Chennai: Manali Petrochemicals Limited (MPL) conducted the latest edition of ‘Chemiskillz 23’, an annual paper presentation contest for Chemistry students. The competition — open to undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD students — is aimed at finding the brightest mind in Chemistry. DG Vaishnav College’s (Chennai) Santosh S was declared the winner of Chemiskillz 23.
Commenting on the event, Mr. Ashwin Muthiah, Chairman – MPL and Founder Chairman of AM International, Singapore, and AM UK Holdings, London, said, “At MPL, we believe that we need to encourage science-driven innovation and curiosity for a better tomorrow. The competition has showcased the next generation’s intellect and talent. Through such initiatives, we aim to nurture their scientific capabilities to develop future ready solutions and drive sustainable growth in the science and tech industries.”
In the contest’s final round, six participants presented papers spanning across three themes: ’green chemistry’, ’waste to wealth’, and ‘environment sustainability’. DG Vaishnav College’s (Chennai) Santosh S was declared the winner of Chemiskillz 23. Vishwadhara N from Anna Adarsh, Chennai won the second prize, and Keerthana K from WCC College, Chennai came in third. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to Darshini KS, M Kumari Diksha, A Aarthi and S Balaji.
Congratulating the participants, Mr. Muthukrishnan Ravi, MD – MPL & CEO Petrochemicals, AMIH, Singapore said, “Chemiskillz is our attempt to support and foster upcoming talent. Here, students and professionals from academic and industrial backgrounds exchange ideas and brainstorm together, discussing best practices and innovations. The students’ enthusiasm, the practical wisdom of the experts, and the magic of science made this year’s competition a grand success. We hope such endeavours generate interest among future generations towards scientific research. ”
An esteemed panel composed of leading academics and industry experts evaluated the participants’ presentations on parameters such as quality, delivery, content organisation, creativity, idea applicability, and time management. The panel included Dr. Anbarasan – Professor IIT Madras, Department of Chemistry; Dr. G. Sekar – Professor IIT Madras, Department of Chemistry; Dr. Sathya Selva Bala Vasanthakumar – Head R&D, Scientist at Kothari Petrochemicals Ltd; Mr. T Thangasagaran – General Manager QA, Tech Services & Projects, MPL; and Mr. G. R. Sridhar – General Manager Operations, MPL.
Twenty-six papers were submitted as part of the contest’s preliminary round held in January 2023. The finalists were picked by MPL’s R. Sivasankaran – DGM Projects; T. S. Shanmuganathan – Manager QA; and Dr. S. Narayanan Assistant Manager, R&D
The motto ‘Compete, Connect, Learn’ defined the ethos of the event. Chemiskillz served as a platform for students to present ideas and apply theoretical knowledge to respond to industry demands and implementations, as their critical thinking was put to test. They interacted with industry veterans and experts, gaining valuable real-world insights.
At the event, the external panellists were given a glimpse of MPL’s manufacturing capacity, including its R&D and QA capabilities. They engaged in constructive discussions with the MLP team as they exchanged notes on industry trends, domain knowledge, best practices, and more.
