Port Blair, Dec. 26: General Body meeting (GBM) of the Andaman Science Association was held on 15th December, 2012, in conference hall of the Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair which was attended by Scientists, faculty members and officers from the different organizations like, CARI, ZSI, BSI, NIOT, Pondicherry University, JNRM, ASI, AYUSH, CPR and Salim Ali Centre of Port Blair.

The General body meeting chaired by Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, CARI, Port Blair  discussed on the various agenda items for smooth functioning of Andaman Science Association. The introductory remarks with various activities of the Andaman Science Association were presented by Dr. A.K. Singh.The General body elected the  executive council for the period of two years with  Dr. S. Dam Roy,  Director CARI as the President, Dr. D. R. Singh (CARI) and Dr. P. M. Mohan (Pondicherry University) as Vice President, Dr. TVRS Sharma, Emeritus Scientist as Facilitator of the Association, Dr. A.K. Singh (CARI) as General Secretary, Dr. M. Sankaran (CARI) and Dr. S. Jaya Kumar (JNRM) as Joint Secretary and Dr. Jai Sunder (CARI) as Treasurer. The General Body also nominated Councilors of the association representating scientific, research, teaching and extension departments/ organizations of A & N Islands.  Dr. B. Gangwar, presently Project Director, IFSR (ICAR), Modipuram was nominated  as Editor-in-Chief, beside Editorial board for the Journal of the Andaman Science Association comprising of the experts from life sciences, agricultural and social sciences were constituted.

After the election, Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director CARI and President of the Andaman Science Association(ASA) addressed the august gathering  highlighting  the history  and the   activities carried out by the Association. He also  pointed out the key issues related to the Scientific communities, particularly who are working in these remote islands and also  importance of conducting research in these fragile island having   unique  biodiversity . He also informed that ASA will provide an appropriate platform for the scientist, teachers, researchers and development personnel who are working in these islands to articulate their work in the workshop, seminar, group discussion  etc and bring out the same in public domain through publication in  Journal of Andaman Science Association.  The GBM was coordinated  by Dr. A. K. Singh, Sr. Scientist, which  concluded with  vote of thanks proposed  by  Dr. M. Sankaran, Sr. Scientist  of  CARI.