Volume 2: Issue 2March 2009

Actinomycetes and antibiotics

B. Abhinaya of class 12 of SriSankara Senior Sec. School, Adyarwon the Bio Asia Young Mindsaward at Bio Asia 2009 held atHyderabad from Feb. 2 to 4.Her project of marineactinomycetes won her a cash prizeof Rs. 50000 besides laurels for herfindings which will help informulating new drugs for fightingspecific infections.Bio Asia Global Business forum(http://www.bioasia.in)holds thiscontest every year to promoteinvestigative spirit in young schoolchildren particularly in the field of Biotechnology and Life sciences.Abhinaya first isolated marineactinomycetes from the sea bed.She studied them carefully and saidthe study about them wasfascinating because they aretransient - show both the characteristics of bacteria and fungi. Having isolatedone species from the lot she characterised them.Finally it was identified that they have an antibiotic property, especially againstthe bacteria 'stephalococcus' which causes skin diseases / infection. She did all theexperiments and further study at the school's biotech laboratory for a month.The principal Subala Ananthanarayanan, vice principal B. Meenakshi and the

Abhinaya's project brings out the antibiotic property in marine actinomycetes

biotech teachers LakshmiPrabhu and Sunandaencouraged and helpedAbhinaya in the project.

Reported by J. Anirudh, Student Reporter

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Stay safeon the NetHangoutof the monthBecomea student reporter Whois the hero this time!Google'sInternet Bus

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A five day, anti-honking campaign was conducted during themonth of January in Chennai. It was a successful launch by theInteractors of Bala Vidya Mandir, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar. On Jan.21, during the morning peak hours from 8.20 am to 9.15 am.The participants held placards and distributed pamphlets tocreate awareness about the benefits of anti-honking. The sameexercise continued in the afternoon between 3 and 4 pm. Thiscampaign, on the same lines continued through to 28th January.This is what Mr. Shibu, the managing director of Force1Guarding Services and the one who has initiated this anti-honkingcampaign in the city has to say, about the campaign:On day 2, the campaign was even more visible andeffective in terms of the considerable reduction in thediscriminative of horn. It was nice to see the studentsencouraging themselves and getting excited when theyrealised that they were part of the change that societyrequired.On day 3 and 4, It is indeed very exciting to see thesestudents respond to the Anti- Honking campaign, having theirnovel slogans and there has been a significant reduction in theuse of indiscriminate horning and thus giving a lot of peace tothe surroundings of Bala Vidya Mandir School , GandhiNagar, Adyar.On the last day of the campaign, it was nice to see thatInteractors wanted to continue with this, but their exams cut shortthe joy of their involvement in such a novel exercise. As the firstphase of this Campaign ends, we found that on the first day, therewas some resistance from the Honkers, and by day 5, the childrenwho travelled in those vehicles were the catalysts, who ensuredthe drivers don’t honk at all.<

Do you think that our roads are too noisy to travel? What would you like to do if you were a driver? Tell us your opinion. Mail toeditor@yocee.in

Reported by Saniya Surana, Student Reporter

No honking please!

Are you on FaceBook or MySpace? Do you think you surf the Net safe? Is your email safe? Do you give out information about yourself to online pals?

Well, chatting with your friends online can be loads of fun, but make sure you stay safe on the web.Technologies help you study and give all new excitingways to socialise with others. And you are always faster touse the Internet or the mobile devices than your parents.So you need to know more on using the devises betterand safer.Countries across the world as well as many socialnetworking websites have pledged to beat Cyber bullying,a menace for the kids who surf the Net. This bullyingcontinues offline too, in your classroom or in your colony.Be aware that all the information you type are readonline go through many servers, Net spies and they aresaved and circulated by the bullies many times.If your parents have a watch on your surfing, feelhappy that someone will be at help in case of any troubleonline.You should also be aware of copyright rules when youdownload information for your school projects or use inyour presentations. You may be watched for 'onlinecopying' too!On the occasion of the safer Internet day 2009,http://www.saferinternet.orgis organising events andcompetitions for kids and companies to bring aboutawareness of what is happening online.Now a few tips for now to be safe on the Net.- Never give out any personal details online.- Never arrange to meet people that you only knowonline.- Always let somebody know where you are going - tellyour parents, guardians, friends.- Block and report any abuse online.- If someone is making your life a misery by bullyingyou or just being annoying, tell your parents. No one canhelp you unless you let them know what is going on.

http://www.bbclic.comhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/help/safesurfing/ http://www.ccmostwanted.com/kids/index.htm