Current Happenings ENVS News

The faculty of SRM University-AP have been awarded 10 projects worth 2.50 crores from the Science and Engineering Research Board  (SERB-SURE). Department of Science and Technology (DST) received a total of 2000 proposals, of which 466 were sanctioned. Among the 466 projects, 151 projects were awarded to Private Universities. Of the 151 projects approved to state private universities and colleges throughout India, the five-and-a-half-year young varsity was awarded 10 projects. 10 professors from various Science and Engineering Departments brought this incredible achievement to the university.

SERB-SURE is a research grant scheme initiated by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) in India to provide financial support to young researchers in the early stages of their careers. The grants are intended to support research in basic and applied sciences, engineering, and technology and is typically granted for a period of three years.The SERB-SURE scheme is one of several initiatives by SERB to promote scientific research in India and support the development of a strong research community in the country.

“It is a milestone achievement that resonates with the University’s unparalleled commitment for excellence. We are striving towards research-intensive learning to build cutting-edge innovation for a transformative tomorrow”, commented Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora. The Executive Director-Research of SRM Group, Prof. Narayana Rao said that, “SRM University-AP has travailed hard to achieve the world-class scientific temperament that we now advocate, and this achievement is a testimonial recognition of all our efforts.” The prestigious grants were sanctioned to the faculty in the on-going domains of Quantum Kinetic Approach, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Profiling and Changing of Hydroclimatic conditions in Bay of Bengal among 7 others.

Dean-SEAS, Prof. Ranjith Thapa said, “These research could be path-breaking and could offer a solution to many of the societal difficulties.” Prof. Jayaseelan Murugaiyan, Dr Sandeep Singh and Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri of the Department of Biological Sciences; Dr Sabyasachi Chakrabortty, Dr V S Baswanth Oruganti of the Department of Chemistry; Dr Debabrata Pramanik, Dr Ravi Kumar and Dr Pankaj Bhalla  of the Department of Physics ; Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma of the Department of Mathematics; Dr Uma Maheswar Arepalli of the Department of Civil Engineering; and Dr Kousik Das of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering were awarded the grants.

The availability of water as an elixir of life depends on several factors, including land and climate. The Department of Environmental Science and Engineering organised a 2-Day workshop on “How interactions between climate and land use/land cover changes can affect water resources” on March 27 and 28, 2023, in affiliation with the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Kentucky, USA. The workshop was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora. Distinguished academician and researcher, Prof. Alan Ernest Fryar, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Kentucky, was the resource person for the session.

The workshop was conducted with the aim of providing an overview of water resources in India, water resource challenges and hazards, climate change and projected effects, and mitigation and adaptation strategies. Prof. Fryar also explained the groundwater status across India and regional approaches to exploring it as a drinking water resource. He also explained the impact of climate change on groundwater as a fresh drinking water resource and adaptation strategies.

The workshop saw the participation of over 60 faculty, PhD Scholars and UG students from various educational institutions across the district. UG students from the Department of Geology, Hindu College and Chalapathi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Guntur, participated in the session and interacted with Prof. Fryar.

A field visit to the Krishna Riverbank in Amaravati, Guntur, was also conducted as part of the workshop on March 28, where Prof. Fryar interacted with the research scholars and emphasised the importance of field visits and the scientific and systematic way of sample collection from the field. In addition, Prof. Fryar conducted hands-on training on the field instrument (multi-parameter probe, Hanna) for real-time data collection from the river water and groundwater sources in the field.