Page 12 - Updated Spectrum-volume-14-issue-5

12 2021 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 5
12 2020 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 5
SRMIST-KTR Student Why are Seed Banks Essential?

Bags IET Prize 2020 TYRA MINNAL VINAY

Note: Before the writing of
NANDINI NIGAM notable prowess in the fields this article began, a small verbal
SHRUTI RAMESH of science and technology. survey was conducted, to find
Santhosh has also won various out the number of people aware
Santhosh Venkateswaran other awards in the years 2017, of a seed bank. About 85 percent
S, a final year student from 2018 and 2019 for his incredible seemed to not know what it was
the Department of Software achievements in the local Chennai and the other 15 percentage
Engineering, recently made chapter of IET. “I am extremely knew of it, but weren’t exactly
SRM Institute of Science grateful to my department for sure what it was.
and Technology proud by nominating me. This award is
being awarded the Institute of a milestone in my career and So, let’s dive right in. A seed
Engineering and Technology Prize a great recognition for my bank stores seeds to preserve
2020 for showing outstanding inputs.”, he claims. Santosh genetic diversity. But why
performance and distinction in also says that his mantra to preserve it? The answer is
his field. He was honored with achieve success is to do what climate change, habitat loss,
a certificate that was provided he loves and to love what he pests, diseases, pollution, and Community seed bank in a village- Thalli, Tamil Nadu.
virtually, as well as two years of does. This idea pushed him to the “off” chance that there is
free IET student membership. The give his hundred per cent, and a nuclear war and the world hurricanes, earthquakes and To build a seed bank, seeds
IET Prize is awarded annually he believes that his teachers, goes into a nuclear winter, or flooding can lead to huge losses are first collected by researchers,
to selected student members peers, parents and the institution an apocalypse begins. Rare, of plant life quickly. Seed banks cleaned and sent off to check for
in order to acknowledge their plaed a huge role in reaching wild, regional specific plants help in faster recovery from genetic quality, dried of all their
academic accomplishments and this milestone. are vulnerable to extinction an environmental or natural moisture content, stored in air-
and their loss over time leads disaster. tight containers in a temperature
to genetic erosion of our food There is also the fact that the and humidity-controlled room,
Introduction to Complex Pain system. That means we lose the current available seeds in the and finally frozen to about
genetic diversity of a variety of
crops, which leads to difficulty market generally are hybrids minus 20 degrees Celsius. This
is done at major seed banks,
and do not breed. Some of them
SRISHTI C Prof. T.S.Veeragoudhaman, in adapting to climate change don’t even produce seeds and but everyone can have their
B.SHANE PRANOY Organizing Chairman & Dean or new pests. hence, the need arises to save own seed bank. All you need
In-charge, SRM College of
Though classes are being Physiotherapy, SRMIST. Additionally, common man- open-pollinated, true breeding is a small space in your freezer
held online for most of the made and natural disasters varieties in order to have more and some research on the seeds
pandemic, the need to gain The much-awaited special such as oil spills, wild fires, seed-supply resilience. to store in your bank!
practical knowledge cannot be address was given by Dr. A.
avoided. This was identified Sundaram, Dean Medical,
by the prestigious SRM SRM MCH & RC, SRMIST. Stray-Human
College of Physiotherapy, Soon after, the interns got to
and consequentially the One- witness the crux of the event,
day seminar on “Introduction with an introduction by Mrs.
M Anbupriya, followed by Mr.
to Complex Pain” was held in Venkatakannan Pakirisamy, conflict in COVID-19
the physical-mode, with well-
spaced seating arrangements in Programme Manager of the
the Hippocrates Auditorium on Physical Rehabilitation Project RUDRA PRATAP SINGH While state governments too sceptical. In a situation like this,
22nd January 2021.The event at the International Committee As the year passed by, mankind were responsible for this panic irrational fears occur naturally
was a success, with a footfall of of the Red Cross, who kept the experienced a lot of ups and created, the animal welfare but proper communication and
around 77 interns. Undoubtedly, session constantly engaging for downs, with an unprecedented board of India (AWBI) issued compassion are in need. From
the event couldn’t have been everyone present. pandemic added to the mix. The an advisory which explaining feeding the starving animals in
a triumphant one without the The event was organized Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) animals cannot get or spread our locality to providing support
ineffable organizer Mrs. M. with the motive of making disrupted every aspect of our lives, this disease because it is not and funds to the shelters and
Anbupriya, Assistant Professor, it an interactive session for and it did not spare anyone, not one of the other strains of the volunteers, every little help
MPT (Obs, Gyn), LCCE. The Physiotherapy internship even the strays, be it dogs, cats, corona, it is a novel virus. At will go a long way in bringing
event started at 9:30 AM with students. The main event or any other animal considers present, the situation of these back order and happiness in the
an ice-breaker activity. The dealt and discussed with the homeless animals has started lives of these animals and will
event was inaugurated in the labyrinthine topics of Chronic the street to be its home. improving due to the decrease in help resolve this stray-Human
august presence of Dr. Lt. and Complex Pain, along with The suffering of these animals such cases, but people are still conflict.
Col. A. Ravikumar, Pro Vice its types, strategies for coping did not come from a single
Chancellor (Medical and Health with pain, with which any source, As India announced its
Sciences, SRMIST), along qualified physiotherapist should one-month lockdown last year
with a welcome speech by be well-versed! in March, and the importance
of social distancing to curb the
spread of COVID was realized.
Markets and restaurants were
closed, taking with it the food
supply of strays. The above-
mentioned reason also prevented
these ostracized animals from
getting the necessary veterinary
care. Another cause was the
misinformation about the spread
of COVID from the strays and
pets which led to healthy animals
Felicitating the Pro Vice Chancellor and the Dean Medical being ill-treated and harassed. Strays stranded along a deserted street