The Department of Chemistry and Centre for Research, St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam, successfully organized the Sr. Bertille Memorial Lecture Series on 8 January 2026 at1:15 PM in the AV Room, Science Block. The lecture was conducted as part of the department’s academic enrichment initiatives aimed at exposing students and faculty to emerging areas of chemical research.

The invited speaker for the session was Dr. Sindhu Mathai, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology. She delivered an insightful lecture titled “Chemodiversity in Nature: Inspiring Natural Product-Based Drug Discovery.” The talk highlighted the vast chemical diversity found in natural sources and its crucial role in the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. Dr. Mathai explained key concepts with relevant examples, making the session informative and engaging for students, research scholars, and faculty members.

The programme was coordinated by the faculty members of the Department of Chemistry, under the leadership of Dr. Saritha Chandran A. (HOD), with the support of staff coordinators Dr. Shanty A.A., Dr. Raichel Mary Lopez, and Dr. Merin Joseph. The organizing committee comprised Dr. Ushamani M., Dr. Elizabeth Kuruvilla, Dr. Annu Raju, Dr. Nisha T.P., and Mr. Linto Anto, with Emy Maria serving as the student coordinator.

The lecture witnessed active participation from students and faculty, followed by an interactive discussion session that enriched the learning experience. The programme concluded successfully, fulfilling its objective of promoting scientific curiosity and awareness about natural product-based drug discovery. The event was well appreciated by the participants and added significant academic value to the department’s activities.