RESEARCH

In keeping with its tradition of responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of the wider community, Ravenshaw University has identified two policy initiatives: Environment and Public Health initiative, and Odishan Studies Initiative. Two Centres of Excellence — Centre for Environment and Public Health (CPE) and Centre for Odishan Studies (COS) have started working in this direction.

The objectives of CPE to be achieved by way of interdisciplinary research projects currently underway are as follows:

(i) Environmental monitoring, environmental modelling and mapping of cyanobacterial bloom and determining its ecological significance

(ii) Conservation, restoration and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants of Odisha for bioprospecting of neutraceuticals and phytochemicals and their validation in cell line and animal model systems

(iii) Molecular biomarkers of human health with special emphasis on proteomics and neurobiology and validation of different drugs (organic and nano materials) and drug delivery systems and (natural and plasma treated polymers)

(iv) Environmental remediation (physical and biological)

The objectives of COS to be achieved by way of interdisciplinary research projects currently underway are as follows:

(i) To address the problem of persistent marginalisation of the human sciences as against increasing privileging of STEM fields

(ii) Encourage and initiate conceptual investment in the human sciences with special reference to Odisha

(iii) Develop public awareness about revolutions in knowledge with a view to problematise historical perspectives on Odisha