On August 7, 2024, the Department of Physics and Chemistry at Pavai Arts and Science College for Women conducted a series of guest lectures for students of the science departments. The event commenced at 10:00 a.m. in Keerthi Hall with a prayer song.
B.R. Melvina from III B.Sc. Nutrition & Dietetics welcomed the gathering. Dr. N. Ezhili, Senior Principal of Pavai Arts and Science College for Women, delivered the presidential address. Following this, S. Logapriya from III B.Sc. Mathematics introduced the guest speakers from PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore.
The first session was led by Dr. D. Nalini, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Chemistry. Dr. Nalini delivered an insightful lecture on Career Opportunities for Science Students, where she explored various prospects available to students pursuing science degrees. She emphasized the importance of pursuing a master’s degree in science and highlighted opportunities for higher studies at institutions like IIT, IISc, NIT, IIESTS, and other universities.
Dr. Nalini also discussed job opportunities at research institutes such as CSIR Labs, IESER, TIFR, AcSIR-RMIT, and various central and state universities. She provided information on numerous fellowships available to master’s degree students and Ph.D. scholars, including:
- DAAD Fellowship, Germany
- Raman-Charpak Fellowship, France
- Short-Term Study Program in Japan
- Monash Academy Fellowship, IT, Mumbai
- JRF/SRF and Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF)
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship
- Fellowship from the Ministry of Science and Technology
She informed the students about different schemes available for their higher education, such as the CSIR Diamond Jubilee Research Interns Awards, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship, INSPIRE Scheme, and UGC NET/SET fellowships (JRF/SRF). Dr. Nalini motivated the students to prepare for future opportunities in both government and private sectors by pursuing exams like UGC-NET, SLET, GATE, and TRB. Her words left a significant impact, encouraging students to consider various career and academic paths.
The second session was conducted by Dr. M. Lavanya, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, who presented on Artificial Intelligence for Science. Dr. Lavanya gave an engaging introduction to AI, tracing its evolution from 1950 to 2022. She explained key AI components, including machine learning and deep learning, and discussed how AI is currently revolutionizing various scientific fields.
Dr. Lavanya elaborated on the role of AI in experimental design and optimization, data analysis and visualization, simulation and modeling, and scientific communication and collaboration. She also addressed ethical considerations such as algorithm bias, data privacy, and responsible deployment of AI.
She provided specific examples of AI applications, including personalized nutrition recommendations and meal planning in nutrition and dietetics, geohazard prediction and risk assessment in geology, noise reduction, and signal enhancement in physics, and the use of AI in accelerating imaging speeds and intelligent focus in scientific research.
Dr. Lavanya also discussed future trends and challenges in AI, particularly in areas such as advanced algorithms, big data, and hardware integration. She concluded her session by discussing recent research on surface plasmon sensors and their applications, including their role in detecting diseases like malaria and dengue.
The session concluded with feedback from the students. S. Sharmila from III B.Sc. Nutrition and Dietetics proposed a vote of thanks, and the event ended with the National Anthem.
