• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025February 28, 2026
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• Scientist

About me Arjun Prasad works at the intersection of science education, technology, and public policy. His primary research interest lies in implementation science, with a focus on understanding the methods and strategies employed by implementers and policymakers. His work aims to bridge the policy–practice gap by identifying systemic barriers and facilitating effective implementation of education policies through participatory and evidence-informed approaches. He is also interested in identifying research gaps in the education sector where targeted policy interventions are needed. Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes):   Academic Qualifications: PhD: (Subject/Broad Area, Title, year, Institution/University) On-going Education policy implementation (Subject/Broad area) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Post-graduation: (Subject, year, University) 2012 Molecular Biotechnology (Subject/Broad area) University of Bonn, Germany Graduation: (Subject, year, University) 2008 Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering (Subject/Broad area) University of Kerala Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Designation Organization Duration Senior Scientist Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 22 October 2024  Scientist Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 22 October 2019 – 22 October 2024 Junior Scientist Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 22 October 2014 – 22 October 2019 Scientific officer Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 11 July 2013 – 22 October 2014     Broad area Evidence-based education policy making & implementation Science education research Details of ongoing and completed project (if any) Involved in the co-ordination and scientific management of the following science and technology promotion programmes: Schemes/programme name Details Period of responsibility Sastraposhini in schools The scheme is envisioned to enhance science education in high schools of Kerala by setting up modern laboratories in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology to provide students with hands-on learning experiences. 2014 – 2020 Scheme for Promoting Young Talents in Science (SPYTiS) The scheme aims to nurture young talents in schools and colleges to carry out innovative science projects. 2014 – 2022 Student project The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in professional courses (Graduate and Post Graduate) and Science Post Graduate Courses in colleges and universities to carry out science and technology projects. In addition to the financial support from Govt. of Kerala, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India sanctioned an amount of Rs.1.85 croresto support the scheme. 2014 – 2020 National Science Day  celebrations The objectives involve organizing programmes at schools and colleges to popularize the importance of science. The scheme was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. 2014-2022 SastraSameeksha Aimed to spark an early interest in science among high school students, motivating them to pursue scientific learning and careers through interactive workshops and experimental sessions, the programmes are conducted in association with different S&T institutions in Kerala. 2014 – 2020 Crafting Young Scientists of Tomorrow (CRYSTAL) program The program is designed as a mentoring programme for school students to identify their areas of interest at an early age and nurture them through customized training programs. 2017 – 2022 Science Education Centre The scheme is envisioned to improve the quality of science education in Kerala by encouraging research in science education, capacity building of teachers & students through development of new pedagogical and learning approaches.  2017- 2022 Science Writing Fellowship/ Science Media Support The fellowship encourages science writing in Malayalam and aims to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and society by translating complex topics into accessible, engaging content for the public. 2014 – 2020 Partnering Academic Industrial Research (PAIR) scheme The scheme is aimed to strengthen industry-academia linkage and encourage translational research through joint research programmes. 2017-2022 Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Youth Challenge Programmme This is aimed to encourage the youth to develop ideas and solutions to address challenging problems of Kerala. 2021-2022 International Year of Crystallography (IYCr) 2014  celebrations   A series of programmes were organized for students, teachers and general public to promote awareness of crystallography and its applications.   2014 Celebration of International Year of Light- and Light-based Technologies 2015 The core objective of IYL 2015 was to promote awareness among the students, teachers and general public of the importance of light science and its applications in addressing global challenges.   2015 National Mathematics Day celebrations The programmes are organized in association with different educational institutions to commemorate the contributions of mathematical genius SrinivasaRamanujan and inspire a positive attitude toward learning mathematics among students. The scheme was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. 2018 – 2022         Best cited Publications Akanksha K, Prasad A, Sukumaran RK, Nampoothiri M, Pandey A, Rao SS, Parameswaran B. Dilute acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of sorghum biomass for sugar recovery–a statistical approach. Indian J Exp Biol. 2014 Nov;52(11):1082-9. PMID: 25434103 Käß, F., Prasad, A., Tillack, J., Moch, M., Giese, H., Büchs, J., Wiechert, W., &Oldiges, M. (2014). Rapid assessment of oxygen transfer impact for Corynebacteriumglutamicum. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 37, 2567-2577. DOI: 10.1007/s00449-014-1234-1 Mashood, K.K., Khosla, K., Prasad, A., V, S., Ch, M.A., Jose, C., &Chandrasekharan, S. (2022). Participatory approach to introduce computational modeling at the undergraduate level, extending existing curricula and practices: Augmenting derivations. Physical Review Physics Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.18.020136 URL of Googlescholar/researchgateetc https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BIcHk-AAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arjun-Prasad-8?ev=hdr_xprf https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2884-585X https://sites.google.com/view/arjunprasad/   Awarded Prof. Ramkumar scholarship to attend the Educational Data Mining conference held at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru from July 11-14, 2023 Advanced to the Phase II of 2023-24 Tools Competition in the Accelerating & Assessing Learning Track   Membership in Professional Bodies Member, EdTech Society Member, IUCN Commission on Education and Communication Member, International Association of Engineers (IAENG) Member, The Biotech Research Society(BRSI) Life Member, Kerala Academy of Sciences           Er. Arjun Prasad Senior Scientist Tel: +91-471-2548 218 Email: arjun.kscste@kerala.gov.in  

• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025February 28, 2026
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• Scientist

About me I am involved in the coordination and management of technology development initiatives of KSCSTE, spearheading the implementation of flagship schemes such as the Engineering and Technology Programme (ETP), the Technology Development and Adaptation Programme (TDAP) and the Rural Technology Programme (RTP) that aim to bridge innovation with societal needs. My responsibilities encompass fostering partnerships and networking with academic institutions, research organizations, and industries to promote collaborative development of technologies for the benefit of Kerala State as well as the society at large I am also actively involved in conceptualizing and establishing business incubation and innovation centres across the R&D centres of KSCSTE, with the objective of fostering a vibrant ecosystem for technology-based entrepreneurship. I co-ordinate the Technology Festival (TECHFEST), which is an annual event that provides a knowledge and experience sharing platform for engineering students through project contests and industry supported tech-fun events. I am also actively engaged in developing and strengthening Science & Technology Intervention, Incubation and Research for Raising StartUPs in Kerala (STIRRUP-Kerala), an innovative initiative designed to provide comprehensive technical support and mentorship to start-ups. This programme aims to bridge critical technology gaps, ensure the reliability and scalability of innovations, and thereby minimize start-up failures arising from inadequate or faulty technology.     Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): Engineering and Technology Programme (ETP) Technology Development and Adaptation Programme (TDAP) Rural Technology Programme (RTP) Science & Technology Intervention, Incubation and Research for Raising StartUPs in Kerala (STIRRUP-Kerala) Technology Festival (TECHFEST)   Academic Qualifications: PhD: (Subject/Broad Area, Title, year, Institution/University) Subject: Underwater Technology Title: Underwater Target Classifier with ImprovedSuccess Rate using Meta-optimal Support Vector machines Year: January 2019 Institution/ University: Faculty of Technology, Cochin University of Science &Technology Post- graduation: (Subject, year, University) Subject: VLSI & Embedded Systems Year: 2009 University: CochinUniversity of Science & Technology. Graduation: (Subject, year, University) Subject: Electronics and Communication Engineering, Year: 2007 University: University of Kerala. Professional Experience/ Academic Positions:     Designing underwater systems using machine learning and artificial intelligence Underwater acoustic pattern recognition and classification Ongoing/Completed Projects       Best cited Publications B. M. Sherin and M. H. Supriya, “SOS based selection and parameter optimization forunderwater target classification,” in OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, 2016, pp. 1–4. B. M. Sherin and M. H. Supriya, “WOA based Selection and Parameter optimization ofSVM Kernel Function for Underwater Target Classification,” Int. J. Adv. Res. Comput. Sci.,vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 223–226, 2017. B. M. Sherin and M. H. Supriya, “Parameter Selection and Optimization of an SVMbased underwater target classifier using Stochastic Fractal Search,” in 2017 InternationalSymposium on Ocean Electronics (SYMPOL), 2017, pp. 40–48. B. M. Sherin and Supriya M. H., “Selection and parameter optimization of SVM kernelfunction for underwater target classification,” in 2015 IEEE Underwater Technology (UT),2015, pp. 1–5.     Nil   Membership in Professional Bodies Member, Kerala Academy of Sciences     Smt. Akhila S Project Fellow Smt. Harisree U Project Assistant   Dr. Sherin B. M. Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 005 Email ID: sherin.kscste@gmail.com Phone (Office/Mob): 9633141501  

• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025March 24, 2026
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• Scientist

About me Dr. Sarika A R is a microbiologist and science administrator with over a decade of experience shaping Kerala’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and is the Scientist-in-Charge of the Kerala Biotechnology Commission (KBC), the state’s nodal agency for biotechnology promotion. She served as Project Coordinator for establishing the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), Kerala’s first dedicated virus research institute. At KBC, she leads biotechnology policy initiatives, research–industry collaborations, capacity-building programmes, and activities such as the Bioentrepreneurship Certification Programme. She is also the Nodal Officer for the DBT-funded Skill VigyanProgramme in Kerala. Dr. Sarika has authored several research publications in microbiology and applied biotechnology. Name of Schemes &programmes (including external funded Programmes): Biotechnology Development Programmes under Kerala Biotechnology Commission Biotechnology Research Support a. Young Investigator’s Programme in Biotechnology (YIPB) b. Kerala Biotechnology Re-entry Fellowship (K-BiREF)   Industrial Collaboration & Entrepreneurship Development a. Industry-linked Biotechnology Research Scheme (IBRS) b. Biotechnology Young Entrepreneur (BYE) Award Support for Rural Innovationsa. Biotechnology Innovations for Rural Development (BIRD) Capacity Building in Biotechnology a. Biotechnology Post-Doctoral Fellowship (BPDF) b. Biotechnology Training and Workshop (BTW) c. Biotechnology Education Programme   Academic Qualifications:   Ph.D. in Microbiology – Marine Biology Studies on Bacteriocin-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria, Optimization of Culture Conditions and Efficacy of Biopreservation 2012, ICAR-CMFRI /ManonmaniamSundaranar University Post- graduation: M.Sc. Microbiology, 2003, ManonmaniamSundaranar University Graduation: B.Sc. Microbiology, 2001, Periyar University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Principal Scientist (Scientist E2), Kerala Biotechnology Commission, 2023 – Present Senior Scientist (E1), Kerala Biotechnology Commission, 2019 – 2023 Scientist C, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment, 2016 – 2019 Scientist B, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment, 2013 – 2016 Lecturer in Biotechnology, University of Kerala, 2012-13 Lecturer in Microbiology, Govt. College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, 2006-07 Research Associate, Kerala Agricultural University, 2005   Broad Areas of Work Research: Microbiome & Marine Biotechnology – Studies on microbial diversity, fish gut microbiome, and discovery of bioactive compounds for applications in aquaculture and health. Programme Leadership: Biotechnology Translation & Capacity Building – Designing and implementing programmes to promote research–industry collaboration, entrepreneurship, and skill development in biotechnology. Institutional Development: Establishment & Strengthening of Science Infrastructure – Coordinating major initiatives such as the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) and Centres of Excellence in emerging areas. Details of Ongoing and Completed project: DBT Skill Vigyan State Partnership Programme in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (Funded by DBT – ongoing)     Sarika, A. R., Lipton, A. P., &Aishwarya, M. S. (2019). Biopreservative Efficacy of Bacteriocin GP1 of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GP1 on Stored Fish Fillets. Frontiers in Nutrition, 6:29.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2019.00029 Rajendran, P., Ramkumar, B., Sarika, A. R., Lipton, A. P., &Anbarasu, M. (2022). Abundance and diversity of sponge-associated bacteria in selected sponge species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India. 64(2): 74-79 Rachanamol, R. S., Lipton, A. P., Thankamani, V., Sarika, A. R., &Selvin, J. (2014). Protease production by Bacillus subtilis VCDA isolated from tropical marine sponge Callyspongiadiffusa.Helgoland Marine Research, 68: 263–269. Aishwarya, M. S., Lipton, A. P., &Sarika, A. R. (2018). Consortia of Specific Bacteria in Sinimol, S., Sarika, A. R., &Jayakumaran Nair, A. (2016). Diversity and Antagonistic Potential of Marine Microbes Collected from South-West Coast of India.  3 Biotech, 6:7. Sarika, A. R., A. P. Lipton, M. S. Aishwarya and R. S. Dhivya. 2012. Isolation of a Bacteriocin-Producing Lactococcuslactis and Application of Its Bacteriocin to manage Spoilage Bacteria in High-Value Marine Fish Under Different Storage Temperatures. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol.167(5): 1280-1289. Googlescholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=tsbmtXcAAAAJ Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarika-A-R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5864-8251 Loop:  https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/564037/   Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Doctoral Fellowship for pursuing Ph.D. (2009) Best poster award in Life Sciences, XVIII Kerala Science Congress held during 29-31 January, at CESS, Thiruvananthapuram (2006)       Membership in Professional Bodies General Secretary, Kerala Academy of Sciences Life Member, National Academy of Biological Sciences         Beena D Technical Officer, KBC Dr. Krupa Ann Mathew Consultant, DBT Skill Vigyan Kerala profile Drishya P. S Project Fellow, KBC Athira C. Nair Project Assistant     Dr. Sarika A. R. SasthraBhavan, Pattom P O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695004 Email ID: sarikaar.kscste@kerala.gov.in Phone (Office/Mob):   0471-2548254    / 9446589320    

• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025February 28, 2026
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• Scientist

About me Dr. P. Harinarayanan holds a Ph.D. in Geology and brings over 25 years of professional experience. Early in his career, he played an active role in disaster management efforts in Kerala, serving as a Research Officer at the Institute of Land and Disaster Management. He has also contributed to academia as adhoc faculty member at the National Institute of Technology and Government College, Kasaragod. Since December 2005, Dr. Harinarayanan has been an integral part of the scientific team at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). Over the years, he has been involved in the planning and implementation of several key schemes and programmes, including the Environment and Ecology Programme, Wetland Technical Unit and Environment Management Programme. Till 2020, he also provided technical support to the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority and contributed to state-level wetland conservation initiatives. Currently, he is leading several important initiatives under KSCSTE, such as the Green Kerala Initiative, Rural Innovators Meet, and the CREAM Programme. In addition, he coordinates various Central Sector Schemes including the SC & ST Cell, National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC), and the Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP) Hub.   Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): SC and ST Cell at KSCSTE – supported under SEED Programme of DST, Government of India Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme Hub (EIACP)., Supported by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. National Children’s Science Congress – Supported under NCSTC Programme of DST, Government of India Rural Innovators Meet (RIM) Green Kerala Initiative Climate Resilient and Ecologically Adapted Model Villages (CREAM Villages) Academic Qualifications: Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Mysore (2001), awarded for his research thesis titled “Geophysical, Geochemical and Hydrogeological Studies of Keralapura Watersheds, Cauvery Basin, Karnataka, India.” MSc Geology (1996) University of Calicut with 2nd rank BSc Geology (1994) – University of Calicut Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Lecturer in Geology, Civil Engineering Department, NIT Calicut July 2001-August 2002 Research Officer Institute of Land and Disaster Management, August 2002 to December 2005 Scientific Officer (Scientist B) – KSCSTE 2005-2008 Scientific Officer (Scientist C) – KSCSTE 2008-2011 Senior Scientist, KSCSTE -2011-2014 Principal Scientist, KSCSTE 2014-2019 Senior Principal Scientist 2019 – 2024. Chief Scientist since 2024. General Convenor 27th National Children’s Science Congress (2019) General Convenor 28th Kerala Science Congress (2016)   Groundwater Management Science and Technology for development of SC/ST development Wetland Conservation Details of ongoing and completed project  SC&ST Cell at KSCSTE- Supported by DST, Government of India – Ongoing.   “Remote Sensing Data for Groundwater Development and Management in Keralapura Watersheds of Cauvery Basin, Karnataka, India” – 2000, Indian Mineralogist Vol. 34, No. 2, pp 11-17. Water Quality in Twin Micro watersheds near Keralapura, Hassan District, Karnataka, India”, 2006, Journal. Geological Society of India, Vol. No.67 No.6 Books –   Chapters authored Pragrithidurathangal (Natural Disasters) -Published by Institute of Land Management 1st Edition 2005 and 2nd Edition 2006 State of Environment Report Vol. II – a chapter on Institutional Mechanism (Natural hazard), State of Environment Report Vol III – Corporate Environment Management Chapter on Paloeoclimate Change in the book titled  Kalavasthavyathiyanam (Climate Change) Coastal Zone Management – Environmental Encyclopedia 2012 Coastal zone management – Enactments in India – 2018 Enactments for Wetlands conservation -2018 Wetland conservation and Management Rules (Malayalam) –2019 Coastal Zone Management (Malayalam) – 2019 Books Edited State of Environment Report 2007- Vol. I  ISBN -81-863666-59-8 State of Environment Report 2007- Vol. II ISBN -81-863666-60-1 State of Environment Report 2007- Vol. III ISBN -81-863666-61-x State of Environment Report 2007 – Vol. IV ISBN -81-863666-62-8 Environmental Impact of Tsunami in the Kerala Coast ISBN -81-863666-58-x (Published in 2006) Kalavasthavyathiyanam (Climate Change) – ISBN 81-86366-65-2 State of Environment Report of Lakshadweep 2012 Co-Editor  – Compendium on Climate Change: Plantation Crops and spices of Kerala  brought out as part of 24th Kerala Science Congress. Member of working group for preparation of two books on Clean Water-Safe water  for Lower Primary and Upper Primary Schools under a project supported by UNICEF to CWRDM. State level CSC proceedings from 2012-2023 – 12 volumes Editorial Board Member – Environmental Monitoring Programme on water quality Reports 2009,2010,2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 URL of Googlescholar/researchgate etc https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zxl3G9UAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Periya-Harinarayanan?ev=hdr_xprf www.linkedin.com/in/periya-harinarayanan-681454242   Good Service Entry – Government of Kerala – 2015 II Rank M.Sc Geology, University of Calicut 1996 CSIR Fellowship.   Membership in Professional Bodies Fellow Geological Society of India (FGS Ind. LM No. 1318) Fellow Mineralogical Society of India (FMS) Life member Kerala Academy of Sciences. Vice President, Kerala Academy of Sciences.       Team SC&ST Cell (on contract)   Dr. Ibrahim Bathis. K Project Scientist Team EIACP (on contract) Dr. Sindhu C Unni Programme Officer Smt. Dhanya Surendran Information Officer Smt. Roshni Raj IT Officer Project Fellow (on contract) Smt. Mili Mohan Project Fellow Dr. P. Harinarayanan Chief Scientist KSCSTE Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom Palace P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695004 Email ID: hari.kscste@kerala.gov.in Phone (Office) : 0471-2548299  

• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025February 24, 2026
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• Scientist

About me Dr. Binuja Thomas has over 25 years multifaceted experience in research, teaching and S&T Management. She did M.Tech in Agricultural and Food Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur and Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from Kerala Agricultural University.  Her research expertise spans in the novel technologies for value addition in agro-processing sector, process optimisation of vacuum impregnation of fruits and vegetables, food safety and management system assessment, technology refinement, etc. She also holds PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) from Indira Gandhi National Open University. Dr. Binuja joined KSCSTE as Scientist B in 2005 and she has a proven track record having undertaken numerous S&T capacity building programmes and outreach activities for science popularisation. Currently, Dr. Binuja officiates as the Nodal Officer, IPR Information Centre -Kerala (IPRIC-K) and Co-ordinator of Patent Information Centre – Kerala. She also leads the activities of the Govt of Kerala project- Establishment of Science Parks in Kerala. She is also actively engaged in coordinating various Schemes & Programmes of KSCSTE namely Kerala Sasthra Puraskaram, KSCSTE-Best Scientist Award, Scheme for promoting Seminar/Symposia/Workshops (SSW) and another new initiative of KSCSTE- Institute of Advanced Crop Breeding (IACB). She has over 25 international and national publications to her credit and also serves in various State-level policy governance and expert committees.   Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): Patent Information Centre – Kerala (DST, Govt. of India funded Project) KSCSTE- Science Park Project (KIIFB funded Project) Intellectual Property Rights Information Centre – Kerala (IPRIC-K) Scheme for promoting Seminar/ Symposia/ Workshops (SSW) Kerala Sasthra Puraskaram KSCSTE- Best Scientist Award   Academic Qualifications: PhD in Agricultural Engineering (2021) from Kerala Agricultural University Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Agricultural and Food Engineering (2000) from I.I.T., Kharagpur (Rank- II) Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Agricultural Engineering (1998) from Kerala Agricultural University (Rank- I) Additional qualification: PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) from Indira Gandhi National Open University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: Twenty four years multifaceted experience in Research, Teaching and S&T Management Lecturer in Food Engineering, School of Health Sciences, University of Calicut (2001-2003) Lecturer in Dept. of Food Science & Technology, Mar Athanasios College for          Advanced Studies (MACFAST), Thiruvalla (2003-05) Scientist in KSCSTE (2005 onwards) – Scientist B (2005-2008) – Scientist C (2008-2011) – Scientist E1 (2011-2015) – Principal Scientist (2015-2022) – Senior Principal Scientist (2022 onwards) Nodal Officer, IPR Information Centre-Kerala (IPRIC-K)   Novel technologies for value addition in agro -processing sector Process optimisation of vacuum impregnation of fruits and vegetables Food safety and management system assessment & technology refinement Subject matter related to Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) Details of  completed project  Introduced Partnering Academic Industrial Research in the year 2016 Co-ordinated State wide activities of National Science Day Co-ordinate State wide activities of National Technology Day (2015-2017) Co-ordinated International Year of Pulses (2016) Co-ordinated Sasthrayanam Programme Regional Workshops on Science Popularisation Programme Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate-2022 funded by Vigyyan Prasar, Govt. of India     Malayalam article on IPR titled ‘Swantham Ennathu swanthamaakkan’, in the magazine ‘Kerala Karshakan’ (August 2008 edition), published by Farm Information Bureau of Agriculture Department. Co-author of the article on Protecting the Creations in the magazine Kerala Calling (October 2008 edition) published by Information & Public Relations Department, Govt. of Kerala. Thomas, B., Sudheer, K. P. and Bonny, B.P. 2021. Performance Analysis of Agrienterprises facilitated through KAU-Agri Business Incubators, Curr. J. of Appl. Sci. and Technol., 40(7): 30-40. Sudheer, K.P., Thomas, B., Unni, S.L.K. and Bonny, B.P. 2021. Agri Business Incubators in agripreneurial ecosystem development of Kerala. 14th Biennial Conference on Entrepreneurship, 25-27 February 2021, Ahmedabad.Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad Thomas, B. and Sudheer, K.P. 2021. Safety and quality of novel food processing techniques. In: Sudheer, K. P. and Lakshmanan, B. (eds), Safety and Quality Management in food Supply Chain: A Farm To Fork Approach. CRC Press, pp. 383 – 404. Sudheer, K.P., Thomas, B. and Lakshmanan, B. 2021. Relevance of safety and quality in food supply chain. In: Sudheer, K. P. and Lakshmanan, B. (eds), Safety and Quality Management in food Supply Chain: A Farm To Fork Approach. CRC Press, pp. 1-12. Thomas B., Ashwini T., Unni, S.L.K., Bonny, B.P. and   Sudheer K. P.  Role of Agri Business Incubation (ABI) ecosystem in the promotion of entrepreneurship development in Kerala. International Virtual Conference on “Transforming Agricultural Advisory Services to mitigate the effects of the pandemic for farmers welfare” (ICTAAS-2021), 12-13 November 2021, VIT School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning (VAIAL), Vellore. Thomas B., Sankalpa K. B. and Sudheer K. P. 2022. Vacuum Impregnation- Process Optimisation, 34th Kerala Science Congress, 10th – 12th February 2022, Thiruvananthapuram. Thomas, B., Sudheer, K. P., Saranya, S., Kothakota, A., Pandiselvam, R., & Joseph, M. 2022. Development of protein enriched cold extruded pasta products using hybrid dried processed mushroom powder and defatted flours: A study on nutraceutical, textural, colour and sensory attributes. LWT, 170, 113991. Thomas, B., Pulissery, S.K., Sankalpa, K.B., Lal, A.N., Warrier, A.S., Mahanti, N.K. and Kothakota, A., 2024. Optimization and modeling of vacuum impregnation of pineapple rings and comparison with osmotic dehydration. Journal of Food Science, 89(1), pp.494-512.     Best Paper Award (Scientist category) in 34th Kerala Science Congress (Agricultural & Food Sciences) held during 10th – 12th February 2022, Thiruvananthapuram First Rank holder in B. Tech (Agricultural Engineering) from KAU Consistent Recipient of KAU Merit Scholarship Qualified in GATE 1998 and Recipient of IIT Scholarship Second Rank holder in M. Tech (Agricultural and Food Engineering) Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET-2001) in Agricultural Structure and Process Engineering conducted by ASRB (ICAR) Letter of Appreciation from KSCSTE   Membership in Professional Bodies Full member of Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) Member of Institution of Engineers (Kerala) Full Member of Kerala Academy of Sciences     IPRIC-K Sri. Safikh S Technical Officer, IPRIC-K Mrs. Chaithanya P C Project Scientist I, PIC Kerala Mrs. Vidyasree P J Project Associate I, PIC Kerala   KSCSTE- Science Park Project Dr. V Suvekbala Manager, Science Park Project Er. Sanoop P Hassan C Assistant Manager (Infrastructure), Science Park

• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025February 24, 2026
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• Scientist

About me Dr. C. Anilkumar holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Kerala and has over 12 years of research experience in coastal ecology and seaweed taxonomy, during which he published 22 research papers and reported five new algal species of economic importance.In addition to his research career, Dr.Anilkumar has over 14 years of experience in science management, overseeing several flagship programmes and schemes of KSCSTE, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, and Kerala Biotechnology Commission. He has also coordinating student-centric initiatives such as SPYTiS, CRYSTAL, Science Education Centre, and Science Media Support programmes. Name of Schemes &programmes (including external funded Programmes): Scheme for Promoting Young Talents in Science (SPYTiS) Science Education Centre Science Media Support Crafting Young Scientists of Tomorrow (CRYSTAL) Student Project (DST, GoI sponsored project)   Academic Qualifications:  Ph.D. from University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram(1995) Post-doctoral fellow of CSIR, New Delhi (1995-1997) Certificate in Geoinformatics, Central Water And Power Research Station, Pune (2005) Certificate in Environment Management, IISc, Bangalore(2015) Certificate in Science Management, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (2017) Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: As a researcher, I have twelve years of experience in the study of the coastal ecology and environment of the seaweeds of India and I could publish Twenty-two research papers in the field of ecology and taxonomy of Seaweeds. Reported five new algal species of high economic value and a number of new Indian reports. Fourteen years experience in science management in various schemes and programmes of KSCSTE, Kerala State Biodiversity Board and Kerala Biotechnology Commission. Member Convenor of the 24th Kerala Science Congress (2012)     Ongoing/Completed Projects       Anil Kumar.C. and M.V.N. Panikkar, 1993. A new species of MyriogrammeKylin (Delesserales, Rhodophyta) from Kerala. Seaweed. Res. Utiln. 16 (1&2) :199-203. Anil Kumar.C. and M.V.N. Panikkar. 1995. The species of ProphyraC.A.Agardh from Kerala. Seaweed. Res. Utiln. 17:151-160. Anil Kumar. C and M.V.N. Panikkar 1997. Indian Species of Porphyra (Rhodophyceae, Bangiales). FeddesRepertorium. 108, 5-6, 419-423. Berlin, Germany. C, 2003. Observations on the species of Ceramium (Cermiales – Rhodophyta) from Kerala. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 45 (1-4) : 173-178. Anilkumar C & P. S. N. Rao, 2005. A new species of Porphyra (Rhodophyta, Bangiales) from the Malvan coast of Maharashtra, India. FeddesRepertorium Volume 116, Issue 3-4 : 222-225. Berlin, Germany.     UGC (JRF & SRF) PDF ( CSIR ) National award for the best paper presented on the 3rd National Congress on Medicinal Plants, December 27, 1999.at Thrissur, Kerala.   Membership in Professional Bodies Life member of Indian Botanical Society (Kerala Chapter) Life member of Kerala Academy of Sciences Life member of Seaweed Research and Utilisation Association     Smt. Anuja M M Project Officer, EEP Kerala Smt. Laju S Project Fellow Smt. Anila G T Project Assistant   Dr. Anilkumar C Chief Scientist 8th Floor, Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram-04 Email ID:anil.kscste@kerala.gov.in Phone (Office/Mob):0471. 2548 223  

• kscste@web
• September 24, 2025December 23, 2025
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• Scientist

About me Dr. Sabarish Karunakaran is the Chief Scientist (Scientist-G) at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). With a distinguished academic background in computer science and over 28 years of professional experience, he has established himself as a leader in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and e-governance innovation. He is a Certified Chief Data Protection Officer (CDPO, BCCS, UK), Certified AI Security Officer (CAISO, BCCS, UK), and TOGAF-certified Enterprise Architect, bringing rare expertise in combining secure digital infrastructure with sustainable development goals.Over the years, Dr. Sabarish has conceptualised and led pioneering projects such as the Mobile Governance Framework and DrSMS, which earned many National and International accolades which include the Computer world Honors Laureate Award (USA), National E-governance Award etc. He was instrumental in establishing CERT-K (Computer Emergency Response Team – Kerala), deploying AI-based enforcement automation for the Motor Vehicles Department, and directing the nationally recognised e-Governance transformation of the Kerala Public Service Commission. As Director of ICFOSS, Dr. Sabarish led not only technical innovation but also strategic visioning, financial planning, and operational oversight. His responsibilities included developing annual and multi-year budgets, allocating resources for labs, UAV stations, open hardware labs, and environmental monitoring deployments (e.g. LoRaWAN AWS in Kattakada), while ensuring both cost efficiency and impact. He collaborated with government, academic, and community stakeholders to define strategic goals and translate them into funded R&D programmes across FOSS, language computing, assistive technology, and drone-based ecological monitoring. In his role, he shaped governance processes, incubator infrastructure (such as Swatantra incubator space), and institutional policies that enabled ICFOSS to act as both an academic research centre and a service provider. While championing inclusive technology initiatives such as Women Hackathons, capacity-building programs, and back-to-work opportunities. These efforts earned ICFOSS international recognition as a finalist in the ITU’s Equals in Tech Awards from among 340 global nominations. His leadership not only helped bridge the gender divide in ICT but also positioned Kerala as a leader in FOSS-driven, citizen-centric innovation.  Under his stewardship, ICFOSS scaled its operations, expanded its labs and incubation space (30,000 sq.ft. facility at Sports Hub), and drove high-impact pilot projects in open source language technologies, assistive devices, and environmental sensing, all aligned with ICFOSS’s mission and Kerala’s FOSS and sustainable development goals. His leadership has earned Kerala multiple recognitions, including Digital India Awards, National e-Governance Awards, NeSDA benchmarks, Web Ratna Awards, and the mBillionth South Asia Award. Internationally, he was a finalist for the SEARCC ICT Leadership Award (Colombo) and the Equals in Tech Award (ITU Geneva) for bridging the gender divide in ICT. At KSCSTE, he now steers the digitalisation of research governance and scientific services, ensuring alignment with open standards, cybersecurity, and innovation for public good. Name of Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): DPPS – Digital Project Proposal Submission System (submit.kerala.gov.in) Online Recruitment portal for R&D centres of KSCSTE (recruit.kerala.gov.in) KSCSTE Digital Repository KSCSTE Library Management Digital Kerala – Enterprise Enabling the Government KSCSTE Research Fellowship Online Application and Examination Kerala Science Congress – Online Application and Event Management Video conferencing Smart Data Centre and Network and Security Infrastructure Facility Managent   Academic Qualifications: PhD:  Computer Applications (2017) – Noorul Islam University MBA- HR (1998) –  IGNOU MCA (1993) – College of Engineering, Trivandrum , University of Kerala B.Sc. (1990) – Physics, University of Kerala Professional Experience/ Academic Positions: 2018 – Present Chief Scientist (Scientist–G) & Head, Information Systems Division Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Deputations: Director – ICFOSS (Chief Scientist, KSCSTE- on Deputation), International Center for Free and Open Source Software (Jun 2020 – Dec 2020) Head, E-Governance – KSITM (Chief Scientist, KSCSTE -on Deputation), Kerala State IT Mission (Dec 2018 – Jun 2020) 2013 – 2018 Scientist–F (Senior Principal Scientist)& Head, Information Systems Division Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) 2010 – 2013 Scientist–E2 (Principal Scientist)  & Head, Information Systems Division Information Systems Division, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) 2005 – 2010 Scientist–E1 (Senior Scientist) Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Deputation: Mission Coordinator, Kerala State IT Mission (Aug 2008 – Oct 2012) 2000 – 2005 Scientist–C (Scientist) JN Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) Deputation: Systems Manager (Scientist–C), Kerala Public Service Commission (Dec 2001 – March 2006) 1995 – 2000 Scientist–B (Junior Scientist/Systems Analyst) JN Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI)   Digital Transformation and M/E-Governance Smart Cities, IoT, Blockchain, AI & Data Analytics Cybersecurity and Policy Development Quantum Computing Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) Mobile Governance Frameworks ICT Infrastructure & Service Delivery Models Ongoing/Completed Projects Conceptualized & implemented over 30+ ICT projects with wide citizen impact Drafted Kerala IT Policies, IT Security Policy, and Electronic Delivery of Service Rules (2010) Led projects like e-District Kerala, E-Treasury, e-Office, Digital Service Gateway, SmartCop, Dr. SMS, Dam Alerts, Enforcement Automation etc   K, ICT Interventions in Landslide Prediction Runout Modelling, Mitigation and Early Warning, Informatics Studies. ISSN 2583-8954, Vol. 11, Issue 4 Fourth Quarterly Issue. October – December 2024. P 03-10 (https://www.informaticsstudies.org/index.php/informatics/article/view/709) Karunakaran, Sabarish and Rao, Seeram Sambasiva, A Comparative Study on E Governance Data Framework Implementation in Estonia, Republic of Korea & Singapore (2023). https://ssrn.com/abstract=4482708or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4482708 Karunakaran, Sabarish and Rao, Seeram Sambasiva, Case Study : Digital Government in Singapore: The Critical Success Factors (2018). https://ssrn.com/abstract=4451182or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4451182 Karunakaran, Sabarish and Rao, Seeram Sambasiva, Comparative Study of E-Governance Implementation in Estonia, Singapore and South Korea (May 24, 2018). : https://ssrn.com/abstract=4451165 K and Shaji R.S, A Mobile Governance Framework for Geo-Referenced Emergency Management System, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, Springer, 2016. K and Shaji R.S, ‘SMARTCOP’ – Mobile Governance Framework for Law Enforcement, Asian Journal of Information Technology, Medwell Journals, 2016. K and Shaji R.S, “DAM ALERTS” m-Powering Farmers with Irrigation Information and Flood Alerts, Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2016. K and Shaji R.S, A Scalable Cloud Enabled Mobile Governance Framework, IEEE Xplore, 2014. K, Mobile Governance: The Kerala Experience and Insights for a Comprehensive Strategy, European Journal of E-Practice, 2011. Other Publications & Compendium Contributions Geo-Referenced Electronic Mobile

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• September 23, 2025February 28, 2026
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• Scientist

About me Dr. Arunan C is a Chief Scientist at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).  With a PhD degree in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University and post-doctoral research at EPFL, Switzerland, he brings extensive expertise in peptide chemistry, protein folding, and polymer-supported synthesis. His research has contributed to understanding amyloid peptides and their role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.Over the years, Dr. Arunan has managed advanced projects in synthetic chemistry, spectroscopy, and peptide–protein interactions, alongside developing novel polymeric supports for solid-phase synthesis. He has authored peer-reviewed publications and presented his work at international symposia.At KSCSTE, he handles the KSCSTE Research Fellowship Scheme, Kerala Science Congress and Selective Augmentation of Research and Development (SARD). Schemes & programmes (including external funded Programmes): KSCSTE Research Fellowship, Selective Augmentation of Research and Development and Kerala Science Congress Academic Qualifications: PhD: Ph.D. Chemistry/Peptide Chemistry, Solid Phase Synthesis of Hydrophobic Peptide, 1998, Mahatma Gandhi University Post- graduation: (Subject, year, University) MSc Chemistry, 1988, MG University Graduation: (Subject, year, University) Bsc Chemistry, 1986, Kerala University Professional Experience/ Academic Positions:   Broad area Peptide Chemistry Peptide Synthesis Protein Folding Details of ongoing and completed project   Best cited Publications Switch peptides in statu nascendi: induction of conformational transitions relevant to degenerative diseases; Manfred Mutter, Arunan Chandravarkar, Christine Boyat, John Lopez, Sonia Dos Santos, Bhubaneswar Mandal, Richard Mimna, Karine Murat, Luc Patiny, Lydiane Saucède, Gabriele Tuchscherer; Angewandte Chemie International Edition 43 (32), 4172-4178 Switch-peptides: controlling self-assembly of amyloid β-derived peptides in vitro by consecutive triggering of acyl migrations; Sonia Dos Santos, Arunan Chandravarkar, Bhubaneswar Mandal, Richard Mimna, Karine Murat, Lydiane Saucède, Patricia Tella, Gabriele Tuchscherer, Manfred Mutter; Journal of the American Chemical Society 127 (34), 11888-11889. Kannurin, a novel lipopeptide from Bacillus cereus strain AK1: isolation, structural evaluation, and antifungal activities; K Ajesh, S Sudarslal, C Arunan, K Sreejith; Journal of applied microbiology 115 (6), 1287-1296 CSIR Research Fellowship,  Swiss National Science Foundation Fellowship for Post-doctoral studies. Young Scientist Award from STEC, Govt. of Kerala. Membership in Professional Bodies Kerala Academy of Science Magnetic Resonance Society- Kerala   Ms. Lakshmi Project Fellow Ms. Rajila R.L Project Assistant   Dr. C. Arunan Chief Scientist, 4th Floor Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram-04 Email ID: carunan@gmail.com; carunan.kscste@kerala.gov.in Phone (Office/Mob):0471- 2548314