Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 23: St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), organized a two-day workshop on advanced instrumentations – a practical training on August 21 and 22. The event was hosted by the Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences.
The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Dr Praveen Martis SJ, vice chancellor, who underscored the significance of the workshop in fostering analytical skills, research aptitude and scientific curiosity among students.
Adding to the inaugural insights, Dr Ronald Nazareth, registrar, highlighted that the workshop would provide participants with crucial exposure to advanced instruments that play an indispensable role in research and analytical investigations. The workshop was convened by Dr Laveena D’Souza and Dr Ashwini, who envisioned it as a platform for hands-on learning and collaborative academic exchange.
The programme drew enthusiastic participation from 28 students representing 9 colleges across Mangaluru and its neighbouring regions. The carefully curated sessions combined theoretical instruction with practical hands-on experience, ensuring a holistic learning experience.
The first day featured theory sessions led by Jeesu George and Jyothi Simav Vaz, followed by a practical training module conducted by Jeesu George and Dr Sachin, with valuable hands-on experience in Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
The second day began with an engaging introduction to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Gas Chromatography (GC) by Dr Sachin. Dr Laveena D’Souza and Divya Deepthi Monteiro introduced high-end instruments like the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), thereby providing first-hand exposure to tools of immense relevance in research and industry.
The valedictory ceremony, held in the evening of the second day, was presided over by Dr Vinola Rodrigues, programme coordinator and assistant dean of Physical Sciences, and Dr Rachael Natasha Mary, head, Department of Chemistry, along with the workshop convenors. The session included certificate distribution, student reflections, and feedback sharing, all of which highlighted the enriching impact of the programme.
Participants expressed that the workshop significantly strengthened their research skills and broadened their understanding of practical applications in scientific inquiry.
Overall, the two-day workshop emerged as a meaningful and transformative learning experience, reinforcing St Aloysius (Deemed to be University)’s commitment to advancing quality education and research in the sciences.