The Department of Zoology, Central University of Kerala was awarded a grant of Rs 1.68 crore under the ‘Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The fund will be utilised to purchase, among other things, a state-of-the-art Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope. With this, the department will be able to envisage major projects and make progress in research. It is expected that research students will benefit greatly from the grant which is sanctioned based on academic and research progress of the respective department. The grant was awarded under the Level B category based on the recommendations of the FIST Advisory Committee for a term of five years. Vice Chancellor (i/c) Prof. K.C. Baiju congratulated the Department of Zoology on the achievement. He pointed out that this is a proud moment for the university, and the FIST infrastructure support will greatly increase the research outcomes in Zoology and other sister departments.