the chemistry of aquatic systems. This is a core discipline for research across the various disciplines of marine sciences. Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry The Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry is one of the foremost academic centres in marine biology in the country. It was founded in 1938 and immediately established a research programme. Over 100 PhD students have graduated from the department. The department offers post-graduate coursework leading to the degrees of MSc (Marine Biology) and M. Phil.(Life Sciences). Researchers from the department named a new species after the university, Victoriopisa cusatensis. Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics The Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics was one of the first departments in the country to recognize the importance of geology and geophysics in environmental and developmental issues. The postgraduate programme in Marine Geology began in 1976. The department offers post-graduate coursework leading to the degree of MSc (Marine Geophysics). Department of Physical Oceanography The Department of Physical Oceanography was an outgrowth of the Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography of the University of Kerala. A postgraduate programme in Oceanography began in 1965, which later moved to the Physical Oceanography and Meteorology Division (POMD) of University of Cochin. In 1996, the Department of Physical oceanography was founded. The department offers post-graduate coursework leading to the degrees of MSc (Oceanography) and MTech (Ocean Technology). Faculty of Medical Sciences and Technology Department of Biotechnology The Department of Biotechnology, established in the year 1991, focuses on research in Microbiology, Virology, Microbial Ecology, Neurobiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry, Genetic Engineering, Plant Biotechnology, Bio-electrochemical systems and Microbial Genetics. The department offers post-graduate coursework leading to the degree of M.Sc. Microbiology (started in 2018), M.Sc. (Biotechnology), Integrated MSc in Biological Sciences (Started in 2021) and PhD in Biotechnology . Prof. (Dr.) Parvathi A. is currently serving as the Head of the Department. Faculty of Social Sciences Department of Applied Economics The Department of Applied Economics focuses on the economics of technology, econometrics and operations research. The city of Kochi has an industrial belt and a coastal area that supports fishing. Industry and fishing have contributed considerably to environmental pollution in the area. Therefore, the department takes a particular interest in the technology problems of industry and the fisheries sector, and the economics of the environment. The department offers postgraduate coursework leading to the degree of M.A. (Applied Economics) as well