Research Papers

Sericin-based ‘green’ and sustainable biomaterial for waste-water purification as a bioremediation strategy

Koshy Divya Susan , Saxena Rohit , Agrawal Ruchi
| 2025

Silk protein sericin is a natural polymer extracted from the silkworm Bombyx mori, known for its eco-friendliness and biocompatibility. Silkworm cocoons, mainly composed of silk fibroin, possess excellent adsorption capabilities. The porous and fibrous nature of the cocoon provides a large surface area, offering a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to synthetic adsorbents and water treatment due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability.

Integrated assessment of ecological sustainability of urban and peri‑urban agricultural practices in Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India using Analytic Hierarchy Process

Datta Debajit , Mazumder Shrabana , Mrinmoyee ,Naskar Shovik Deb, Roy Asit Kumar , Maity Debapriya
| 2025

Urbanization presents multifaceted challenges to urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA), disrupting the ecological balance and food security in rapidly expanding metropolitan regions. The Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) of India exemplifies these challenges, with its UPA system being increasingly pressurized by urban sprawl and environmental degradation. Within the broader discourse on sustainable urban food systems, prioritizing the ecological integrity of UPA is critical for promoting community resilience.

Assessment of the coral habitability status of marine ecosystems along the eastern coast of Andaman Islands, India

Majumdar Debaleena , Das Barnali , Roy Asit Kumar , Chakraborty Subha , Datta Debajit
| 2025

The Andaman Islands, hosting one of the most enriched marine ecosystems globally, have faced significant ecological threats due to various physico-climatic changes over recent decades, adversely impacting approximately 25 mangrove species and 135 coral species. To evaluate these impacts systematically on regional marine ecology, this study develops and applies a coral habitat quality index (CHI) along the eastern Andaman coast using an integrated approach combining key physico-climatic indicators, participatory coastal community appraisals, and geospatial analysis.

Lysozyme functionalized zinc-oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial assessment against Staphylococcus aureus with futuristic application in wastewater monitoring

Singh Suneeti, Rekhi Pavni, Saju Jewel Mary
| 2025

Access to clean drinking water remains a global concern, primarily due to the presence of biological, inorganic, and organic pollutants. Among the biological contaminants, waterborne pathogens pose a significant threat to human well-being. Since nanoparticle-based biosensors have a higher sensitivity for detecting bacteria than conventional detection techniques, they have become increasingly prevalent.

Internationalising Lifestyle for the Environment

Kedia Shailly , Maiti Madhuparna, Khanna Palak
| 2025

Lifestyle for the Environment’ (LiFE), introduced by India’s Prime Minister at COP26, emphasises behavioural shifts for sustainable consumption. This chapter explores the integration of LiFE into multilateral processes to strengthen global sustainability efforts. It analyses opportunities within the G20, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to embed lifestyle-centric approaches into global governance. 

Assessing the Impact of Regional Climate Variability on Forest Vulnerability in Assam Using a GIS and Machine Learning-Based Approach

Ghosh Sayanta , Warman Aakash , Chauhan Pranjul , Soni Aniruddh, Sharma Jitendra Vir
| 2025

Assam, one of India’s richest regions in terms of biodiversity, faces significant environmental threats due to regional climate variability and anthropogenic pressures. This study explores a GIS and machine learning (ML)-based approach to assess the impact of climate change on forest and biodiversity vulnerability across the state.

India and Commonwealth: Examining the Debates on Contemporary Relevance and Continued Membership

Kolekar Abhilash
| 2025

India’s continued membership in the Commonwealth has led to an emergence o f two opposing perceptions. The first group perceives it as a relevant organisation, and India should continue its membership to pursue its varied interests. The second group relegates it as a relic o f the colonial past and strongly advocates for exiting the organisation.

Climate change—WASH services—health nexus: the Indian case

Sharma Brij Mohan , Basu Avanti Roy , Krishnan Anagha , Sarkar Shyamal Kumar , Bharat Girija K. Bharat
| 2024

Climate change introduces a wide range of factors that affect human health, which are now becoming increasingly evident Worldwide. This emphasizes the necessity for a more profound understanding of the intricate health issues to implement preventive measures and intervention strategies aimed to safeguard lives on the planet earth. The current set of circumstances calls for more intensive research to gain a better comprehend of the emerging health risks associated with climate change and to identify the most vulnerable populations.

High-value products from microalgae—Unlocking the potential for large-scale commercialization

Kaur Mehak , Peshwani Hishita , Goel Mayurika
| 2025

Microalgae are a sustainable source for the commercial production of nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceutical industries. In order to obtain the optimum yields, current focus should be to develop a process chain that revolves around cost-efficiency and ease of up-scaling to develop holistic microalgal biorefineries. Enhanced biomass yield through optimization of nutrient composition, light intensity, agitation, cultivation techniques, or genetic engineering is one of the promising solutions.

Plant Bioactive Natural Products through Endophytic Fungal Interactions

Kaur Mehak , LenkaSangram K., Goel Mayurika
| 2024

One of the primary areas in drug discovery today is the exploration of natural sources such as medicinal plants to discover new bioactives that can contribute to the pharmaceutical industry. Endophytic fungi are being studied the most as microbial bio-factories to produce such bioactives because of their symbiotic associations with the host plants. Furthermore, the production of secondary metabolites is determined by their genetic makeup, environmental factors, and surrounding biota.