Goan professor at the forefront in organising Future Energy Carriers workshop in Germany

 

Goan professor at the forefront in organising Future Energy Carriers workshop in Germany

 

Dr. Levinson J Martins, Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation along Pranay Morajkar, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Goa University, two delegates from Goa attended the meet in Germany

 

BY Armstrong Vaz

 

When like-minded people come together amazing things happen, wrote Goa-born German-based Professor Ravi Xavier Fernandes on his LinkedIn page.

 

He was referring to the Indo-German Workshop on Future Energy Carriers, a two-day workshop held at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Braunschweig, Germany recently.

 

The Indo-German Bilateral Workshop on Future Energy Carriers: Advancing Bio-circular Economy for Clean Energy saw delegates from both India and German deliberate on various topics centered around Future Energy, Circular Economy, Clean Energy and Circular Bioeconomy.

 

For the unknown Circular Bioeconomy is an economy powered by nature. It is a new economic model that emphasizes the use of renewable natural capital and focuses on minimizing waste, replacing the wide range of non-renewable, fossil-based products currently in use.

 

“The willingness and motivation to work together through excellent ideas and diverse strengths and expertise made this Indo-German Workshop on Future Energy Carriers a big success,” said Ravi, an alumnus of Chowgule College Margao and Goa university, who traces his roots to Velim village.

 

The workshop, coordinated by Prof. Ravi Xavier Fernandes, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Germany and Dr Sanjukta Subudhi, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) served as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and joint research initiatives between experts from both countries.

 

PTB, Germany for which Prof Ravi works is the National Metrology Institute of Germany with scientific and technical service tasks. PTB measures with the highest accuracy and reliability – metrology as the core competence. PTB stands for progress and reliability in metrology for the benefit of society, trade and industry, and science.

 

“Thanks a lot, dear delegates from India and Germany for your very active participation and lively discussions. This was the first of its kind IGSTC (Indo-German Science & Technology Centre) Workshop with Representatives from Academia, Industry, Research Institutions, Government Officials sitting on one table to discuss one of the most important topics on Sustainability. Looking forward to all our future bilateral and multilateral interdisciplinary collaborations,” added Prof Ravi.

 

The workshop topics included: Biofuel Production Technologies, Green Hydrogen Generation, Circular Economy Approaches, Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment, Regulation, Codes and Standards, Business Models and Commercialization.

 

And there was more Goan connect to the workshop with Dr. Levinson J Martins, Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation along with Pranay Morajkar, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Goa University being the two delegates from Goa who attended the meet in Germany.

 

Dr. Levinson presentation centered around topic of “Unlocking Clean Energy: Harnessing Biomethanation for A Sustainable Bio-Circular Economy”

 

He made a strong pitch for Biomethanation as a promising avenue for sustainable energy generation and waste management and which stands at the forefront of sustainable waste-to-energy solutions, offering a pathway towards resource recovery and environmental stewardship.

 

He also favoured joint research in biomethanation technology.

 

“There is a need for more research in advancing biomethanation technology, looking forward to the vision for collaboration between India and Germany in advancing biomethanation technology, taking into account the strengths and expertise that each country brings to the table he envisaged the need for joint research in the field,” he said in his presentation.

 

Levinson also said that research work should center around odour control in biomethanation plants.

 

“Research interventions with respect to emerging technologies in odour management and integration of solid waste and sewage treatment plant and extraction of Methane gas,” are the other areas which need fine tuning, he said.

 

Taking a futuristic view of the emerging alternative fuels Levinson made a strong pitch on the need for future collaboration.

 

“Analysis of the future outlook for bio methanation technology and considering factors such as technological advancements, policy support, and market demand are some of the key areas where the focus of future research,” he said.

 

He also added that there should be identification of key requirements and challenges for scaling up biomethanation infrastructure, including investment, regulatory frameworks, and public awareness.

 

“Proposals for collaborative initiatives such as joint research projects, knowledge exchange programs and solutions through advance and cutting-edge technologies for problems faced currently to accelerate the adoption of bio methanation technology on a global scale,” were some steps he suggested in his talk, while urging delegates from Germany to visit Goa and make a field trip to the facilities and have a closer look at working of the solid waste management plants managed by

Goa Waste Management Corporation.

 

The other delegate from Goa Pranay was delighted that he was part of the brainstorming workshop.

 

His presentation centered around sustainability and climate change and the use of Nanomaterials to reduce carbon footprint.

 

“My presentation was about using Nanomaterials derived from waste to produce biofuels which can then be used to improve combustion efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions. I also presented how Catalytically CO2 can be converted to industrially important platform chemicals, to address global warming and climate change,” said the Goa University professor.

 

“This was one of the best bilateral research meetings that I attended. Intense and enlightening research discussions among some of the best Indo-German research groups. I am glad that I could attend and contribute to the success of this meet, even in a small way,” Pranay said.

 

“Hats off to Prof Ravi Xavier Fernandes, Sumit Agarwal and TERI and IGSTC for creating an excellent platform, successful coordination and organization,” he added. 

 

Who is Karman Khan Qatar player who got hit for six sixes in one over in Oman T20 match by Nepal’s

 

Who is Karman Khan Qatar player who got hit for six sixes in one over in Oman T20 match by Nepal’s

 

Kamran Khan

BORN: September 29, 1988

AGE: 35y 197d

BATTING STYLE: Right hand Bat

BOWLING STYLE: Right arm Medium

 

“Never permit the pressure to exceed the pleasure of the moment, ever. We often forget why we play in the first place that is to enjoy, so live and enjoy every situation during the game win or loose is part of it,’ says Kamran Khan message on his Instagram profile which has over 4000 subscribers.

 

It describes him as a Qatar National Cricket player, Fashion Influencer - Model - photographer – Athlete and for collaborations one has to Direct Message him.

 

In fact, Kamran Khan had been making his return to the Qatar National Team after a hiatus of nearly one year he last played his T20 match against Singapore in December 2022 and was drafted to the team again  for Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup taking place in Oman, where Qatar lost both the match , losing first to Hong Kong and then to Nepal.

 

Kamran Khan has been a specialist opening batsman and it was surprising that he was given the last over of the innings by the think tank of the Qatar team management.

 

Previous to that Kamran Khan had bowled only 4.1 overs in 34 matches going wicketless and conceding 48 runs but on Saturday he went for 42 runs in ten deliveries.

 

He was one of the seven bowlers used by the captain during Nepal innings. Kamran was called to bowl after Amir Farooq had to pull himself out of the firing line after bowling 1.2 overs.

 

Kamran made his international debut in 2019 and he was called to the current series after vice-captain and opener Imal Liyanage preferred to continue his journey of playing in overseas league.

 

In fact, Kamran did not figure in the three-match series in Qatar which Hong Kong won 2-1 against the home team.

 

Over the last four years as part of the national team the 35-year-old Kamran has scored 793 runs in 32 innings of the 34 matches he has played so far, with five 50’s and with 88 as his highest score.

 

In the current ongoing tournament, he has scores of  17 and 18 against Hong Kong and Nepal. Agaisnt Nepal he made his runs in 13 balls with one six and one four as an opener, while in the match against Hong Kong he came to bat at Number five.

 

It was Adnan Mirza who opened to the innings manage to score only one run against Hong Kong while Adnan coming at Number 9 to bat and scoring 19 runs in eight balls with aid of four boundaries.

 

Adnan, yet another35-year-old born and brought up in Indian city of Delhi, who made his international debut a year back, before the Oman tournament had scores of 17, 3, 30, 11, 20, 10, 12, DNB   -              -              -              -              DNB                -              -16 and 23 in 12 matches with 30 as his highest and these runs were scored coming as an opener on eight occasions while on two occasions he was came as one-down batsman.        

               

So far in 14 matches and 12 innings he has scored 163 runs.

 

On the bowling front he has picked up 11 wickets in 14 matches with three for 13 as his best. His figures since his debut till the last two matches in Oman read as follows:  1/18, 0/18, 3/20, 1/26, 3/13, 0/32, 0/15, 1/19, 0/21, 0/17,                0/19, 1/31, 0/12 and 0/27

 

 

 

 

 

Qatar lose to Hong Kong in the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup

 Qatar lose to Hong Kong in the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup

#cricket #Qatar #Hongkong

Qatar were resoundingly beaten in the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup as Hong Kong registered a comfortable 26 runs win.

Set a daunting target of 202 for victory Qatar started well, with opener Saqlain Arshad reaching his half-century inside six overs, but they started to lose quick wickets and ended up losing by 26 runs.

Oman and the UAE got their Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup campaigns off to winning starts on Friday as they both look to qualify for next year’s Asia Cup.

The Emiratis beat their Gulf rivals Kuwait by seven wickets at Al-Amarat with two and a half overs to spare.

The Kuwaitis notched up 178/8 from their 20 overs, with Clinto Anto top scoring on 54 from 23 balls.

After a shaky start and a golden duck for captain Muhammad Waseem, the UAE were rarely troubled in their quest to chase down 179, with an imperious 90 runs from 48 balls from Alishan Sharafu, ably supported by Asif Khan’s 74 from seven overs, steering them home.

The Omanis, making the most of the Premier Cup competition being played on home soil, saw off Bahrain in a thriller.

Aqib Ilyas top-scored for the hosts with a solid knock of 62 from 53 deliveries as they reached 177 for the loss of three from their 20 overs.

The Bahrainis fell just four runs short of their 178 target as eight wickets fell in their innings.

Cuncolim bamboo artisans carrying on the trade against all odds

Cuncolim bamboo artisans carrying on the trade against all odds

By Armstrong Vaz

The art of making baskets from bamboo and cane is dwindling with every passing day in Goa. There are just a handful of artisans remaining in some villages who mainly make baskets from cane.

The Jadhav’s and Mane’s of Cuncolim are the select few who can be seen selling bamboo baskets by the road side in Cuncolim town in Salcete. They live close to the road national Highway No.66 commonly referred to as NH 66 (erstwhile NH-17 and a part of NH-47).

Even though there is a good market for these products, there are not many artisans or basket weavers in Goa. Goan artisans make a variety of baskets of all shapes and sizes. Mostly made of cane and bamboo, these baskets are in huge demand.

Traditionally, the Mhar community makes bamboo products that are used by people for functional purposes in various walks of life. Bamboo trees availability is become scare in Goa with every passing day added to the social stigma of being called a Mhar.

“Mhars, today is a scheduled tribe, which sacrificed buffaloes to propitiate spirits of their ancestorsand their demon deities. They ate the flesh, even bones, hence regarded ‘untouchable’ –just as cobblers, who worked on the hides of cattle,” wrote researcher Valmiki Faleiro.

Yes, the tag of Mhars hurts them admits Vilas Jadhav.

“We are not Mhars from Goa we came from Maharashtra’s Sangli district and made Goa our home some 40 to 50 years back,” says Vilas, who was born and brought up in Cuncolim.
The Mhars tag hurts us, but we are not concerned, we have to go about our everyday life and earn our living and we earn our living honorably by performing at wedding and carrying on the bamboo craft against all odds,” he added.

To craft the bamboo, the craftsmen, soak the bamboo for two or three days in sea water for seasoning, it is then sun-dried. When completely dry it is segmented. The outermost layer of the bamboo or skin is removed completely. The pith inside is removed and used as fuel. The bamboo is then cut into strips. These strips are further cut into splits that are used for weaving the basket. The baskets are made only with the inner part. The tools used are basic and include the Koyto-large knife and the Sun or small blunt knife. To colour the splits, chemical colours are boiled in water, and the strips are left in this solution for half an hour and dried.

A huge range of utility products like baskets, boxes, flower vases, winnowing trays, chicken baskets, grain baskets, partitions, fans, and mats are made from bamboo strips in Goa.

Some of the bamboo baskets they make are Konni or Fish basket, Kurponn or rice strainer, Kanyo or mat placed below the dantem (stone grinder), Ervond or large cane basket, Samli or cane pouch, Dhali or small basket, Aino or fan, Sup (in the middle) or alternative way fan, Vorli or container to wash rice and Patto or mat besides several other items.

The Jadhav and Mane families live in eight houses in Milleavaddo Cuncolim and settled in Cuncolim some 50 years back from Satara region. Earlier they used to stay in huts but now are staying in laterite stone houses and are voters of the region.

The Jadhav’s and Mane’s have two bands that performs at the Hindu weddings, Palkis, and Divjas and they charge Rupees 30,000 for a day’s performance.