With the aim of fostering scientific inquiry and analytical thinking among young students, the National Seminar on Recent Advances in Bioscience (RAB 24) was organized on 27th November 2024. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Nisha M, Senior Scientist at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Research Centre, Kannur, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion. Dr. Nisha M addressed the audience on the topic “Biotechnological Interventions in Indian Agriculture and Future Prospects”, shedding light on the significant applications of biotechnology in the agricultural sector and its promising future. The seminar comprised two engaging sessions. Session I featured an insightful presentation by Dr. Dileep Vijayan, Scientist at the Lab for Structural and Computational Biology, Jubilee Mission Medical College, Thrissur. He discussed “Accelerating Drug Development for Alzheimer’s Disease through Computational Design”, offering a deep dive into the cutting-edge advancements in Alzheimer's treatment. Session II was presented by Dr. Dalia Purushothaman, Scientist at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Government Medical College, Kannur. She spoke on “Understanding Nipah Virus: A Growing Concern for Public Health Systems Worldwide”, highlighting the global health challenges posed by the Nipah virus and its implications for public health systems. In addition to the sessions, a Poster Presentation Competition was held, offering attendees a platform to showcase their research findings. Malini Bhattacharyya, Research Scholar from the Department of Plant Science at the Central University of Kerala, won the first prize for her poster titled “Distinct Biochemical Responses of Dominant Mangrove Species Rhizophora mucronata Lam. to High Salinity, Enhancing its Resilience in the Tidal Environment.” Nivetha L, Research Scholar from the School of Chemical and Biotechnology at SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, secured the second prize for her poster titled “Screening of Endophytic Fungi for PGRs from the Medicinal Plant Thevetia nerifolia.” The seminar was a successful platform for knowledge exchange, enriching the attendees with the latest scientific developments in the field of bioscience.
