VIVEKANANDA INSTITUTE OF ALGAL TECHNOLOGY (VIAT)

The Vivekananda Institute of Algal Technolgy (VIAT) was inaugurated by Swami Satyapriyananda, Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Mylapore, Chennai, in April 2006. Dr. V. Sivasubramanian (Dr. VSS) of the Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology is the Director of the Institute and Dr. V. V. Subramanian (Dr. VVS), Head of the Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology and the Principal of the College, is the Joint Director of VIAT.

Dr. VSS has been actively involved in algal research in the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College from 1988. He has produced three Ph.D.s and 15 M.Phil. scholars. At present he is guiding 6 Ph.D. candidates and 2 M.Phil. students. He has published 24 research articles in reputed scientific journals and organized many symposia and workshops in the field of algology in the college.

Dr. VSS is the Founder Secretary of Limnological Society of India. He involved himself and his team in treating the effluents from various industries including Orchid Pharmaceuticals, Chennai, SNAP Natural and Alginate Products, Ranipet, Ultramarine Pigments Ltd., Ranipet, STAHL India Ltd., Ranipet, using phycoremediation. Based on the success of this new technology, many industries such as the Wheels India, for instance, are seeking solutions for effective effluent treatment through phycoremediation.

Dr. VSS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chennai based Indo-Japan joint venture company M/s Nichi-In Biosciences (P) Ltd., for a multifaceted research project with emphasis on microbial biotechnology and environment safety to (i) develop technology for environment friendly plastic materials, (ii) find ways to safely dispose the plastic materials using microbes, and (iii) develop and validate polymers useful for water conservation in agriculture and horticulture. This project is being technically supported by and represented by Japanese institutes like Waseda University, Yamanashi Medical University and Mebiol Inc, whose Indian operation is headed by Dr. Samuel J. K. Abraham, a cardiac surgeon. Prof. Mori Yuichi of Waseda University, Japan, Dr. Yoshioka Hiroshi of Mebiol Inc., the scientists participating in this collaboration developed various polymers for water conservation and microbial degradable plastic materials would provide the technological support.

On 7^th March 2006, Dr. N. Thajuddin, Reader, National Facility for Cyanobacteria, Bharathidasan University, gave a talk on “DNA Finger Printing” and inaugurated the PCR machine donated to the institution.

The Algal Technology unit organized a National Symposium on “Algae and Environment” in collaboration with Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology during September 2005.

On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, the institute in collaboration with the Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology will hold a National Symposium on “Algal Biodiversity and Its Role in Bioremediation” during 23-25^th September 2006.

Dr. VVS will be retiring on 31 May 2007. Even after retirement, Dr. VVS will continue to work for the Institute. Dr. VSS also has resolved to work as the Director of the Institute after retirement.