Global Alumni Engagement Series | A Report

Global Alumni Engagement series 

Rendezvous with Dr Merlin Franco 

Report by: Ms Irin Reji Thomas Intern, Office of International Programmes

Guest speaker: Dr Merlin Franco Senior Assistant Professor, Universiti Darussalam, Brunei

M.Sc. Botany MCC (2001-2003)

On the evening of 15th July 2026, as part of the Global Alumni Engagement series, an interactive session with our alumni abroad was conducted by the Office of International Programmes and the Office of Research and Development in the Council Room, Madras Christian College.

Our alumnus Dr Merlin Franco, Senior Assistant Professor, University of Darussalam who did his Masters in Botany in the years 2001-2003 was our guest speaker of the day.

His core areas of focus uniquely intersect the natural sciences and humanities, combining botany and ecosystem management with ethnobiology, biocultural diversity, and ecocriticism. Through an engaging interaction with our students, he gave valuable insights into academic opportunities, student life, scholarships, and career prospects available in Brunei and in the interdisciplinary fields of disciplines.

The session began with an introduction by Ms Meera Hari, Master of Ceremony and intern at the Office of International Programmes. The college prayer was then led by Ms Irin Reji Thomas, intern at the Office of International Programmes. Dr Samuel Rufus, Dean of the Office of International Programmes, welcomed everyone warmly to the session and gave a very hearty introduction about our illustrious alumni and mentioned his prolific profile in his field and how he is an inspiration to us and also spoke about the programmes and opportunities offered by the Office of International Programmes.

Following the introduction, Dr Samuel Rufus presented a shawl and Dr S. Kalyani, Public Administration Department, presented a memento to the guest speaker as a token of appreciation for their valuable presence and insightful address, followed by a brief photo session with the guest speaker, faculty, interns and the students present there.

The guest speaker, Dr Merlin Franco, Senior Assistant Professor, Universiti Darussalam, Brunei, took us on a memory lane about his life at MCC, spoke about his adventures and exciting memories in his field of research and how MCC has been a milestone for his ongoing journey and finding new endeavours in academic research in the field of Botany.

Following the address, a Q&A session was held where our students and interns interacted with Dr Franco and enthusiastic discussions were held about the life and career opportunities in Brunei for Indian students, the uniqueness of Brunei, financial expenditures for a student, opportunities for student exchange and many deliberate discussions happened about the culture and research opportunities in Brunei.

Dr. Franco also gave us an insight into research through his experience and gave us much academic knowledge about how to get into a PhD in India and abroad. Dr Vijay Solomon proposed a collaboration with the MCC research colloquium and Dr Franco, as it would be a very exciting and interesting opportunity for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research for the faculty and students at MCC.

It was an insightful and engaging session. Dr Leslie Lawrence gave the closing statements, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ms Vishnupriya, an intern at the Office of International Programmes.