The School of Biosciences and the School of Physical Sciences and Computational Sciences of Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women organised National Science Day 2026 at the Hi-Tech Seminar Hall on March 5. More than 300 students, faculty members and researchers participated in the celebration held under the theme “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat.”
K. Manimegalai, Dean of the School of Biosciences, delivered the welcome address. Vice Chancellor V. Bharathi Harishankar presided over the programme and emphasised the importance of encouraging women to pursue careers in scientific research and innovation.
G. Sasikala Ganapathy, Professor and Director in-charge of the Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, Chennai, delivered the Science Day address on “Women in Science: Structural Barriers in STEM.” She highlighted the challenges faced by women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and stressed the need for inclusive policies and institutional support to improve their participation in research.
Greetings were delivered by H. Indu, Registrar in-charge. Competitions such as infography, science spell bee, innovative ideas to product, quiz, mime and dissemination of scientific knowledge to society through folk art were organised for students based on the theme.
Students also exhibited 11 innovative projects including a solar-powered smart drip vertical garden, bio-based detergent using citrus peels, herbal mosquito repellent candle, smart grain storage system, natural eye care gummy, enzyme-activated microbiome face mask, fermented probiotic beverage, onion ZnNPs nano formulation for gut microplastics, Med Nexovant multi-drug authentication strip, fig-based skin product and Her Wellness AI Bot.
V. Radha, Dean of the School of Physical Sciences and Computational Sciences, proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was organised by the conveners Kalaiselvi Senthil, Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, and R. Nirmaladevi, Associate Professor of the same department.
