California, Jun 25: Dr Jayaram Shetty, vice-president of Genencor based in Palo Alto, California, has bagged the 2008 Research Excellence award, for his contribution to the development of new advanced technologies for bio-fuel production using agricultural raw materials.

Popularly known as Dr Jay Shetty, this native of village Kadangodu near Sooralu of Udupi district, was presented the award at an international biofuel conference held at Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, Dr Shetty has also been a recipient of the 2005 Top R&D 100 award during the ceremony held in Chicago in 2006.

‘Jay’s contributions to Genencor and to the industry have been truly outstanding, so I think it is very fitting that he received this award. Our hats off to him!’ said Glenn Nedwin, EVP, Technical Enzymes. Dr Shetty has also been exhorting the Indian government to invest in production of bio-fuel so that fuel becomes cheaper in India and help meet the nation’s energy needs.

Dr Shetty has worked on various aspects of enzymes biotechnology and holds more than 35 patents besides more than 30 research publications in reputed journals and books. He is an expert in carbohydrases, and other enzymes, besides being highly experienced in enzymology and related applications in the grain processing area.

The award presented to Dr Shetty this year was established by BBI International in 2000 to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the fuel ethanol industry through research, technical advisory, and/or development activities. The award selection committee is made up of industry and academic scientists, and the nominees are usually an elite group of well-regarded candidates.

Dr Shetty completed his schooling from Sooralu and Cherkadi, following which he graduated in science from MGM College, Udupi and became a teacher in Kokkarne high school.  He then pursued his M Sc at Mysore university and PhD at CFTRI, Mysore. Dr Shetty  then did his post doctoral studies at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, with a scholarship.

He is the brother-in-law of K Balakrishna Hegde, A M Sons Tiles, Kokkarne, who is also the founder president of Udupi athletics sssociation.

Udupi, Jun 25: There is some good news at a time when inflation has dampened the spirits of the common man. Despite the monsoon being late this year, agricultural operations in the undivided South Kanara district remain unaffected.

Unlike other districts of the state, our farmers have had adequate supply of chemical manure. Moderate rain at the beginning of the season had facilitated the initial operations, which promise a good yield later.

A traveler along the Konkan Railway route would certainly get some eye candy in the form of lush green paddy fields that abound in our coastal district. Authorities report that seedling operation in 150 hectares of South Kanara district and 600 hectares in Udupi district was nearly over within two weeks from the break of the monsoon season.

In Kundapura alone nearly 60 percent of the process is said to be over but the sad part is that since 1990, the annual seedling operation has been steadily declining at the rate of 150 hectares annually. The reason is the landowners’ preference for coconut plantations instead of paddy fields which are no longer seen as a profitable venture.

Also urbanization is on the rise and this encourages migration of labor. The one silver lining to the cloud is that the district of Udupi is not seeing as rapid a decline in the number of paddy fields as the divided South Kanara district is.

Kallianpur, Jun 22: A career guidance programme first PUC students of Milagres College Kallianpur was held on Saturday, June 21. The event was organized jointly by the catholic sabha of Kallianpur, ‘pudar prastistan’, and career guidance cell of the college. 

Prof Sadashiva Alse, principal of the P U College, inaugurated the programme. Degree college principal Fr Fred Mascarenhas advised students to fully utilize all facilities in the college and build a strong foundation for the future. Three hundred students participated in the programme.

Dr Gerald Pinto, Prof Hilda D’Silva and Prof Clara Menezes, were the resource persons. Felix Pinto, president, catholic sabha Kallianpur-Varado, was the chief guest. Precilla Lewis, president of catholic sabha, welcomed the gathering while Dr Pinto proposed the vote of thanks.

Kundapur, Jun 21: Bhandarkar's College of Art, Science and Commerce owes it's existence to Dr A S Bhandarkar's vision. Bhandarkar, an NRI native of Kundapur, had made an initial donation of one lakh rupees in the year 1963 for setting up of the college. The college provided a ray of hope to hundreds of aspiring students from nearby villages of Kundapur, a small town then, who were frustrated  as there was no opportunity for them to continue their education beyond PUC. The nearest college was located in Udupi, 40 kms away.

Dr Bhandakar was the royal Physician of Late Jayachamraja Odeyar of Mysore who graced the inaugural ceremony of the College and declared the then small tiled building open. Today, the College has grown into a campus of several new faculties besides the conventional degree courses. Its well-equipped library in a separate new building is a model for other educational institutions in the state of Karnataka to emulate. The College celebrated it's silver jubilee in 1988. Its Fortieth year celebrations were held in the year 2003 and now as a part of its forty fifth year of operation, the College will hold a two-day seminar, during which the focus on values of life in education, motivational programmes like patriotism, personality development and leadership would be highlighted. Besides, extra-curricular activities such as Yakshgana Tala Maddale and other theatre activities will also be organized at the state level. The students of the College now numbering nearly 2000, hail from the neighboring rural areas.

Free of cost mid-day meal programme for the eligible poor students is an attractive feature of the College. Besides, an annual feature of campus placements is of late being organized by IT giants like infosys and Wipro. Over and above, special coaching classes for the benefit of students aspiring to appear for IAS and IPS exams are also organized in the College campus.

Kundapur, Jun 15: The relic feast of St Antony's chapel at Kerekatte near here was celebrated on Friday June 13 morning.

The devout Catholics in the neighbourhood of Kerekatte celebrate the feast of St Antony's relic at the chapel on February 15 and June 13 every year. The priest from Basroor church meets the spiritual needs of community at the chapel.

Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore offered the Mass along with Basroor parish priest Fr Xavier Pinto, Kundapur parish priest Fr Alban D'Souza, parish priest of Piusnagar, Kundapur Fr Walter Mendonca, Trasi parish priest Fr Anil Cornelio, Blessed Joseph Vaz Mudipu parish priest Fr Andrew D'Souza, assistant parish priest Fr Lancy Joel Saldanha and Capuchin priests Fr Dolphy and Fr Fredrick. 

'St Antony, lead us to Jesus' was the theme of the feast this year. The chapel choir rendered a melodious song in honour of miraculous Saint Antony.  

Thousands of people irrespective of faith thronged the St Antony's statue and paid their respects by offering flowers and lighting candles.

The relic of St Antony was placed for public veneration during the festive Mass.