CSIR foundation day observed

KOCHI: The 69th Foundation Day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was held at the National Institute of Oceanography on Monday.At least 100 students from various schools in  Kochi attended the programme. “The aim the programme was to create avenues for people to witness and study the current scientific activities in the field of oceanography,” said scientist-in-charge P S Parameswaran.Another aim was to create an awareness among the children about the various opportunities in the multidisciplinary field of oceanography.Students were introduced to the biotechnology labs and shown the latest technologies being used in the institute.“One of the latest instruments used here is the Fluid Imaging Technologies, an instrument which enables the identification of the plankton present in the water. It is unique in its feature as it contains a microscope, fluorescent tester and a particle size identifier,” scientist R Jyothibabu said.Also, the students were shown around the other labs and were given the opportunity to use the facilities within the lab Species of the zoo plankton and phyto plankton collected from across the backwaters were showcased. A documentary on the different activities at the National Institute of Oceanography was also screened.The National Institute of Oceanography, a constituent laboratory of the CSIR, carries out research in the field of physical, chemical, geological, biological and marine oceanography.As part of the foundation day, all CSIR institutes across the country were kept open for the public on Monday.