City colleges to have lead poisoning course

35 students have enrolled for 100-hour credit course

As policy makers and civic agencies are grappling with issues like environmental pollution, educational institutes have started courses to encourage students to take up a career in tackling challenges of environmental pollution due to lead poisoning.

Thirty-five students have enrolled at Mount Carmel College (MCC), which introduced a 100-hour credit course for students on lead poisoning recently. The first batch of undergraduate students will finish their course in August. According to the management, the response from students was good.

“It is important not only for study and research, but is also applicable in their daily lives,” says Sister Albina, Principal, MCC. The certificate course includes visits to industries as well as small scales projects which are undertaken by students during their course of study.

In addition to faculty industrialists, experts, academicians, doctors and members of National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning are invited as guest faculty.

“The course not only increases awareness of students but also add value to their resume. Our students have even gone to neighboring schools and made presentations on lead poisoning,” says Veena Sachidananda, Dean, Faculty of Science, MCC.

Many colleges like Mysore Education Society (MES) Degree College, Malleswaram offers course for a nominal fee for students. Experts from premier institutes like Indian Institute of Science and Environmental Science, Department of Bangalore University take classes for the students."

Experts from government agencies like Pollution Control Board, environmentalists and NGO activists  will also interact with students,” says C Anantha, professor of Chemistry, MES Degree College.

The institutes have requested the UGC to recognise the course, to enable interested students to enrol.