The Faculty of Humanities and Science (FHS) at Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER) marked World Environment Day on 10th June, 2025, with a compelling program that emphasized the urgent need to safeguard our oceans from the growing menace of plastic pollution.
The celebration commenced with a warm welcome addressby Dr. P. Sagayaraj, Dean of the Faculty, who highlighted the significance of the occasion and the responsibility of academia in driving environmental stewardship.
The highlight of the event was the keynote lecture by Chief Guest Dr. V. S. Chandrasekaran, Retired Principal Scientist at ICAR-CIBA and Guest Faculty at Indian Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai. He delivered an enlightening address on the topic, “Turning the Tide: Strategies to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution.” In his talk, he elaborated on the alarming escalation of plastic waste in marine environments, the devastating consequences for marine life due to ingestion and entanglement, and the infiltration of microplastics into the human body through food and water. He further shed light on the harmful chemicals released by plastics and their potential effects on fertility and human health. Emphasizing the urgent need for action, he called upon the audience to adopt the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic as a vital step towards environmental preservation.
A token of appreciation was presented to Dr. Chandrasekaran in recognition of his valuable contribution, in the presence of Dr. V. Shanthi, Principal (Shift I), and Dr. N. Prabhavathi Devi, Principal (Shift II). The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mrs. S. Malarvizhi, Assistant Professor and ISO Coordinator, acknowledging the contributions of all those involved.
The program was efficiently coordinated by Dr. R. Shanthi, Mrs. S. Malarvizhi, Mrs. R. Arivukkodi, and Ms. Sindhu Bhavan, whose collective efforts ensured the success of the event. The World Environment Day celebrations at FHS, MAHER served as a powerful reminder of the environmental challenges that confront us and inspired participants to take conscious, actionable steps toward protecting our planet—starting with our oceans.
