THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION: INSIGHTS FROM DR. BHAVNA AMBUDKAR
Background: Dr. Bhavna, an experienced leader in education and innovation, has held various leadership positions, including head of department, dean of alumni relations, and president of the institutions innovation council. She has been instrumental in initiating the alumni cell at her previous organization and establishing world-class state-of-the-art laboratories in collaboration with the automotive sector. Aims: Dr. Bhavna's efforts aim to create an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship within the institute and beyond, encouraging learners to consider entrepreneurship as a career option and fostering innovation in the electronics manufacturing domain. Methods: Dr. Bhavna's approach involves raising awareness about innovation and entrepreneurship among learners, fostering collaborations between academia and industry, and establishing world-class state-of-the-art laboratories to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Results: Dr. Bhavna's efforts have resulted in a strong alumni network, with graduates across the globe contributing to various domains and positions. She has also established world-class laboratories in collaboration with the automotive sector, fostering innovation and startups in the electronics manufacturing domain. Discussions: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology plays a significant role in initiating innovations and startups in the electronics manufacturing domain. They have generated a separate vertical for startups, which poses challenges to innovators. If a solution is validated, the ministry handholds the innovators, incubates their ideas, funds them, and helps them reach the market at the national and international levels. Conclusions: Dr. Bhavna's vision and efforts toward fostering an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship within the institute and beyond are commendable. Her experience and achievements in various leadership roles, including as the head of the department and president of the institutions innovation council, have added significant value to her professional and personal life.
Read ArticleSLOW PYROLYSIS OF RICE STRAW: ANALYSIS OF BIOCHAR, BIO-OIL AND GAS
Biomass is the term attributed to any renewable resource derived from organic matter that can be used in energy production. Agricultural production generates residues that are of great importance for their energy use, of which sugar cane, eucalyptus, and rice. Various residues are generated from rice cultivation, among which the rice husk and rice straw are the most important. Several thermal conversion technologies have been developed for the use of biomass in industry. Pyrolysis has been notable for its ability to produce biofuels at different stages of aggregation. The slow pyrolysis of biomass has been proposed as a pretreatment method to improve the physical-chemical characteristics of rice straw. In this process is produced, mainly, a solid called biochar, which has a higher energy content when compared to the biomass of origin. This study investigated the slow pyrolysis of rice straw at 300 - 700°C for the purpose of obtaining biochar, bio-oil, and gases for energy purposes. The experimental results show that pyrolysis temperature has important roles in yield product. The highest biochar yield was observed at a temperature of 300°C with 49.91 wt%. This represents 47% more when compared to yield at 700°C (33.87 wt.%). This behavior is linked to the proximate analysis results for fixed carbon 26.01 wt.% at 300°C. The high pH of the biochar was attributed to the presence of alkali metals, according to XRF. Thermal decomposition of the biomass resulting in a gradual increase of bio-oil (16.81 - 34.70 wt.%) and gas (6.53 - 18.05 wt.%) on a wet basis. Thus, in the dry base parameter, the bio-oil increases from 19.22 - 30.6 wt.% and the gases at 9.42-20.19 wt.%. Drying of the raw material showed, by the results, a significant increase in the co-products.
Read ArticleSURVEY ON KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND GONORRHEA: DO WE KNOW ENOUGH?
Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) constitute an important group of infections with serious implications for public health. According to WHO, 1 million new contagions are produced daily, with more than 370 million new cases yearly. STIs can be originated from viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Regardless of their nature, they can be either cured or treated and controlled, but more importantly, they are preventable. Aims: The best tool to fight against STIs is prevention, which has a strong dependence on knowledge. This work aimed to assess the level of knowledge of society about STIs and gonorrhea. Methods: We conducted an online survey, covering a wide range of ages and levels of education, inquiring about areas such as origin, ways of contagion, prevention, associated diseases, and treatment of STIs and gonorrhea. We performed a statistical analysis of the answers. Results and Discussion: it was found that the general level of knowledge about STIs was independent of the age and level of education of the respondents. The respondent has shown better familiarity with prevention and contagion than with origin, diseases, and treatment. When the question was focused on gonorrhea, we found a lack in the cognizance of several points. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we conclude it is necessary to improve sexual education programs, starting at early ages but directed to all populations, particularly about gonorrhea.
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