Peace, focus on Positives and Prayers

Saving couple of birds, I felt I had a lived a worth full life.

So it is very difficult to digest when you read hundreds of people killed by their fellow human beings.
Evil has taken over the minds of these people to do such atrocities.
Even, one celled bacteria has been able to adopt the harshest environment by learning their lessons.
Why can't six sensed human being achieve this learning from the past mistakes.
There are so many worth full deeds one could do (esp. if you are a leader) than killing people.

In the vast universe (How big our universe is?), our milky way is just a speckle,
In the milky way, our solar system is just a tiny spot,
In the solar system, earth is a very very tiny object,
In the earth, your land is very small,
In the land, every individual is a fragile living object (However to bring a normal fragile human being to the Earth, it takes a mother's ultimate sacrifice ).

Even if you have 60 years of life span it is just a twinkle in astronomical numbers.

In that sixty years at least 18 years will go in childhood and education, some years will go as old age. If you consider other factors such as sleep and days with illness, you will have very few worth while days during your life. So instead of fighting with others and think you achieved greatness ( however, in History you will be treated as an useless dirt ), create something useful to others. That way you feel your life ( Similar to Mayfly's life in astronomical numbers) was worth something.

Accumulating wealth and money a midst suffering people, is useless. With the money you possess, help others (your own brethren) to improve and escape from poverty. 

If you can teach and educate them, they would do wonders. So many wonderful things are there to do and achieve, so why do you always think about destroying, that too - your own kind. History says atrocities committing people die in a dreadful way. Learn from the past mistakes and move forward positively.

As a tiny member of Beautiful Little Earth in the Great Universe, I prayed wholeheartedly (on Nov 2010) that there should be no war between South and North Korea. It is now 2013 and until now it did not happen. I pray war should never happen. Leaders and Excellent People (Even comedian like the great Charlie Chaplin - video) have guided us in the right path long before - The GOOD EARTH is RICH and can provide for everyone.

Greed has poisoned souls. We need humanity..

More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness..

I should like to help everyone.
We all want to help one another. 
Human beings are like that.
We want to live by each other's happiness, not misery.

We don't want to hate one another. 

If humans work together we can achieve everything.

I felt proud to stand near a wonderful team human made machine that has traveled far out into the unknown space and has comeback.

I always make sure to take my friends and family who visits me to NASA and show the work of great human beings and get the out of world experience. Recently, I had the privilege to accompany my Environmental Science (Masters) Professor Dr. Shanthi Vishwanathan, 

who had come to present a paper in International Conference on Bio defense and Natural Disasters. Hope we can focus on positive things and contribute such positive things to others.You don't  have to complex deeds, just simple good deeds are fine and it will add up. Again praying that no war should occur. 

MRSA, India Trip, Environmental Projects

It has been a while since I updated enviroapps blog.

Trying to help a friend in his damaged house, somehow contracted MRSA bacteria. It was a very bad experience that I had to go through.

MRSA Prevention:
Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub as soon as you come from an outing.
Thanks to immediate attention and prayers, I am back to normal after couple of months.

Also, I traveled to India. I could see the difference in India because of the economic boom.
People driving high end cars, roads are becoming better (Still not that excellent).
These temples were built more than 1000 years ago and look as fresh as a new structure.

Pillayarpatti

 Thanjavur

Since greed has taken over, the structures that has been built at recent past is withering away very easily.

Also, very little is focused on Environment and Pollution. Still Plastics are floating everywhere. Garbage thrown at will and nothing has improved on that issue. All roads should be like this with trees on the sides.

Anamalai Road

Few areas are clean, but doubt that they are pristine.

I heard that it was smelling pesticides before the rains. Thanks to good monsoon, the environment looks clean and not smelling pesticides.
Hopefully they will learn and make these areas pollution free and clean.

EA Farms project is moving forward as we envisioned. Dairy is moving along with several varieties of plants and trees being planted.
Within few years we will reap the benefits of these. I could smell fresh air from the variety of trees we planted there. Again rains have made it green. We are producing pure coconut without any chemicals and extracting very pure coconut oil. Also we are happy to produce milk that is uncontaminated and its pure bye- products. I had the most wonderful tasting butter from our farm. Peanuts that were grown also was very tasty. When I was young student, I had read in Tamil Mariyathai Raman Kadaigal that some one had fine lunch that consisted of thayir (yogurt) and agathi keerai (sesbania grandiflora also know as - august tree leaves or humming bird tree leaves) and it was the best food one could eat. I tried that and always felt that was so true. This time from EA Farms I savored the best yogurt and agathi keerai. Also I had the opportunity to feed agathi keerai to the cattle.

It was great pleasure to meet my professors in PSGCAS Environmental department. Dr. Palanivel and me went for lunch together and discussed various topics. He has started an Environmental lab - Greenlink Analytical and Research Laboratory (India) Private Ltd. 

I had the privilege to visit the lab and felt very happy. In this era of "REAL ESTATE BOOM", it feels better to know that people are still willing to do such endeavors. Thank God I had the opportunity to get guidance from such wonderful personalities.

Another day, we visited my friend Dr. Ravi's Aviculture farm - Wild County farm stay which is in Sethumadai - foothills of Topslip.

Wild County Farm Stay

                                                                 

I strongly recommend to stay at this place and enjoy nature at its best.
Very happy to see wildlife thriving at these areas.

Wild Monkeys

                                       

Nilgiri Tahrs

Overall had one of the best time of my life.

Saving National Parks - Florida Senator Mark Rubio - Good Words

Great Naturalists with the help of wonderful Presidents saved the National Parks with their great efforts.
You realize and thank them when you visit such great National Parks.

I just requested my Florida Senator to save our National parks and got an enterprising, promising and positive reply:


Dear Dr. Karuppiah,

Thank you for contacting me regarding our national parks and the impact they have on our country's businesses, communities and historic identity. I would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns.

As a native Floridian, I understand the importance of parks, and I value their contribution to our state's tourism-oriented economy and ecological diversity. I will continue to monitor ongoing developments, and will remain mindful of your concerns as we address legislation that would impact our national parks system.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of Florida. If I can be of any further help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Sincerely,

Marco Rubio
United States Senator

I Thank our Florida Senator from bottom of my heart for his enthusiastic effort to save National Parks.
For sure, Future Generations will reap the benefits of such savings. In this era of environmental abuse (seen all over the globe), it is good to hear such words from the senator.

Everglades National Park - Map

A scenic view at Everglades National Park

As Environmental Scientists and Naturalists, we will do our part for the future generations:

SAVE TREES

SAVE MOUNTAINS

SAVED ENVIRONMENTS

Makesh Karuppiah, Ph.D
Environmental Scientist

Water Scarcity, Innovative ways to produce potable water and natural Energy Resources

Water scarcity is rising at an alarming rate in certain parts of the world.
Fresh water bodies that depend on rainfall are completely drying due to the fact that climatic conditions are constantly changing and weather patterns are being affected. Deforestation and Construction (River soil removal) have caused so many side effects.
Drought can cause entire Nation to succumb.
Just saw the news that at Tamilnadu (where I come from) there are no rains and water levels are deteriorating at an alarming rate.

Soon people may even have tough time getting potable water.

As an Environmental Scientist, my concern is

What the government and scientists are doing to curb this water deficiency problem?

Tamilnadu has hundreds of universities.

Tamilnadu has thousands of colleges.

These educational institutes have very intelligent students who are guided by intellectual and experienced professors.  Why are these universities not researching on alternate water producing topics and produce water?.

People from Tamilnadu have excelled in variety of fields all over the globe.
However, Tamilnadu still has several hours of power cut and shortage of water.

What I am pointing to is - why are these universities and colleges are not researching on novel and innovative methods of producing water at affordable prices.

Ironically, Tamilnadu has the largest desalination plants in whole South east Asia and they have a long coastal area to utilize.
There are innovative technologies such as

Water from air.

Self water filling bottle.

Efficient Desalination - using Nano Technology.

Future Cheap alternatives for desalination - nanotechology filters.

Also solar, bio, wind and geothermal energy can be used along with wind and hydro generated power.

As an individual and group of people, who wanted to do something for the roots, we sincerely tried to get and implement these technologies. but could not afford to do so. We are still trying though.

Sarcastically,  I can say that  I am sure government can fund these studies with the huge profit they make from TASMAC - Alcohol effects.

What we do is to plant as many trees as we can and save them at our EA FARMS SONA (Sustainable Organic Natural Agricultural) site. Hope these trees helps and brings rain there in the future.

Our area trees:

Also, we are planning to use as much as natural resources at EA Farms.

Nature Festival Birdapalooza Lake Apopka Preserve and Restore Natural Environments

Most of the time you hear nature environments are being destroyed all over world.
Deforestation happen at an alarming rate. Water bodies are heavily polluted.
Air is contaminated with chemicals that are harmful for breathing. In most polluted cities already people are starting to wear masks. You should be thankful if you are living in a clean air environment and drinking good water. Others are not privileged as the people living in good environment. Most of the cities are being converted to concrete jungles.

On the apposite side, as an Environmental scientist, I feel better and take pride when I see an excellently restored area that was once most polluted environment.
Today had the opportunity to visit Lake Apopka environment for a festival called Birdapalooza .

Lake Apopka was one of most Polluted lake in Florida. Hard working people with the help of government had secured the area and made it a wonderful natural habitat. As always, I reinstate that wetlands are very important for any country. Never destroy wetlands.

Good that these lands have been purchased from private owners and had been restored. Several birds and animals live there. Fresh air, greenery and good water are very hard to get these days.
I hope other countries all over globe should have this type conserved areas, so that at least some of those areas in their country gets protected. Otherwise people in those countries would only see buildings without any natural environments, trees and wildlife such as birds and animals. These Environments and their inhabitants  are very important and would not be there for them and their children.
In this industrial era,  it may seem that it cannot be avoided to leave a piece of land like these, but real leaders should save the environment and preserve these type of areas (at least few areas) in their respective countries.
It was a joy to breath fresh air, watch wonderful lake environment and view majestic birds and animals with family and make friendships with people who equally respect Nature and Environment.

Swamp Brothers were there.
Audobon society were there and along with Orange county people, who gave a wonderful Bird Watch Tour around Lake Apopka.
People such as pew environment, who work  towards better environment were there.

Also felt good that so many children actively participated and were very interested in birds, animals and environment.

I am always for CLEAN TO GREEN and for Protecting & Restoring Our Water Resources.

Makesh Karuppiah, Ph.D
Environmental Scientist

Wetlands Festival, Free Backyard Trees, Arborday, Better Events for Communities and Environment

During this weekend,  I had a wonderful opportunity to attend 13^th Orlando Wetlands Festival.

If opportunities are available in any community, these types of events should be conducted for the betterment of communities, societies, groups and environment. Parks and Recreation Department gave us a free backyard tree in celebration of Arbor Day.

We received a cherry plum tree. Hopefully one day we will get excellent plums from this tree in our backyard.

Update:

Reaping the benefits of this cherry plum that was planted:

Wetlands are very important environment for every country in the planet. Also wide ranges of fauna and flora are available in these environments. We had a wonderful walk in the Fort Christmas Historical Park wetlands area. 

During the walk we saw a huge alligator eating a huge turtle. Several beautiful birds were flying, swimming and feeding in the wetlands. 

Excellent Photographic and bird watching trails were there.

There were several environmental societies and departments having their booths. I had the opportunity to talk to them. Few years back, I did research on Atrazine and wetlands. People who were in the Department of Environmental Protection told me that Atrazine is still the major chemical that enters the wetlands. Hopefully atrazine don’t affect the wetlands, since in Florida, sunshine is always there and atrazine degrades better with sunlight in wetland environment than any other water bodies. Also,  I hope for making future environmental association with these environmental groups and departments. 

Audubon society booths were there with live birds including the beautiful, wonderful and majestic Bald Eagle.

I wish that this type of events should be conducted in every part of world for the betterment of societies, communities and environment.

Environmental Research - A Look Back - On Positive Note

A look back at my Environmental Research:

From my childhood, I was interested in Nature and Environment. We have planted numerous trees in schools. 
What we planted as small saplings have grown into beautiful trees: 

Bharathiar University - Environmental Sciences 

Science was my subject.

When I learned about Limnology and used Secchi disc during my undergraduate degree, I decided to become an Environmental Scientist. 

Beautiful Water Body from where I studied Limnology

I joined Master’s degree (PSGCAS) and focused towards Environmental Chemistry. My research was - Color removal from pulp and paper mill effluent.

Then got admitted to another Masters (M.Phil - Bharathiar University) and focused towards Environmental Physiology. I got chance to work with plants, bioindicators, bioremediators, fishes and scary scorpions. 

Portulaca oleracea (Linn) AS BIOINDICATOR AND PHYTO (BIO) REMEDIATION TOOL OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT 

Stem affected by Copper

During these periods, got very good friends, enjoyed my studies and had a good passion for Environment. My research was using a plant as bio-indicator and that inclined towards metal remediation using plants. 

Finally got into PhD program - MarineEstuarine Environmental Sciences. Environmental Sciences, Toxicology, Statistics, Microbiology and Biochemistry were my five majors. Passed my tough written, oral exams and I concentrated on my research - Toxicity of two Chesapeake Bay Tributaries. I loved the research. I liked to go into the field for collecting sediments in a small boat that was easily transported in a car. 

The tributaries were scenic beauties and after tough work, samples were collected and transported to lab. By that time, I had become an expert in sample analyses, toxicity identification evaluation, environmental instrumentation and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. 

After the samples were analyzed for the data, I predicted one of the tributary ( Pocomoke River ) which had flow of nutrients and influent from Sewage water treatment is more toxic. This was before the massive fish kills that occurred in Pocomoke River, MD.  Several people participated in my dissertation defense and I was proud of it. Results were published in refereed  environmental scientific research journals. One of the best paper was :

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1996 Oct;35(1):81-5.

Impact of point and nonpoint source pollution on pore waters of two Chesapeake Bay tributaries.

Karuppiah M, Gupta G.

 I graduated as an Environmental Scientist with very keen interest in doing something for Environment.

I also ended up in Computer Sciences Master’s program, graduated from it and found a well-paid career in the new field. My passion was in Environmental Science. Even in MS computer science my thesis was related to Environmental Science and it was on Fuzzy Logic in an Universally Acceptable Pollution model. With help of my degrees in Environmental Sciences and Computer Sciences, we created a company called EnviroApps - Enviro - for Environment and Apps - for Information Technology Applications. My quest for Environmental Research and love for nature never stopped. I still grab every small opportunity to involve in Environmental activities, teaching and creating awareness (Quora, Twitter).  With my interest in Environmental Sciences, we created our own environmental projects  at - EA FARMS. 

Cattle from EA FARMS - We produce organic feed to feed our cattle for good milk.

One of my passion is to teach Environmental Sciences - from kids to Graduate students. 

Recently with my great friend Dr. Hatha, I am  involved in some important Environmental Research such as:

Halophilic heavy metal tolerant bacteria from Vembanad Lake as possible means of bioremediation of lead and cadmium.

Antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria from natural and culture environments of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de man, 1887).

So many ways are available for mankind to work and move positively. Let us move forward positively in year 2013. From my side, environmental projects will move ahead and move forward positively. Happy New Year to All.

Makesh Karuppiah, Ph.D
Environmental Scientist