Creation and sustenance of research culture requires a well-planned strategy, careful execution and patience in dealing with human and physical resources until a threshold level is reached. Once the motivation for research among the individuals crosses threshold, it becomes viral and the academic institutions turn into research hubs that incubate novel ideas which can aid in the economic growth of nations. Keeping this as a long term goal, the administrators and planners at the department of applied science are consistently working to cross the barriers, overcome the limitations in converting the department of applied sciences into a major research center.

In a recent attempt to show case the existing research facilities at the department of applied sciences and to motivate the researchers at the department, the departmental administration encouraged the faculty and students to present their research work at an international conference entitled “Green and Sustainable Chemistry 2017” conducted at the Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman from 13th-15th, November 2017. Dr. Syed Najmul Hejaz Azmi, Dr. Patil Pandurang N, Dr. Masood Ahmad, Dr.Elham Fahmideh-Rad and Dr. Amal Salim Al Rahbi, the faculty members from the Applied Chemistry section of Applied Sciences Department attended this conference held under the auspices of HE Dr. Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries with a welcome message by Dr. Haider Al Lawati, Chair of Organizing Committee. The conference provided plenary lectures by internationally renowned speakers, poster
presentations, and a full session dedicated to presentations by graduate students and young researchers in the following thrust areas.

• Green chemical processes
• Sustainable catalysis
• Alternative energy
• Green synthesis
• Wastewater treatment
• Utilization of waste
• Lignin chemistry, Air pollution
• Nano technology in water treatment
• Environmental remediation
• Microfluidic systems in environmental analysis
• Analysis of emerging pollutants

Under the research guidance of Dr. Dhana Lakshmi CP (who could not attend the conference due to teaching commitments) the students of the applied sciences department Ms. Fathma Suliman Ali Al-Kumzari and Ms. Tahani Ali Haji Al Najadi presented their project work as a poster entitled ‘Electrical and Optical properties of nano NickelOxide-Poly vinyl Pyrollidone composite and its Sensor application”

Dr. Syed Najmul Hejaz Azmi, a  National Research Awardee by TRC in the year 2015 and a research supervisor for a TRC funded FURAP research project (2016) from the Applied Chemistry Section has presented a poster on the research topic entitled “Kinetic spectrophotometric method for determination of nifedipine in pure form and in pharmaceutical preparations”

Dr. Patil Pandurang N (Standing right in the above picture) co-authored with Dr.Vellasamy Devadoss (Standing left in the above picture, who could not attend the conference due to teaching commitments) from the Applied Chemistry Section has presented a poster entitled “Cerium mediated electro synthesis, a green chemical process for substituted benzaldehydes”.

The faculty members Dr. Syed Najmul Hejaz Azmi, Dr. Patil Pandurang N, Dr. Masood Ahmad, Dr.Elham Fahmideh-Rad, Dr.Vellasamy Devadoss, Dr. Dhana Lakshmi CP and Dr. Amal Salim Al Rahbi and the students Ms. Fathma Suliman Ali Al-Kumzari and Ms. Tahani Ali Haji Al Najadi expressed their profound thanks to the College Dean, Dr. KHALID ABDULAZIZ AMBUSAIDI, Head of the Applied Sciences Department, Dr. Mohammed Ali Oueslati and Hos of Applied Chemistry Section, Dr.Wafa Mustafa Al Lawati for their continuous support and facilities. Both the faculty members and students also thanked the other faculty members and technical staff for their help at various stages of these presentations.

This activity was encouraged by Department of Applied Sciences in order to meet the partial requirements of Goal-6 of the strategic plan (Support staff participation in research-oriented events, such as conferences and workshops).

BASIC INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Dr. Syed Najmul Hejaz Azmi

ENHANCED & EDITED BY:
Dr. C. Rama Chandra Prabhu

PHOTOS CREDIT:
Dr. Syed Najmul Hejaz Azmi, Dr. Masood Ahmad and Dr. Patil Pandurang N