Muthulakshmi R T S
Areas of Interest & Expertise
- Science Education
- Teacher Education
- Chemistry/Polymer Chemistry
- Environmental Impact of Synthetic Organic Molecules
- Eco-friendly and Sustainable Solutions
Biography
Muthulakshmi is an experienced organic/polymer synthesis researcher. She is also an experienced upper primary and secondary school science educator.
She holds PhD (Polymer Chemistry) and M Tech (Polymer Science and Technology) from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), M Sc (Chemical Sciences) from Pondicherry University, BEd from Bangalore University, and BSc (Chemistry) from Gandhigram University.
As a research and development scientist, she has worked on several interdisciplinary projects revolving around Engineering Thermoplastics and functional materials, ideated and developed a wide variety of new materials, formulations, charactersation methods, and prototype testing. She has also worked on developing polymeric membranes for fuel cells as part of PhD work.
During her tenure with Saandeepani Academy for Excellence, Bengaluru, she taught chemistry, physics, geography, and mathematics apart from coordinating all sciences, school timetables, and online school activities.
The most exciting part of teaching for her is to be with young minds, to feel energised with them, to be able to share the learnings, and learn from their inquisitive yet thoughtful queries and views. She would like her students to get inspired by nature while embracing the aspects of sustainability in every scientific thought.
Courses
Building Experiments and Demonstrations
Is science teaching possible without laboratory work?
General Chemistry
An introductory course in chemistry to explore a conceptual foundation to understand biochemistry and material science.
Publications
Journal Articles
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Vyas, M. K., Brar, A.S., & Varma, I. K. (2006). Synthesis and characterization of sulphonated PEES copolymers by NMR spectroscopy. European Polymer Journal, 42(6), 1423 –1432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2006.01.002
- Muthulakshmi, R. T. S., Meier-Haack, J., Schlenstedt, K., Komber, H., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I. K. (2006). Synthesis and characterisation of sulphonated poly (ether ether sulphone) copolymers. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 66(6), 634 – 644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2005.10.016
- Muthulakshmi, R. T. S., Bhattacharya, S., & Varma, I. K. (2006). Synthesis and characterisation of sulphonated poly (ether imide). High Performance Polymers, 18(2), 115 – 126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954008306056503
- Muthulakshmi, R. T. S., Meier-Haack, J., Schlenstedt, K., Vogel, C., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I. K. (2005). Sulphonated poly (ether ether ketone) copolymers: Synthesis, characterization and membrane properties. Journal of Membrane Science, 261(1 – 2), 27 – 35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2005.03.007
- Muthulakshmi, R. T. S., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I. K. (2005). Sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone): Synthesis and characterization. Journal of Materials Science, 40, 629 – 636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-005‑6300‑2
- Sawant, V., Muthulakshmi, R. T. S., & Varma, I. K. (2004). Effect of sulfonation on the properties of poly (2,6‑dimethyl‑1,4‑phenylene oxide). International Journal of Plastics Technology, 8, 304 – 313.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Kumari, R., & Varma, I. K. (2004). Effect of structure on thermal stability of poly(arylene ether sulphone)s. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 78(3), 809 – 819. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-004‑0449‑9
- Muthulakshmi, R. T. S., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I.K. (2004). Sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone)s: Synthesis and characterisation. Macromolecular Symposia, 210, 21 – 29. https://doi.org/10.1002/masy.200450603
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I. K. (2003). Studies on sulphonation of poly(ether ether sulphone). Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering, 89, 806 – 807.
Patents
- Muthulakshmi R.T.S., Satish N., Abbas Alli G. S., Satish K.M., Christiaan H., Johannes K., Subodhkumer P., Vitthal S., Rajashekar T. (2015). Phosphorus-free flame retardant composition (WO2013153427A1). World Intellectual Property Organisation. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2013153427A1
- Muthulakshmi R.T.S., Immanuel I.S., Sathish N., Ranjana S., Shripathy V., & Mahua, D. (2010). Siloxane-alkenyl aromatic copolymer compositions and process (IPCOM000202194D). IP.com Journal. https://priorart.ip.com/IPCOM/000202194
Conferences, Seminars and Talks
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S. (2023, August 9 – 12). Structure-Property relationships in Polymer Product Design. [Talk]. Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Recent Trends in Polymer Processing, Product Design and Applied Rheology. Department of Polymer Science and Technology, Vision Group on Science and Technology (VGST), Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS), Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S. (2023, May). Innovave polymeric materials in dentistry. [Talk]. Webinar, Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S (2023, February). Polymeric Biomaterials for medical implants and devices. [Talk]. One-day national seminar, Department of Chemistry, Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College for Women (Autonomous), Kilakarai, Tamil Nadu.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S. (2023, January). [Talk]. SDG4: Quality education. Silver Oaks International School, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Kumanan, A., Shaikh, A.A.G., Sait, M.M., Mahanth, S.K., & Pallavi, M.B. (2012). Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of novel polydimethyl siloxane based block copolymers by reversible addition fragmentation transfer controlled radical polymerization technique. Annual Technical Conference (ANTEC) Conference Proceedings, 2, 1191 – 1194.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S. (2009, January). Sulphonated high-performance polymers as potential membranes for fuel cells. [Lecture]. National Conference on Frontiers in Polymer Science and Technology, Virudhunagar, India.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Meier-Haack, J., Schlenstedt, K., Vogel, C., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I.K. (2005, July). Synthesis, characterisation and membrane properties evaluation of sulphonated poly(ether ether sulphone) copolymers. [Conference session]. ICMAT 2005 & IUMRS – ICAM 2005, Materials for Rechargeable Batteries, Hydrogen Storage and Fuel Cells, Singapore.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Meier-Haack, J., Schlenstedt, K., Homber, H., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I.K. (2004, December). Copolymerization of sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone)s based on phenolphthalein and biphenol moieties for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. [Conference session]. MACRO-2004, Thiruvanthapuram, India.
- Sawant, V., Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., & Varma, I.K. (2004, December). Studies on sulfonation of poly (2,6‑dimethyl‑1, 4‑phenylene oxide). [Conference session]. MACRO-2004, Thiruvanthapuram, India.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Kumari, R., & Varma, I.K. (2004, January). Effect of structure on thermal stability of poly(arylene ether sulphone)s. [Seminar]. Thermans 2004, Baroda, India.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Bhattacharya, S., & Varma, I.K. (2004, January). Effect of sulphonation on properties of poly (ether imide). [Seminar]. Advances in Polymer Technology, APT’04, Cochin, India.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Choudhary, V., & Varma, I. K. (2003, September – October). Sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone)s: Synthesis and characterisation. [Symposium]. REACT 2003, Dresden, Germany.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., & Varma, I.K. (2002, December). Sulphonated poly (ether sulphone)s: Synthesis and characterization. [Seminar]. Frontiers of Polymer Science and Engineering, MACRO 2002, Kharagpur, India.
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S., Varma, I.K., Yugandhar, U., & Murthy, T.S.R. (2002, July). Studies on sulphonation of poly (ether ether ketone). [Symposium]. MACRO 2002, Beijing, China.
Online Article
- Muthulakshmi, R.T.S. (2023, June). Government schools in Tonk: Some observations based on my visit. Azim Premji University Practice Connect.
https://practiceconnect.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/government-schools-in-tonk-some-observations-based-on-my-visit/