US Professor, Pride of Coimbatore
By SHEFA RAFI
‘From the poorest of countries to the richest of nations, education is the key to moving forward in any society’ is a popular quote by Nelson Mandela, south Africa’s anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, philanthropist and the first black to lead a country as President. This perhaps inspired Dr. Bommanna Loganathan, a native of Mettupalayam, presently working as professor of chemistry and a researcher at Murray State University (MSU), Murray, Kentucky in the US came to visit the school and college he studied in Mettupalayam and Coimbatore to sensitise students about plethora of educational opportunities in US universities.
During his two week stay here, Loganathan has been giving presentations at educational institutions inviting students to pursue their higher studies in US universities more particularly Murray State University. Significantly, the field of study he suggests to students is Science, Technology and Mathematics, in short named as STEM.
Shedding light about Murray State University, he said that it offers for more than 10,000 students through a high quality education with experiential learning, academic and personal growth and the ability to secure a lifetime success. Since 1922, the true value of higher education has been found at Murray State University, where their commitment is to afford endless opportunities for developing leaders in the community, the country and the world. The University’s main campus is located in Murray, Kentucky and includes five regional campuses.
Noteworthy to mention that Dr Loganathan, son of Periakkal and Bommanna Gounder was born in Mettuapalayam and studied at Mahajana Elementary School, Municipal Boys High School in Mettupalayam. Thereafter he finished his SSLC in the year 1971 with school first. And he pursued his PUC at PSG Arts College (PUC) and UG at Government Arts College (BSc Zoology). After graduation, he joined Center of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, where he received his MSc (1979) and PhD in Marine Biology (1986).
As luck would have it, Dr. Loganathan received a prestigious Monbusho Fellowship from Government of Japan to conduct research at Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan. He joined Ehime University in October 1986 and started his research on environmental pollution by highly toxic chemicals such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). At Ehime University (1986-1990), he made significant contributions in his research and published his research results in international peer-reviewed journals. In the year 1990, Dr. Loganathan received his second Ph.D degree from Ehime University, Japan.
Armed with his second PhD, Dr. Loganathan received his postdoctoral fellowship from the Great Lakes Laboratory, State University of New York (SUNY) College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. He was involved in a multi-million dollar research project (funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency) dealing with toxic contaminants in Lake Erie and Buffalo River.
After successful completion of this project, he received a research faculty position at Skidaway Oceanography Institution, University System of Georgia. In this position, Loganathan involved in environmental monitoring and assessment project (EMAP), dealing with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals in sediment and biota from the Gulf of Mexico, Georgia and Florida coasts.
In the year 1993, he joined Murray State University, Kentucky with teaching and research faculty position. Since then, he continued his teaching and research at MSU and made great contributions in teaching and research.
He has to his credit many awards for his teaching and research from MSU, regional, national level as well as globally.
To name a few are Max Carman Outstanding Teacher Award, Inspirational Chemist and MSU Distinguished Researcher Award.
Alongwith Dr Loganathan, Tyson Manering from the International Student Office at Murray State University accompanied Dr Loganathan to offer information about admissions, scholarships, and academic programs.
