Research Colloquium

The R&D Cell of Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla conducted a Research Colloquium on 22 November 2025. Dr. Thomas Mathew, former Head of the Department of Chemistry, Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, inaugurated the programme. Dr. Jayakrishnan R, Head and Professor, Department of Physics, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, delivered an expert talk on the topic “Is Research a Career?”

The programme began at 10:30 a.m. with a silent prayer. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Ajesh K. Zachariah, Coordinator of the programme and the R&D Cell. In the inaugural address, Dr. Thomas Mathew emphasized the importance of research in academic fields and how it should be integrated with fundamental knowledge. Dr. Reenamole G., Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, offered the felicitation, and Ms. Devika Sathish delivered the concluding remarks for the inaugural session.

The main talk included a discussion on the significance of basic research in addressing application-oriented problems. Research scholars and research guides actively participated in the discussion. Dr. Noble P. Abraham, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, chaired the main session, and Ms. Ansu Anna Zachariah introduced the speaker.

Following the main talk, a poster presentation competition was conducted for research scholars of Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, on the theme “Challenges in Academic Publishing.” The winners were:

First Prize: Indu Reena Varghese (Department of Physics; Supervisor: Dr. Angel Susan Cherian)
Second Prize: Sivaprabha V. Nair (Department of Botany; Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nisha T. Raj)
Third Prize: Anuja Vijayan (Department of Physics; Supervisor: Dr. Suresh M. K.)

The first prize carried a cash award of ₹3000 and a certificate of appreciation, the second prize ₹2000 and a certificate of appreciation, and the third prize ₹1000 and a certificate of appreciation.

The judges for the poster presentation competition were Dr. Shilly Elizabeth David, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, and Dr. Liji Samuel, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla. The final results were determined based on both peer evaluation and judges’ scores.

The event concluded with an open forum moderated by Dr. Ajesh K. Zachariah. During the session, research scholars and guides introduced themselves and shared their research experiences at Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla. The programme concluded at 1:30 p.m.