Tag: Giri

KIAS organizing a workshop on chemical lab safety

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Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) is organizing a workshop on chemistry laboratory safety issues in September this year.

A recently published research from KIAS and Tribhuvan University has shown that the safety in teaching labs in Nepal is generally neglected. Many chemistry teachers who participated in the research had said that they would benefit from regular safety trainings and workshops. This workshop aims to offer a forum for researchers, faculty, lab in charges, administrators, and policy makers for a common goal of improving the safety in chemistry teaching labs in Nepal. 

Speakers and panelists will provide their perspective on topics including standard protocols to ensure safety in teaching labs, status of safety issues in Nepali teaching labs, efforts & approaches of our teaching institutions and government agencies to creating a safe lab environment. In addition, participants will be divided into small work groups to develop action items aimed at improving specific areas of lab safety.

Participants will receive certificate after completion of the day-long workshop.

Target participants: High school and college/university chemistry teachers/faculty and PhD students

Date & time: 2 September 2017; 10:30 to 16:00
Location: Uniglobe SS/College, Kamaladi, Kathmandu, Nepal

Registration fee: NRs. 200
Registration deadline: 25 August 2017  

Organizing Committee:

  1. Dr. Basant Giri (Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences, Kathmandu)
  2. Dr. Bhanu Bhakta Neupane (Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu)
  3. Dr. Mahendra Thapa (Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences & Uniglobe HSS/College, Kathmandu)
  4. Mr. Jaya Ram Ghimire (Uniglobe SS/College, Kathmandu)
  5. Mr. Jaya Prakash Paudel (Uniglobe SS/College, Kathmandu)
  6. Mr. Shiba Kumar Oli (Uniglobe SS/College, Kathmandu)

For registration complete online form below – Only selected registrants will be invited for the workshop due to limited space. 

CLICK HERE for REGISTRATION

Research on laboratory safety issues published

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Scientists from Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) published their research findings on the laboratory safety issues of chemistry teaching labs in Nepal on a prestigious peer reviewed journal – Plos One.

Hundreds of thousands of students use chemical laboratories in hundreds of educational institutes in Nepal every year. These laboratories are important to give practical education to the students. However, students have to work with hazardous chemicals along with various equipment and glassware in the lab. Working in laboratories without correct protocol and safety precautions can be a risk to life of students and teachers.

A group of Nepali researchers found that the teaching chemical laboratories in Nepal lack basic safety system. The authors of the Plos One paper are Dr. Basant Giri and Dr. Bhanu Bhakta Neupane from Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) and Mr. Krishna Kandel from Birendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuwan University.

In this research, chemistry teachers in Nepal were surveyed to understand the conditions of different aspects of chemical laboratory safety. Seventy questions about laboratory safety, equipment used in the laboratory, correct methods and processes to be followed in laboratory and management of wastes from laboratories were asked in the survey. According to the paper, maximum respondents told that Nepal does not have any policy regarding laboratory safety and there are no safety monitoring and regulation practices in Nepal. Many of the laboratories did not have fundamental safety equipment. There are no institutional methods and policies to dispose lab waste. 79 % of respondents said that the wastes generated from their laboratories are being disposed as regular household wastes. 88 % of respondents involved in the survey highlighted the need of trainings and regular workshops on laboratory safety.

According to the lead researcher, Dr. Giri, despite the government’s negligence on lab safety, there have been some efforts from teachers and colleges on individual interest. Authors have made some recommendation in the paper. They suggested having a mandatory safety protocols for laboratories from schools to colleges and the protocol must be strictly followed. Offering a course of at least one credit hour about the laboratory safety might be effecting to train students.

The Plos One article can be read and downloaded free of cost.

Link of the article: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0179104&type=printable

 

For Media Contact:

Roshan Gurung

Phone: 9848371517

Email: rgurung@kias.org.np

Seminar on “challenges of providing quality pharmaceuticals in developing countries”

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By Pushkar Bhusal

Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) organized a national seminar on “Quality Pharmaceuticals and Safe Drinking Water: Challenges in Developing Countries” in Grand Hotel, Kathmandu on 5th June 2017. According to KIAS scientist Dr. Basant Giri, the seminar was organized to discuss pertinent issues regarding quality of both pharmaceuticals and drinking water among concerned stakeholders. The seminar was attended by a group of selected experts including from Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Government of Nepal, representatives from Nepal Pharmacy Council (NPC), Association of Pharmaceutical Producers Association of Nepal (APPON), representatives of private pharmaceutical companies of Nepal, representatives of international pharmaceutical companies, faculties from Tribhuvan University and Pokhara University, and Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL). Furthermore, also discussed in the seminar was the water quality screening using low-cost methods.

Dr. Bhanu Neupane, Scientist at KIAS, briefly outlined the research and science outreach programs of KIAS at the beginning of the seminar. Mr. Santosh KC, drug administrator at DDA gave a presentation on how DDA is ensuring the distribution of quality medicines across Nepal. Dr. Bal Mukunda Regmi, Professor at Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University discussed on drug manufacturing procedures and problems associated with it. He also highlighted the role of concerned agency/department/organization for maintaining the cost of drugs. Dr. Toni Barstis and Dr. Reena Lamichhane both from Saint Mary’s College, IN, USA presented their research findings and way forward. While Dr. Barstis talked about the development of Paper-based Analytical Device (PADs) for pharmaceutical quality screening, Dr. Khadka’s described works on similar device for microbial screening of water and milk. Both of these projects are being implemented in collaboration with KIAS and Dr. Giri contributes as an international collaborator and faculty.

The seminar concluded by remarks from by Prof. Dharma Khanal from Manamohan Institute of Health Science, Kathmandu, Prof. Dr. Rameshwar Adhikari, Executive Director at Research Center for Applied Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Mr. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Division Chief of water/waste water, KUKL, Mr. Deepak Prasad Dahal from APPON, and Mr. Baburam Humagain from NPC. The director general of DDA, Mr. Nayaran Dhakal, provided special remark. Mr. Dhakal also answered questions and queries raised during the seminar regarding various issues.

The seminar ended with question and answer session.

KIAS scientist published book on microfluidics

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A book “Laboratory Methods in Microfluidics” written by Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) scientist Dr. Basant Giri has been released in Kathmandu, Nepal. Professor Toni Barstis from Saint Mary’s College, IN, USA released the book among a group of scientists, students, and researchers at the premises of KIAS today.

Cover page of the newly released book on microfluidics

Based on the description provided on the book, this book features a range of lab methods and techniques necessary to fully understand microfluidic technology applications. Microfluidics is a relatively new science and engineering. It deals with the manipulation of small volumes of fluids at sub-millimeter scale domain channels. This exciting new field is becoming an increasingly popular subject both for research and education in various disciplines of science, including chemistry, chemical engineering and environmental science.

The book provides a much-needed, comprehensive new laboratory reference in this rapidly growing and exciting new field of research and is useful to students, researchers and scientists. There are 18 standalone detailed methods/techniques/instructions, including fabrication and applications, used in microfluidics research and teaching.

According to Dr. Giri the book is intended for undergraduate and graduate courses in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, environmental science, and engineering.

The book is published by Elsevier and is available at Amazon for purchase.