs, and not viable financially. Hence, there is a need to identify alternative liner materials without compromising on the containment capabilities. This study proposes the use of fly ash, amended with bentonite, as an alternative to the traditional liner systems. From preliminary studies, it is understood that a mixture of 80% fly ash amended with 20% bentonite is optimal to function as an effective liner material. However, the hydro-mechanical stability of liners needs to be investigated under different contamination scenarios. The present study reports the compressibility behavior of the proposed liner system under phosphate contamination, typically found in landfill leachate, impoundments, and stormwater retention ponds. One-dimensional consolidation tests were conducted on pure bentonite and fly ash with water to study the compressibility characteristics of individual materials. The optimum mix (80-20) was then tested at three different solutions exposure: water, 3.2 mg/L PO4-3-P and 12 mg/L PO4-3-P. It is depicted that the addition of 20% bentonite to fly ash did not affect the compressibility significantly, while the presence of phosphate contamination did not compromise the hydro-mechanical stability of the proposed liner system.
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