AL

KER

27

SCIENCE C
O

RESS
NG

27

th

Kerala
Science Congress
27-30 January 2015
Camelot Convention Centre, Pathirapally, Alappuzha

Focal Theme

Traditional Industries

Organised & Sponsored by

Co-Sponsored by

In association with

Kerala State Council for Science,

Technology and Environment
Government of Kerala

Department of
Science and Technology
Government of India

National Transportation
Planning and Research Centre,
Thiruvananthapuram

27th
KERALA SCIENCE
CONGRESS COMMITTEE

PATRON
Shri. Oommen Chandy
Honble Chief Minister, Kerala

CHAIRPERSON

PRESIDENT

Dr. Tessy Thomas

Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai

Director, Advanced System Laboratory

DRDO, Hyderabad

Executive Vice President, KSCSTE

CHAIRPERSON
ORGANISING COMMITTEE

GENERAL CONVENOR

Smt. B. G. Sreedevi

Dr. K. R. Lekha

Director, NATPAC

Scientist & Head, WSD, KSCSTE

MEMBERS
1. Prof. . Ramachandran Nair

20. Prof. P.R. Sudhakaran

2. Prof. R.V.G. Menon,

21. Prof. D. Joseph Francis, Emeritus Professor, CUSAT

22. Prof. A.M. Mathai,

Former, Chairman, STEC

Former Director, ANERT

3. Shri. G. Vijayaraghavan

Member, State Planning Board

4. Dr. G.C. Gopala Pillai, Chairman, KSEDC

5. Dr. B. Meenakumari
Deputy Director, General (Fisheries), ICAR

Director, Kerala Biotechnology Commission

Emeritus Professor, CMSS, KFRI Campus

23. Dr. A. Meharunnisa

T D Medical College, Vandanam, Alappuzha

24. Dr. G. Madhavi Latha

Associate Professor, IISC, Bangalore

6. Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mishra

25. Prof. K.K.M. Yusuff,

7. Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh

26. Dr. G. Sudha, Assoc. Professor, SN College, Kannur

27. Dr. Anitha Das Ravindranath

Associate Head, TDTD-DST

Scientist G & Head NCSTC, DST

8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Dr. B. Ashok, Vice Chancellor, KVASU

Dr. Suresh Das, Director, NIIST
Dr. K.S. Dasgupta, Director, IIST
Dr. V. Ramakrishnan, Director, IISER
Dr. Paul Sebastian, Director, RCC
Shri. Surendra Nath Tripathi IAS
Chairman (i/c), Coir Board

14. Dr. J. Letha, Director, Technical Education, GoK

15. Dr. A. Ajayaghosh,
CSIR Outstanding Scientist, NIIST

16. Dr. M. Radhakrishna Pillai, Director, RGCB

17. Prof. Oommen V. Oommen
Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board

18. Er. N.R. Joy

Chief, I&I Division,Kerala State Planning Board

19. Prof. K.N. Rajasekharan

Emeritus Professor, Kerala University

Dept. of Applied Chemistry, CUSAT

Senior Scientific Officer, CCRI

28. Prof. K.N. Ninan, Emeritus Professor, IIST

29. Dr. Sr. Janat Augustine. K
Principal, St. Josephs College, Alappuzha

30. Shri. R. Geethakrishna Pai

Principal, S D College, Alappuzha

31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

Dr. K.K. Ramachandran, Member Secretary, KSCSTE

Prof. George Varghese, Director, KSCSTE
Dr. P.G. Latha, Director, JNTBGRI
Prof. M. Manickam, Director, KSOM
Dr. N.B. Narasimha Prasad
Executive Director i/c, CWRDM

36. Dr. P.S. Easa, Director i/c, KFRI

37. Shri. Rajan Panicker M, Special Officer, SRIBS
38. Shri. P. Radhakrishnan
Controller of Administration, KSCSTE

39. Shri. B. Ashokan, Finance Officer, KSCSTE

27

th Kerala

Science
Congress

erala Science Congress is conducted as a four day annual

event by the Kerala State Council for Science , Technology
& Environment during the last week of January. The event
provides a forum for interaction and deliberation, review of the
present status of R&D efforts and formulation of strategies for
better utilization of scientific and technical manpower for the
overall development of the State of Kerala. The event covers
technical sessions involving theme lectures by eminent scientists,
research presentation by young researchers, memorial lectures,
post-graduate student interaction session and childrens science
congress. Talented young researchers are honoured with Young
Scientist Award. Best Paper Awards are given to selected papers
presented under different subject areas. A national exhibition on
S&T with participation of major R&D institutions also form part of
the science congress event.

FOCAL THEME - TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES

Kerala is rich in natural resources such as fertile soil, abundant
water and rich biotic wealth. The traditional industries in Kerala
particularly coir, hand-loom, khadi, bamboo-based handicrafts,
etc. face problems of high cost of production, poor quality, absence
of diversified products, obsolete technology and marketing issues.
In-order to focus on the role of technological innovations in
making the traditional industry competitive and sustainable, the
topic Traditional Industries is selected as the Focal theme of 27th
Kerala Science Congress.

VENUE & DATE

The 27th Kerala Science Congress will be held during 27-30 January 2015
at Camelot Convention Centre, Alappuzha.
Alappuzha, a coastal district in Kerala, known as the Venice of the East
is a major tourist destination in India. The annual Nehru Trophy boat
race, held on the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha is one of the popular
boat races in India.
Economy of the district is predominantly based on agriculture and
marine products. Agricultural activities predominantly concentrate in
the Kuttanad region, the rice bowl of Kerala. The district is known as
the traditional home of coir industry in Kerala. Traditional industries
based on coir and coir products, marine products, handlooms and
different types of handicrafts have been the major source of livelihood
of the people. Availability of plenty of raw materials and the existence of
backwaters and canals suitable for retting of green husk and accessibility
of transportation are the main factors for development of coir industry in
the State.
The focal theme chosen for the 27th Kerala Science Congress aptly blends
with the traditional industrial base of Alappuzha.

Distance Chart

Camelot Convention Centre

Chenkatti Bridge, Pathirappally
Poomkavu, Alappuzha
Kerala -688521

Kochi International Airport

82 kms

Alappuzha Railway Station

7 kms

Alappuzha Boat Jetty

6 kms

Ernakulam

50 kms

Thiruvananthapuram

150 kms

MEMORIAL LECTURES
Memorial lectures will be presented by eminent speakers to honour the following
S&T visionaries and to cherish their contributions.
Dr P K Iyengar
Padmanabha Krishnagopala Iyengar, former chairman STEC,
was an eminent Indian nuclear physicist. He played a key role
in India's nuclear capability. He was former head of Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and former chairman of
Atomic Energy Commission of India.
Dr G N Ramachandran
Gopalasamudram Narayana Iyer Ramachandran, was an
Indian physicist who was known for his work that led to
the creation of the Ramachandran plot for understanding
peptide structure. He was the first to propose a triple-helical
model for the structure of collagen. He also made other major
contributions in biology and physics.
Dr E K Janaki Ammal
Janaki Ammal Edavaleth Kakkat was an Indian botanist who
conducted scientific research in cytogenetics and geography.
In order to promote excellent work in taxonomy and encourage
young students and scholars to work in this field, the E.K.
Janaki Ammal Award was instituted in the year 1999.
P. T. Bhaskara Panicker
P.T.Bhaskara Panicker was a famous social activist and writer.
He was the editor of encyclopedias viz., Jeevacharithra kosam
for children, Science Encyclopedia for children, Balavijnana
kosam, Sasthra Vijnana kosam and Dravida Vijnana kosam.
He has written more than 100 books, mostly scientific and
educational.
Dr P K Gopalakrishnan
Dr. P K Gopalakrishnan, an eminent sociologist and economist
has played a crucial role in formulating the Science &
Technology Policy of Kerala in 1972 and in establishing R&D
institutes in the state. He was Special Secretary to Planning &
Economic Affairs Department during 1974-80.

Dr P R Pisharoty
Pisharoth Rama Pisharoty was an Indian physicist and
meteorologist and is considered to be the father of remote
sensing in India. His pioneering experiment of detection
of coconut wilt-root disease using Soviet aircraft and US
equipment was considered to be the first success in remote
sensing in India.
3

TECHNICAL SESSIONS AND

BROAD SUBJECT AREAS

SPECIAL SESSIONS

27th Kerala Science Congress will

have several sessions for providing
opportunities for intense interaction
and knowledge sharing. General
papers, contest papers and posters
in the identified subject areas will be
included in different sessions. Young
researchers are encouraged to contest
for Best Paper Award and Best Poster
Award during the technical sessions.
Technical presentations cover the
following broad subject areas and
research papers are invited for
presentation in these subject areas:

Transportation Engineering
27th KSC is organised in collaboration
with National Transportation Planning
and Research Centre (NATPAC). Considering the relevance of transportation in the economic development of
the State, a special session on Transportation Engineering is scheduled in
27th Kerala Science Congress. Research
papers on Transportation Engineering
(Code: 14) are considered separately in
this special session. The session will
have presentations of research papers
and theme lectures by experts in the
field of transportation engineering.

Code

Subject Area

01

Agriculture & Food Sciences

02

Biotechnology

03

Chemical science

04

Earth & Space Sciences

05

Engineering & Technology

06

Environmental Science,
Forestry & Wildlife

07

Fisheries & Veterinary Sciences

08

Health Science

09

Information Technology &

Computer Sciences

10

Life Science

11

Mathematical & Statistical Sciences

12

Physical Science

13

Science Education, Science

Communication, Science & Society

14

Transportation Engineering

15

Traditional Industries Focal Theme

16

GIS & Remote Sensing

GIS AND REMOTE SENSINGIn collaboration with UNEP

Geographical information systems
(GIS) and Remote sensing, once considered highly technical topics handled only by highly trained people
having access to specialised softwares,
has become integral part of the society
with arrival of google earth and smart
phones. Yet, the potential of Remote
sensing and GIS to contribute to social
welfare and development is not fully
understood in Kerala.
The session is arranged in collaboration with UNEP and is expected to
bring together experts, social activists
and researchers to discuss how remote
sensing could be introduced more into
Kerala, both at academic and community level. Research papers based on
the topic are also invited which will be
presented in this special session. Best
Paper and Best Poster Awards are instituted for the best presentations in this
session.

WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Women Scientists and Technologists have made significant contributions
in every sphere of development. However, in India, the representation of
women scientists in various fields of science, Engineering and Technology
is still very low. Women Scientists not only play an important role in their
respective areas of expertise but can play significant role in engineering
social changes.
Involvement of educated and trained women in Science and Technology
is essential to meet the challenges in development. There is a growing
recognition of the need to strengthen women's capabilities and to promote
their participation in higher levels of career and academics. This can be
achieved by increasing their access to information and education particularly in the areas of science and technology. To focus on the role of women
in science, a special session on Women in Science will be held during 27th
Kerala Science Congress.

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION & ADAPTATION

A wide array of technologies have been developed by the various R&D
institutions under the Central and State Governments. But their full potential remains untapped for various reasons. Obviously this indicates the
existence of major gaps in the production, dissemination and application
stages. In order to highlight the potential of available technologies and
what needs to be done to enhance their access to people and society, a
special session on "Technological Innovation and Adaptation" is proposed
to be held during the 27th Kerala Science Congress.
Research papers on technological innovations are invited for presentation
in the special session. Scientists and researchers from R&D, industry and
academic institutions within and outside the State and who have developed technologies that can be adapted at local level can submit papers for
presentation.

INSA MEDAL AWARDEES SESSION

The 27th Kerala Science Congress will have a special session on young
Scientists who have won the prestigious INSA Medal in different areas
of science. The session is expected to motivate talented students and researchers to strive for excellence in their chosen areas of research.

POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS
INTERACTION SESSION
A special session for the interaction
of bright post-graduate students in
science with eminent scientists and
academicians is scheduled during
the Science Congress. This would
provide them a window to the opportunities, scope and paths in
pursuing their research interests.
The participants will be allowed to
attend other sessions of the entire
Science Congress event. Participation will be based on nomination
from academic institutions in the
State. Participants are requested
to download the Registration form
from the Science Congress website.
Applications will be screened and
shortlisted students will be intimated. Selected students have to pay
Registration fee of L 250/- .
CHILDRENS SCIENCE CONGRESS
One of the major objectives of Kerala
Science Congress is to nurture young
talents in S&T. Childrens Science congress held as part of Kerala Science
Congress draws significance in this
perspective.
Students who have participated in
the National Children's Science Congress in the year of 2014 are invited
for presenting their chosen project
work during the Children's Science
Congress Session of 27th Kerala Sci-

ence Congress. Students from schools

studying in class 5 to 12 (not more
than 10 students from one school) can
be nominated by the Headmasters/
Principals for participation in the Childrens Science Congress.
SCIENCE EXHIBITION
A National Science Exhibition will be
organised during 27-30 January 2015,
as part of the 27th Kerala Science Congress. The exhibition will be held at
Sanatana Dharma Vidyasala (SDV)
Centenary Auditorium and School
Ground, Alappuzha. Indias best public and private sector organizations including major R&D organizations, S&T
institutions and industry will be showcasing their products, technologies, research work and vision for the future.
Science exhibition will have a separate
section on Assistive Technologies for
the Visually Impaired.
KERALA STATE
YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD
The Kerala State Young Scientist Award
instituted by KSCSTE is intended to
honour talented young scientists of
Indian origin in recognition of their
outstanding contribution in science
and technology. The reported research
work should have been done in Kerala
to become eligible for consideration for
the award. Young Scientist Awardees
of this year will be presenting their
research work during 27th Kerala
Science Congress.
Dr. S. VASUDEV AWARD
The technical reports submitted on
completion of KSCSTE funded project
under Science Research Scheme will
be evaluated and will be given excellence award instituted in the name
of Dr. S. Vasudev, former Chairman,
STEC. The award carries a cash prize of
L 50,000/-, which will be presented
during the Kerala Science Congress.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants in Kerala Science Congress include researchers, technolo-

gists, teachers, industrialists, environmentalists, engineers, planners, policy

makers, social workers and students.
There is no restriction on participants
locality or place of birth.
REGISTRATION
Online registration alone is allowed for the 27th Kerala Science Congress. Applicants are
requested to register by logging
on to the Science Congress website www.ksc.kerala.gov.in and
follow the instructions. No late
registration will be entertained.
REGISTRATION FEE
Registration fee for Science
Congress is L 1500/-. However,
bonafide students need to pay
L 750/- only (Bank charges extra). Registration fee is accounted towards expenses on Science
Congress materials and food.

INFORMATION TO CONTRIBUTORS
Research papers are invited in the 14
Broad Subject Areas and on Special
topics Traditional industries (Focal
theme) and GIS & Remote Sensing.
Contributors are advised to submit
their research paper online in the format detailed in Kerala Science Congress website. There will be a review
panel constituted for each subject area
and special topics (Code: 01-16) for
scrutinising the submitted papers and
deciding whether they are accepted

and qualified for the contest/general

presentation. However contributors
have to specify their choice for contesting for Best Paper Award.
One main author can submit only one
paper as main author but can be co-author to maximum two submissions.
Full length paper and brief abstract
(not more than 500 words) should be
submitted at the time of registration.
BEST PAPER AWARD
Young researchers are encouraged to
contest for Best Paper Award by presenting their research work in the 14
Broad Subject Areas (Code 0-14) and
also on the Focal Theme - Traditional
Industries (Code:15) and GIS and Remote Sensing (Code:16). Contestants
should submit duly filled up nomination form in specified format. Best Paper Award carries a Certificate of Merit
and cash prize of L 10,000/-. Awardees
are also eligible for a contingency grant
of L1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh only)
for two years for pursuing further research based on a proposal submitted
to the Council.
BEST POSTER AWARD
All papers accepted for poster presentation will be included in the poster
session. The best poster in each of the
broad subject areas and the special
topics will be awarded Certificate of
Merit.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONGRESS
Abstracts of accepted papers will appear in the print volume. The full
7

their paper in English or in States official language, Malayalam.

ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORT
Limited accommodation will be provided to the participants. Applicants are
requested to specify their requirement
for accommodation at the time of registration. Those who require accommodation should register well in advance.

Kerala Science Congress is

a four-day event and all the
registered participants should
ensure their presence on all four
days compulsorily. Participation
certificates and duty certificates
will be issued only for the days of
their presence in the event.

length paper will be included in the

proceedings volume. Soft copy of the
proceedings volume will be released
and distributed at the Science Congress
venue. Proceedings as well as Book of
abstracts can also be downloaded from
the Science Congress website once they
are published.
LANGUAGE
Official language of Kerala Science Congress is English. All paper submissions
should be made in English only. However, contributors are free to present

Local transportation facilities will be

provided for the delegates on the first
and the last days of the Science Congress.

DATES TO REMEMBER
Last date for Registration and submission of
Abstract and full paper for contributors

: 31st October 2014

Receipt of applications for participation in

Post-Graduate Students Interaction Session

: 31st October 2014

Last date for registration for other participants

: 15th November 2014

Last date for Communication of acceptance of papers : 15th December 2014

Last date for intimation to KSYSA winners

: 1st January 2015

Last date for sending intimation letter to participants

: 1st January 2015

AbOuT ThE ORGANISERS

Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) is an
autonomous body to encourage and promote Science and Technology related activities in the Kerala State.
R&D INSTITUTIONS
Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)- Thrissur
KFRI is a premier Institute that undertakes research in areas of forestry, biodiversity and
conservation. KFRI plays a key role in strengthening the scientific basis for management of
natural and planted forests.
Centre For Water Resources Development And Management (CWRDM)- Kozhikode
CWRDM addresses problems pertaining to watershed development, wetland management,
water management for agriculture, forest and urban hydrology, estuarine management,
groundwater development, water quality management and water related environmental issues
Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI)-Trivandrum
JNTBGRI is a Conservatory Botanic Garden of tropical plant resources in general and of the
country and the Kerala state in particular. The core areas of research are Ex-situ Conservation
and Management of Plant Wealth of the Country in general and the State in particular,Phytodiversity Documentation, Systematic Studies & Conversation
National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC)-Trivandrum
NATPAC undertakes research and consultancy works in the fields of traffic engineering and
transportation planning, highway engineering, public transport system, alternate options for
transport system, transport energy, inland water transport, tourism planning and rural roads.
Kerala School of Mathematics (KSOM)-Kozhikode
Kerala School of Mathematics (KSOM) is a joint venture of KSCSTE and DAE and is meant for
advanced learning and research in Mathematics. The school envisages promotion of mathematical research in the country and Kerala in particular, through activities such as doctoral
and post-doctoral research, workshops and conferences.
Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute for Basic Sciences (SRIBS)-Kottayam
SRIBS is a capacity building Institute envisaged for Research, Teaching and Learning in Basic
Science. This institute is aimed to implement programmes for capacity building for young
faculty members, researchers and post graduate students in contemporary areas of sciences.
State-Centre Resource Institute for Partnerships in Technology (SCRIPT)- Trivandrum
SCRIPT is a collaborative venture of KSCSTE and DST that is aimed to serve as a platform
for transfer of demand- driven technologies for improving the socio-economic standards and
livelihood of the people of Kerala.
Critical Mineral Research Institute (CMRI)
CMRI envisages research and development in the area of beach minerals for value addition
and thereby enhancing the industrial technology innovations process. The institute aims to
build and enhance technological capability for the industries in Kerala and contribute to the
development of industrial research and development.
Kerala State Centre For Assistive Technologies (KSCAT)
Centre for Assistive Technologies is functioning to promote Assistive Technology to empower people with visual impairment.
Grant-in aid institutions of KSCSTE
Sophisticated Testing and Instrumentation Centre, CUSAT campus, Kochi.
Malabar Botanical Garden, Kozhikode.
Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Mundur, Palakkad.

Registration
Sri. Sabarish K, KSCSTE

sabarishtvm@gmail.com

0471-2548232

Reception
Sri. George Koshy. K, NATPAC

georgekoshyk@yahoo.com

0471-2548310

Focal Theme and Memorial Lectures

Dr. R. Prakashkumar, KSCSTE

rprak62@gmail.com

0471-2548212

Technical Paper Evaluation

Dr. K. Vijayakumar, KSCSTE

drvijayvk@gmail.com

0471-2548214

Technical Sessions
Dr. Celine George
CWRDM Sub-Centre,Manimalakkunnu

celine@cwrdm.org

0485-2253517

Publication
Dr. Kamalakshan Kokkal, KSCSTE

drkokkal@yahoo.com

0471-2548213

Exhibition, Poster and

Venue Arrangement
Dr. G Ravikumar, NATPAC

rgangadharan_ravi@rediffmail.com

0471-2548333

Public Relations and Press

Dr. C Anilkumar, KSCSTE

anil.kscste@gmail.com

0471-2548233

Children Science Congress

Dr. Ajit Kumar, MG College

ajitanchal@gmail.com

9447 55 8047

P G Students Interactive Session

Smt. Binuja Thomas, KSCSTE

binujathomas@gmail.com

0471-2548211

Accommodation
Sri. V. S. Sanjay Kumar, NATPAC

sanjayvs@gmail.com

0471-2551282

Transportation
Sri. D. Robinson, NATPAC

robinson.daniel57@gmail.com

0471-2548355

Food and Refreshment

Sri. S. Shaheem, NATPAC

shaheems@yahoo.co.in

9895 7148 25

Finance
Sri. K. Mohanakumar, NATPAC

mohanlepa@gmail.com

0471-2548330

address for Correspondence

Dr. K R Lekha
General Convenor, 27th Kerala Science Congress
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment
Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram- 695 004, Kerala
Phone: +91-471-2548208, 2548346, Fax : +91-471-2540085, ksc27jan2015@gmail.com

design: godfreys graphics

Organising COmmittee COnvenOrs