ST. TERESA’S COLLEGE, ERNAKULAM (AUTONOMOUS)
BHOOMITHRA SENA CLUB
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES: 2018-19
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATIONS
BhoomithraSena Club of St. Teresa’s college celebrated World Environment Day on June 5,
2018 in the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium. Dr.M.KPrasad , well known environmentalist and
educator was the Chief Guest. Dr. Sajimol Augustine, the Principal welcomed the gathering
and Rev.Dr.Sr. Vineetha , the Director delivered the presidential address. To mark the
occasion the Principal handed over a sapling to ShihanaV.M( II BA Sociology).Delivering
the Environment Day message , Dr.Prasad spoke about his experience working for the Silent
Valley Movement. He also spoke about the dire need for reducing the use of plastics. He also
launched the “Ink Pen Challenge”( an effort to beat plastic pollution by using ink pen instead
of plastic pens) by handing out ink pen kits to three students- Bhavya K Narayanan( II BA
History), Renji George ( III BA Sociology) and CerineTreesaRussel(II BSc. Physics).
‘Beat the plastic’ programme was organized at the auditorium. The second and final year
students from the department of Botany, Zoology and Home Science participated in the
program.
The programme came to an end with a power point presentation of all the activities of the
BhoomitraSena Club of 2017-2018, prepared by Aaysha Ashraf, Sreelakshmi P.A. and
Jazima C.L.
A flash mob was organized as a part of the celebrations by the students from the Departments
of the French and Master of Travel and Tourism Management.
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON “EMERGING TRENDS IN BIOPHYSICAL
RESEARCH AND CURRENT CHALLENGES IN ARTIC SEA MONITORING”
TheBhoomithrasena Club and Zoology Department hosted an International Seminar on
“Emerging trends in biophysical research and current challenges in artic sea ice monitoring,
on 13th July, 2018. The seminar was formally inaugurated by Dr.VishnuNandan, Scientist,
Cryosphere Climate research group, University of Calgary, Canada by handing over a sapling
symbolizing life to Principal Dr. Sajimol Augustine.
The seminar had four sessions handled by four eminent resource persons. The first session
was the keynote address by Dr.VishnuNandan, Cryosphere Climate research group,
University of Calgary, Canada. The topic handled was “Diminishing Artic sea Ice: Why
should we care about it? Current challenges in artic sea ice monitoring. The various research
options in Cryosphere Climate research was also discussed.
The second session was addressed by Dr. AnuGopinath, Assistant Professor,KUFOS on
“Organic matter characterization from Artic Fjord sediments.
“International cooperation in Artic Research –Opportunities and Challenges” was the topic of
the third session delivered by Dr. K Ajith Joseph, Executive Director, Nansen Environmental
Research Centre, KUFOS, Amenity Center,Kochi.
The final session was handled by Dr. NandiniMenon N, Senior Scientist, Nansen
Environmental Research Centre, KUFOS, Amenity Center, Kochi on “Remote Sensing and
marine phytoplankton –An introduction.
The seminar officially marked its end by a note of thanks by Dr. Meera Jan Abraham,
Associate Professor, Department of Zoology.
OZONE DAY CELEBRATION-2018
17th September 2018
Theme: Keep Cool and Carry On: The Montreal Protocol
TheBhoomitraSena Club in association with the Department of Chemistry of the college
celebrated Ozone day on 17th September 2018. The theme of the celebrations was Keep Cool
and Carry On: The Montreal Protocol.
A poster presentation competition was conducted for the students of the college on the day.
28 students from various departments of the college- Mathematics, Zoology, Home Science,
History, Chemistry, Communicative English etc participated in the competition which was
displayed in the Gym Plaza, Science block. The judgement of the posters was done by Dr. P.
Shaiju, Technical Staff, Department of Chemical Oceanography, Cochin University of
Science and Technology.
Students fixing their posters
Posters displayed to students
Dr.Shaiju P judging the posters
Dr.Shaiju P judging the posters
This was followed by a talk on “Keep cool and Carry On” by Dr. P. Shaiju, Technical Staff,
Department of Chemical Oceanography, Cochin University of Science and Technology. A
total of 76 persons including students and teachers attended the talk. The talk gave an outline
about what is Ozone, causes for ozone layer depletion and the historical scientific discoveries
which motivated scientist to study more about it. The talk also focused on various protocols
and amendments formulated for the protection of ozone layer. The talk also gave us valuable
information about how to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, how to choose
refrigerators which has reduced emission of greenhouse gases wisely for protecting our
environment etc. In short, the talk gave an overall idea about the importance of ozone layer
and the dangerous impacts it will have on biological life if its equilibrium is affected.
The audience during the talk
Dr.Shaiju P. interacting with audience
Dr.Shaiju P. interacting with audience
The winners of the poster designing competition was declared after the talk and
Dr.Shaiju P. distributed cash prizes to the winners. The following are the winners;
NizaKaladharan, III BA History
AADITHYA SALBI I MSc Chemistry
Dr.Shaiju P distributing prizes
FACULTY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME
BhoomitraSena Cluband the department of Chemistry , jointly conducted a one-day seminar
for teachers on ‘Water recycling in campus, chemical waste management- challenges and
strategies’, on November 7, 2018 at St. Teresa’s college, Ernakulam.
The professor at Cochin University’s School of Engineering, Dr. G. Madhu addressed the
gathering. Dr. Sr. Vinitha, the director of St. Teresa’s college; Dr. Sajimol Augustine, the
principal; head of the Zoology department, Dr. Meera Jan Abraham (FIC, Bhoomitra club)
and Dr. Jaya T. Varkey gave informational talks.
PK3(Plastic Kurakkaam, Kurakkanam, KurachePattuu)
Nava Keralam, HarithaKeralathinayi
PK3 is a collective initiative of Bhoomitrasena Club of St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam;
Suchitwa Mission and Mathrubhumi, towards empowering the vibrant youth to rise up to the
call for a new and green Kerala. This project aims at encouraging sustainable consumption
habits regarding plastic carry bags through a PK3 campaign - Plastic Kurakkkaam,
Kurakkanam,KurachePatooin Ernakulam district.. This project aims at building up a public
movement specially youth movement for a sustainable green model of rebuilding Kerala
which also includes a change in Bag Habits of citizens
The project is expected to have the following outcome
Reduction of plastic debris in Ernakulam district in particular and mitigation
of land, marine pollution in general
Paradigm shift in public attitude through development of a social norm where
using own carry bags is the accepted social behaviour instead of current bag
habits
Mobilisation of a youth collective, social network who will use social media
for implementation of concrete result oriented action projects.
Identification of development policy instruments, methodology for
implementation of result oriented social projects base on recent Nobel
prizewinning concepts of behavioural economics. This will be of special
significance to all levels of Government, NGO’s and agencies implementing.
INAUGURATION OF PK3
The official launching ceremony of PK3 was held on 15th December, 2018. Honourable
District Collector Sri Muhammed Y Safirulla inaugurated the project.
Students receiving Green Volunteer certificates from Collector
Launching of PK3 App
INAUGURATION OF TRAINING CENTRE AND TRAINING
PROGRAMME SERIES ON ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC CARRY
BAGS
The inauguration of the training centre of BhoomithraSena Club and STEP was held on 26th
November, 2018at the Arts BlockAuditorium.The training centre was set up with CSR
support from The Cochin Shipyard Ltd and Indian bank.It aims at sharing expertise in
manufacturing eco friendly alternatives to plastic/ rexine bags and pouches with SHGs from
various Local Governments thereby supporting their green protocol initiatives. Dr. Sajimol
Augustine(Principal, St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam) welcomed the gathering. Sri.
Rajendran Nair, Technical Officer HarithaKeralam Mission inaugurated the function. Shri
YoosafA.K, Project Officer (CSR),Cochin Shipyard delivered the keynote address. Sri.
SijuThomas(District Coordinator, Suchitwa Mission) offered felicitation. Dr. Sr.
Vinitha(Director, St. Teresa’s College) honoured the chief guests.
Dr.NirmalaPadmanabhan(Assistant Professor, St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam) proposed the
vote of thanks.
Following the inauguration a three day training programme on alternatives to
plastic carry bags was also conducted in the training centre.Around 18 Kudumbasree
members from the panchayaths of Mulavukad, Cheranelloor, Thuruthikkara, Mulanthuruthy,
Kunnukara attended the training.
Master Trainers for the Training Series
1. Mrs Thasneem K.S(Master trainer, STEP)
2. Shivaprbha G Kammath(Ist P.G. Resource Management and Interior Designing)
3. Angel A. P.(II B.Sc. Home Science)
4. Anuvindha S Shenoy.(II B.Sc. Home Science)
5. Swetha K. R.(Ist B.Sc. Physics)
6. Anusha M.A.(Ist B.Sc. Botany)
WMC-GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION PROJECT AWARD-
2018
BhoomithraSena Club was awarded FIRST PRIZE in the project competition under the level
category Institution (St.Teresa's College, Bhoomithra club) and the Project category 'Solid
and Liquid Waste Management' by the World Malayalee Council. The Award carries a
sum of Rs.100000/- (Rupees one lakh) with a citation. Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala
Sri PinarayiVijayan Presented the award at Global Business Summit held at Taj Gateway
Hotal, Marine Drive on 13th January, 2019,