SHAIJU: SHAIJU

Cochin university of Science and Technology
Department of Chemical Oceanography
Although earnest research efforts in chemical oceanography had commenced around 1976, it was in 1983 that the erstwhile Department of Marine Sciences was reorganized, in accordance with the guidelines of the University Grants commission, into a School of Marine Sciences with Chemical Oceanography as one of the four constituent, but academically and administratively independent, Divisions. This Division was subsequently converted into a full-fledged Department in 1996.
The Chemical Oceanography Department has pioneered studies in many an area of vital, national/international significance. The concept of "Mussel Watch" was introduced as early as 1977 almost simultaneously when it was launched in the western world. It was this pioneering study which paved the way for the use of marine organisms in pollution monitoring studies all over India. "Mud banks" are mysterious sea water phenomena exclusive to the Kerala coast. It heralds the onset of shoals of fish in specified regions on the coastline and is the very mysteries of this unique occurrence. The contribution of this Department in areas of nutrient chemistry, phase exchange studies on aquatic pollutants, biogeoorganics, etc have made invaluable inputs into the national data base.
The faculty of the Department have won international academic recognition in the form of the prestigious Alexandar von Humboldt Fellowship and commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship. All the members of the faculty periodically present the results of their investigations at International Conferences/Symposia. The academic output of the Department during 1984-85 includes around 20 PH.D.s about 75 scientific publications in refereed International journals, and about 45 national/international Seminar presentations.
Job profile of the Alumni: Teaching - 36%, Research - 51% abroad - 7% Others-6%.
Sophisticated Instrumental facilities available for analytical investigations include UV/VIS and IR Spectrophotometers, Atomic absorption Spectrophotometer, AAS-Mercury Hydride System, Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, Gas Chromatograph, CHN-Analyzer, Polarographic equipment etc. The current areas of research are centered around phase exchange studies on various aquatic pollutants(metals, trace organics, pesticides, organometallic compounds etc) analytical studies on humic/fulvic acids, petroleum/polyaromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs, TBTO and other marine organics, dynamics of selected major ions, chemical speciation studies nutrient interaction in estuarine systems, studies on molluscan shells, optical properties of sea water, biogeoorganics in the aquatic environment, marine natural products etc.
The AICTE, New Delhi has sanctioned an amount of Rs.10 lakhs to the Chemical Oceanography Department for modernization of its laboratories (period of implementation: 1995-1997). The Department is also involved in the interdisciplinary research projects of the School of Marine Sciences such as DRS. DSA, (UGC) and is awaiting clearance for a carrying capacity study for Cochin to be funded by the Ministry of Environment and forests, Government of India.

MASTER'S PROGRAMME
In keeping with the global emphasis on sustainable development and recognising the consequent need for effective management of the coastal zone, the Department is introducing a new postgraduate programme-M.Sc.(Hydrochemistry)-in the academic year 1996-97, in addition to the ongoing M.Phil. (Chemical Oceanography) programme. This course envisages to afford the students a sound theoretical basis of the various chemical processes and interactions that govern the hydrosphere and excellent, unparalleled, opportunities for hands on training on several sophisticated analytical instruments, not to mention other routine techniques of analysis.A singular, distinctive feature of the course is its judicious mix of interdisciplinary subjects aimed at providing the students with a much-needed, holistic appreciation of the biogeochemical factors that regulate the aquatic system and of the end for sustainable development of our coastal zone, besides, the course, structure, has been carefully evolved so as to cover almost entirely the syllabus prescribed for CSIR-JRF/lectureship (NET) examination in Chemistry.
The M.Sc. Hydrochemistry degree course is the first of its kind in the country and it is the hope that successful students would acquire specialized analytical dexterity, that is the very life-line of highly precise and accurate trace/ultra-trace analysis of the aquatic environment and, thus, imbibe scientific acumen that would enable them to find gainful placement in such diverse and highly potential fields as water analysis, pollution monitoring and control, environmental impact assessment, aquaculture and aquatic resource management, coastal zone management etc.