Father Muller College of Nursing Hosts State-Level Student Research Confluence AVENIR 2K26
Mangaluru: Father Muller College of Nursing, Mangaluru, organised AVENIR 2K26 – Student Research Confluence, a one-day state-level conference on the theme “AI in Research: A Supporter, Not a Substitute”, at Silver Jubilee Hall, Father Muller Campus, Mangaluru.
Organised by the college’s Research Cell and Student Research Club, the conference aimed to foster research aptitude, scientific thinking and innovation among nursing students, research scholars and academicians.
The conference focused on equipping young researchers with contemporary research skills and practical knowledge of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various stages of research while upholding human intelligence, scientific judgement, ethical responsibility and academic integrity. It emphasised that AI should serve as an enabling tool to strengthen research rather than replace the creativity, critical thinking and accountability of researchers.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Vinitha Ramanath Pai, Director, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Programmes, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, and Guest of Honour Dr. Ramesh Bhat M., Professor, Department of Dermatology and Head of the Father Muller Research Centre, Father Muller Charitable Institutions.
Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions, presided over the function. Other dignitaries present included Rev. Dr. Michael Santhumayor, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College; Rev. Fr. George Jeevan Sequeira, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital; and Rev. Sr. Dr. Dhanya Devasia, Principal, Father Muller College of Nursing.
Dr. Shycil Mathew, Chairperson, Student Research Club and Faculty Organising Secretary; Ms. Josvita D’Souza, President, Student Research Club and Student Organising Chairperson; and Ms. Jenisha Lobo, Secretary, Student Research Club and Student Organising Secretary, were also present. Faculty members, guests and participants from various institutions attended the inaugural programme.
A special highlight of the ceremony was the felicitation of Rev. Sr. Dr. Dhanya Devasia, Principal, Father Muller College of Nursing, and Dr. Ramyashree, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, in recognition of their successful completion of their Ph.D. in Nursing. Their academic achievements were acknowledged as an inspiration to faculty members and aspiring researchers, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and research advancement.
Scientific Paper and E-Poster Competition Winners
The winners of the Scientific Paper Presentation competition were:
First Prize: Ms. Sushanth S. Saligram for the paper titled “Patients’ Perceptions Regarding Communication with Healthcare Providers.”
Second Prize: Mr. Avneer Prathik D’Souza for the paper titled “Awareness and Attitude Regarding Respectful Maternity Care Among Staff Nurses Working in a Selected Tertiary Care Hospital, Mangaluru.”
Third Prize: Ms. Alita Joslin D’Souza for the paper titled “A Room Reading Habit and Anxiety Among Nursing Students.”
The winners of the E-Poster Competition were:
First Prize: Ms. Thamizharasi N.
Second Prize: Ms. Suneetha Merlin Fernandes and Ms. Jubymol C. John.
Third Prize: Ms. Calista Ruth Noronha.
Expert Sessions Explore the Role of AI in Research
The scientific programme featured five informative sessions conducted by eminent academicians and research experts.
Dr. Vinitha Ramanath Pai initiated the scientific deliberations with a session titled “Research Focus 101: Think First, Research Better – The Human Mind Leads.” She highlighted the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and identifying meaningful research problems as the foundations of quality research.
Dr. Gireesh G.R., Professor, Department of Nursing Foundation, Yenepoya Nursing College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, conducted a session titled “Smart Research 101: Using AI to Find, Filter and Focus Literature and Tools.” He discussed the application of AI-based tools in literature searches, screening, and identifying appropriate research resources.
Dr. Larissa Martha Sams, Principal, Laxmi Memorial College of Nursing, Mangaluru, presented “Human Mind + AI Support: A Smarter Approach to Research Methodology.” Her session focused on integrating human expertise with AI-assisted approaches to strengthen research methodology and scientific decision-making.
Moving beyond theoretical understanding, Dr. Vinish V., Assistant Professor – Senior Scale, Department of Community Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal, conducted an interactive, hands-on session titled “AI-Powered Research: Hands-on Preparation of Research Protocol.” Participants gained practical exposure to developing research protocols with appropriate AI assistance.
The final scientific session, “AI Beyond Copy-Paste: Creating Original Manuscripts with Integrity,” was delivered by Dr. Animesh Jain, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and Deputy Coordinator, Medical Education Unit, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru. He emphasised originality in scientific writing, the responsible use of AI, research ethics, plagiarism prevention, and the importance of maintaining academic integrity in research publications.
The conference also provided a platform for budding researchers to showcase their research competencies through scientific paper and e-poster presentations. Awards for the best paper and poster presentations recognised the scholarly contributions of participants. Interactive learning activities, an ice-breaking session, and a post-test further enhanced participant engagement and reinforced the key concepts discussed during the scientific sessions.
The inaugural programme was compered by Ms. Rachel Claire Lobo and Ms. Anjali Singh, who coordinated the proceedings.
AVENIR 2K26 served as a vibrant academic platform for nursing students, research scholars and faculty members from various institutions to exchange research ideas, explore emerging technologies and strengthen their research competencies. The conference reflected Father Muller College of Nursing’s continued commitment to promoting a research culture, innovation and evidence-based nursing practice through its Research Cell and Student Research Club.
AVENIR 2K26 reinforced an important message for the research community: Artificial Intelligence may accelerate the research process, but human intelligence, ethical responsibility and originality remain the driving forces behind meaningful scientific contributions.