KOCHI:
“New Scientific Technologies to Solve Environmental Problems are the need of the hour”, said Dr. K.N Madhusoodanan, Vice Chancellor, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
He was inaugurating the seminar on ‘Air Pollution and Health’ organized jointly by CUSAT School of Environmental Studies and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi in connection with World Environment Day celebration.
“Developed countries are highly advanced in dealing with nuclear and chemical waste as well as e-waste. Our tropical climatic conditions do not allow us to adopt the technologies suited for developed countries”, said the Vice Chancellor. “Hence there is a need for home-grown innovative technologies”, he added.
Dr. (Col.) Vishal Marwaha, Principal of Amrita School of Medicine and Head of Department of Rheumatogy, AIMS, emphasised the importance of small changes made in our personal lives to reduce air and other pollution. “It is more important how we respond to pollution by planting trees, reducing electricity consumption,etc”. He added that education teaches us to be responsible rather than respond to pollution.
“We have a choice between treating pollution and treating patients suffering from pollution. We must choose the former to prevent public health problems”, he added. Dr V Sivanandan Achari, Director, School of Environmental Studies, presided. Seminar Convenor M, Prof (Dr. ) K.S. Beena, Syndicate Member and Dean, Engineering, Prof. (Dr). K. Vijayakumar, Department of Community Medicine, AIMS and Prof (Dr.) G. Madhu, Head, Chemical Engineering Division, CUSAT, Dr. Anand M and Dr, Ratheesh Kumar C S spoke.
