Two NIO scientists bestowed with 'Scientist of year award'

Panaji, Mar 3 (UNI) Two senior scientists of Goa-based National Institute of Oceanogrpahy (NIO) have been conferred upon the prestigious ''Scientist of the year award 2005 by Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi, in recognition of their achievement and out stadning contribution in the field of marine bio-technology and bio-diversity.

The scientists are Dr Usha Goswami and Dr Vijay Kumar Rathod.

Dr Goswami, who joined the institute in 1972 as a pool officer, initiated cytogenetic and genetic studies for the first time in the Indian marine animals.

She has contributed significantly to the field of oceanography with special reference to marine bio-technology and prospecting genes of marine organisms, which live in different types of oceanic environments. At present, she is doing research on bio-active molecules from the sea to find out whether they can be used for industrial utilisation.

She has published several papers in the reputed national and international journals and has a wide experience in handling international and national projects.

Dr Rathod joined the Biological Oceanography Division of NIO in 1980 and has been working on seasonal variability in zooplankton and benthic production and their impact on the eco-system and biological properties in both east and west coast of India.

He had also participated in the Antarctic expedition to study the Antarctic krill, which plays a significant role in the Antarctic food chain and the marine eco-system.

UNI SRN SSS SI VC1935