All India Rubber Industries Association Southern Region conducted webinar, featuring well-known author Vidya Rajan with her book launch "Fascinating Social And Natural History of Rubber". The author Vidya Rajan is a science aficionado. She has academic degrees in the natural sciences from four universities on three continents. Her interest in latex as an antifeedant arose from research she did for her doctoral dissertation and from her interest in managing pests.

Her research for 'Rubber' produced a peer reviewed publication on the evolution of polygastric guts as an adaptation to latex rich forage. She has done laboratory-based research, taught at the high school and college levels, written laboratory manuals in biology and biochemistry and training courses for pharmaceutical manufacturing. She writes a monthly column about science called 'Inner Nature' and has published several peer reviewed research and review chapters. She is currently works as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Delaware and as a technical writer for a biotechnology company.

Shri K Srikanth Managing Committee welcomed the Author Vidya Rajan and Interviewer - Dr. Navin Jayakumar

Special mention was made recognizing the presence of Mr. John Loadman from the UK, he has lectured world-wide on topics related to the history of natural rubber and the problems confronting conservators. He is the author of 3 books on Rubber Industry 'Tears of the Tree', 'The Hancocks of Marlborough' and 'Analysis of Rubber and Rubber like Polymers'.

AIRIA thanked West Land books for co-coordinating the programme. The book is available on sale online Amazon India at a good discount.