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An expert finger in every pie
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M Ushamani is a science person who has art in her heart
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M Ushamani
AN AWARD winning scientist, a Mohiniyattam dancer and a kho-kho specialist. Sounds funny? But then, that is M Ushamani. Wait, there's more: She is a student of chemistry. Yet she has won most of her awards in Physics. For M. Ushamani, who holds a doctorate degree in polymer science from the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), the last year has been highly satisfying in terms of academic achievements.
She has always been an academically good student but the last year saw her win several awards including a National and State award. Her thesis on polymer-based hologram has won her the best thesis award in 2004 by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE).
"Most of the awards are in physics while my subject is chemistry. Probably that has been my plus point. This year, it was tough too because there was a presentation too in front of experts, all well-known physicists."
Awards
The INAE award, a prestigious one, includes a gold medal; citation and cash prize is given every year to students for innovative project at doctoral level in Engineering. She is only the second candidate from Kerala to win an INAE award.
Dr. Ushamani's project has been interdisciplinary work involving three departments of Physics, Chemistry and Polymer Science at CUSAT. "I had very good guides all of whom were very supportive in getting things done." The project on which she worked with her three guides, Dr. C. Sudha Kartha of the Physics Department, Dr. Rani Joseph of Polymer Science and Dr. K. Sreekumar of the Chemistry Department, was a project for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The work continues now with many students joining in this interdisciplinary work.
"I went for a paper presentation at a National Conference on Material Research Society in Hyderabad, following which we got a letter from the DRDO headquarters asking us to do the project."
She also won a State gold medal instituted by the Society of Polymer Science (Trivandrum Chapter) for the best thesis for 2005. This apart, Dr. Ushamani and her group won the best poster award during the National Laser Symposium - 2002 at Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala for their work on "A new methylene blue doped polymer blend for holographic applications."
For this winner of the State Government young scientist award a couple of years ago, all the academic activity started after almost a decade long break when she says all she and her husband wanted to do were teaching. They started a small tuition centre called Temple of Maths and Chemistry at their residence in Kakkanad.
Guest lecturer
"Once I took up a guest lecturer post at the CUSAT School of Engineering and my husband joined the M.G. University, I decided to do my Ph.D," she says. But Dr. Ushamani is not a stereotype academician with serious looks and never-mind-the-mundane attitude. She is what one would call an all-rounder. An active sportsperson, she is a kho-kho specialist. "I played till my degree at St. Teresa's. But when I joined for my PG at the Sacred Heart College, Thevara, all this took a back seat. One reason being that the boys dominated all events there and secondly we had to do a lot of studying."
Dancer
She is also a Mohiniyattam dancer and has won a fellowship from the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi. "It was a real enjoyable experience, staying at Thrissur for a month and getting to interact with the best and famous artistes," she reminisces.
After a series of awards came the job: A teacher at the very institution, St. Teresa's College, where she has spent a good number of years as a student.
* * *
Young Engineer Award
With a view to promoting the pursuit of excellence in the field of 'Engineering', the Academy instituted INAE Young Engineer Award in 1996. This is a very prestigious award of the Academy. The award is finalised by a committee of distinguished Fellows of INAE after a very rigorous national level scrutiny. The award consists of a citation, a gold medallion and Rs. 20,000 in cash.
August body
THE INDIAN National Academy of Engineering (INAE), established in 1987, is a `peer' body of some of the most distinguished engineers from India and abroad. The INAE encourages inventions, scientific investigations and research, and promotes their application for development of all sectors of the national economy.
Some of India's best-known engineers including Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr Arunachalam, Dr Indresan have been its president. Dr Kasturirangan heads the Academy now.
The two best projects in each of the major engineering disciplines will be evaluated for their innovative potential by an INAE Steering Committee comprising of experts from each major field of engineering. The Industry and R&D Establishments would be approached with the award winning projects for their further development for industrial application or conversion into industrial processes or products.
SUDHA NAMBUDIRI
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