Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE) was started in 1995 for the purpose of interdisciplinary research in a of Physics, Chemistry and Zoology, with energy and environment as its focus and local relevance, its target. Six like-minded Professors from these three departments joined together under the leadership of Dr. Francis P. Xavier, S.J. and began functioning in a small laboratory in the Life Science Building.
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Over the last six years, LIFE has made great strides exemplified by a large number of research publications both in national and international journals, five symposia and publishing of their proceedings, awards for excellence to staff and students, obtainment of projects from funding agencies, and submission of M.Phil. and Ph.D. work. A number of our students are getting scholarships, fellowships and awards for their distinguished contributions. Our successful collaborative work with Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam has paved the way for Loyola Society to establish an MOU with IGCAR in March 2000.
PRESENT STATUS:
Currently LIFE has 8 staff members (three of them, Jesuits), 20 Ph.D. and M.Phil. students, and 10 M.Sc. students, involved in project work. The staff have procured several research projects and are attempting to add more equipment periodically. LIFE has taken the responsibility of publishing the Science Quarterly ‘CONVERGENCE’ as a Madurai Jesuit Province Higher Education initiative. It also has ambitious plans to invite specialists who will spend time interacting with scholars and also present seminars.
LIFE is possibly the only academic institution purposely devoted to interdisciplinary research including bio-ethics, in India. It provides and nurtures a beautiful platform for Jesuit-lay people collaboration. Besides working as a team among themselves, Jesuits are in a collaborative effort with lay colleagues. Thus team work is emphasized and promoted at all levels.
A notable flaw in our college education, pointed out by many scholars, is the severe compartmentalisation of most areas of knowledge. With frontiers in science and engineering breaking, our students need to be exposed to barrierless education. We hope this new emphasis of higher education will take Loyola College to the frontiers of quality and relevant education in our times. Since the Staff of LIFE are regular faculty of Loyola, students from M.Sc. and even B.Sc. will be exposed to the infrastructure of LIFE such as modern instrumentation, a good library, seminars from experts, etc. LIFE is also conducting extension services for neighbouring school children in the field of science specially on environmental science. It is also proposed to have the centralized instrumentation centre which will operate in LIFE building and be utilized by the entire research community of Loyola College. Science camps will be organised on a regular basis and a separate lab for this purpose is included in the building plan.
The basic objective of LIFE is trans-border interdisciplinary research with a balance between the pure and applied, but with a definite orientation to benefit the people. The thrust areas broadly cover:
- Environment
- Energy
- Material Science
- Bio-ethics
- Education and awareness for the masses
The following are the areas of interest for LIFE research team, to get involved in collaborative research:
- Effect of Natural and synthetic pesticides such as carbamates and neem on animal biology with a view to recommend friendly chemicals as plant nutrients.
- Bio-ethics in relation to environment and biotechnology for sustainable development.
- Biological studies on anti-cancer drugs and developing modulatory supplements to reduce side effects.
- Quantitative studies on the effect of tannery and distillery wastes on aquatic animals, and the required remedial measures.
- Biodiversity of flora and fauna in specific areas, identifying endangered species and methods to preserve the sanctity of natural biodiversity.
- Biochemistry of animal proteins with particular reference to immune efficiency.
- Pollution toxicity.
- Synthesis, characterization and application studies on doped organic semiconductors for solar energy conversion and electronic devices.
- Novel heteronuclear molybdenum and tungsten complexes as active material for photogalvanic cells for solar devices. Also potential catalysts for chemical synthesis of industrial compounds with less energy.
- Metal molybdates and tungstates for possible application in superconductors and sensors for domestic and industrial gases and vapors.
- Chromium chemical vapour deposition for specific application in nuclear power plants
- Solar energy conversion using organic photoconductors.
- Fabrication of organic semiconductor devices such as organic transistors, OLEDs etc.
All the projects involve knowledge of chemical, physical and biological sciences and fit the main emphasis of interdisciplinary research.
LIFE has so far published more than 100 papers in both national and international scientific journals. It has organized the following conferences since it’s inception in 1995.
- Conducting Polymers (1996)
- Energy Crisis and Environment (1997)
- Materials for Energy Conversion (1998)
- Environment and Bio-ethics (1999)
- Seminar on Sensors (2000)
- Environment, Bio-diversity, Biotechnology: Current Trends and Future Directions
(2001)
- Conservation of coastal ecosystem with the help of biotechnological tools (2003)
- Training cum workshop for non-Biology college teachers on Environmental Science
(2004)
The Proceedings of all the above have been published in the form of a monograph and in the scientific journal.
RESEARCH JOURNAL"CONVERGENCE":"CONVERGENCE" an interdisciplinary quarterly journal, devoted to original research and scholarly reviews covering physical and life sciences, is published by LIFE since 1999.
For further information kindly contact:
Dr Selvanayagam M.Sc., Ph.D.
Director
Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE)
Loyola College
Chennai-600 034
INDIA
Tel: +91-44-2817 8332
Fax: +91-44-2817 5566
Email: drmssel@yahoo.co.in |
