Events

• Jammu University internal complaints committee against sexual harassment (JUICCASH) initiated a series of awareness programmes on prevention of sexual harassment in Educational institutions for newly admitted students. First lecture in this series was organised on 19.9.2024 for students of faculty of life sciences in Department of Botany. Ms Sheetal Nanda (IAS), Commissioner Secretary Social welfare, Government of Jammu and Kashmir was chief guest of the function. Ms Pooja Uppal , Advocate, High Court was the resource person. 

• "Topiary Garden representing vertebrate evolution" inaugurated by Hon'ble Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu, Jammu.   

• Lecture on "Climate Change, shifting phenologies and plant-pollinator interactions" delivered by Prof. Rajesh Tandon, Department of Botany, University of Delhi. 

• Induction program in Department of Botany for M.Sc. students, Batch 2024

Induction programme for the newly admitted students of M.Sc. programme in Botany, session 2024-2026 was held in the Department of Botany, University of Jammu on 14^th of August, 2024. Dr. Leena Padha, Mission Director, Skill Development, Govt. of UT of Jammu and Kashmir, who also happens to be an alumnus of the department, was invited as the Guest for the occasion. Dr. Padha. interacted with the students and narrated her journey as a M.Sc. and Ph.D. student of Botany to the echelons of administration in J&K govt. . She emphasized upon high moral values, code of conduct, dedication towards our job and responsibilities as citizens of the country for making a better society. Prof. Susheel Verma, Head of the Department, made an exhaustive presentation of departmental profile and made the students familiar with different components of the academics including course curriculum, research and extension activities of the department. The students also learnt about the infrastructure facilities comprising Research labs, Central instrumental facility, Herbarium-cum-Museum, and Botanical and Cactus garden of the department through the presentation. All the faculty members, research scholars, and students of 2023-2025 batch attended the induction programme and interacted with Dr. Leena Padha.

• World Environment Day 2024 celebration (Chief Guest Shri Vasu Yadav PCCF. Chairman, PCB, J&K)

• Interaction cum felicitation session with Ms. Anmol Rathore (UPSC 2023 AIR 7 rank holder) on 2.5.2024

• One day meet on " To develop opportunities in exploring entrepreneurship in medicinal plants sector March 22, 2024

• An interaction to Ignite Young Minds in collaboration with IIC and Society of Ethnobotanists on 31.10.2023

• Success story of Chandrayan-3 in collaboration with NASI Jammu chapter on 25.8.2024

• Under the aegis of IIC of University of Jammu, Department of Botany and School of Biotechnology organized an invited talk on 1st June, 2023

Under the aegis of IIC (Institution Innovation Council) of University of Jammu, Department of Botany and School of Biotechnology organized an invited talk on Ist June, 2023 by Prof. Hemaltha Balaram, a Professor in Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit at Jawahar Lal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru. Her talk entitled “Structure–function studies on the enzyme guanosine monophosphate (GMP) synthase” covered different aspects of GMP synthase including enzyme catalysis, substrate channels, gate tunnels and diversity of amidotransferase. Prof. Balaram satisfied the queries raised by the audience comprising of students, research scholars and faculty members of our department and those of School of Biotechnology, Departments of Zoology and Chemistry, Central University of Jammu and Higher Educational Institutes of the Union-territory of J&K

• Under the aegis of IIC of University of Jammu, Department of Botany and School of Biotechnology organized lecture-cum-interaction session on 31.05.2023

Under the aegis of IIC (Institution Innovation Council) of University of Jammu), Department of Botany and School of Biotechnology organized lecture-cum-interaction session on “Reflections on Science in the age of the Coronavirus” by Padmabhushan, Professor Padmanaban Balaram on 31 May, 2023. In this event, Hon’ble Vice chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai was the Chief Guest and Dean Research Prof. Rajni Kant was the Guest of Honour. Prof. Balaram touched upon fundamental and applied aspects of research and stressed upon the translation of novel ideas that can lead to development and innovations. He discussed about the importance of biology which in conjunction with chemistry can provide good understanding of biological and cultural evolution. The event was attended by Vice Chancellor of Cluster University of Jammu, Prof. Bechan Lal, former Professors of our department (Prof. R.N. Gohil and Prof. Geeta Sumbali), Heads, faculty members, research scholars and the students of different departments of University of Jammu, IIT-BHU (Varanasi), CSIR-IIIM (Jammu), Central University of Jammu, SKUAST-Jammu and Higher Educational Institutions of the Union-territory of J&K.

• Department of Botany, University of Jammu organised ‘Capacity Building Cum Awareness Programme’ on “Updation and Verification of Peoples’ Biodiversity Register (PBR)” on May 24, 2023

Department of Botany, University of Jammu organised ‘Capacity Building Cum Awareness Programme’ on “Updation and Verification of Peoples’ Biodiversity Register (PBR)” on May 24, 2023 for Biodiversity Day celebration. The theme of this activity was “From Agreement to Action - Build Back Biodiversity”. Mr. Rakesh Abrol (DFO) and his team delivered a lecture on methods of preparation of PBR and its significance. Students of M.Sc. 2^nd and 4^th Semesters were allotted different Panchyats to revalidate the data regarding the vegetation and their local uses. Some scholars volunteered for this activity.

• Department of Botany participated in the inaugural event of Jamboo Zoo  on 29^th May 2023

Department of Botany actively participated in the inaugural event of Jamboo Zoo, inaugurated by Lieutenant Governer Sh. Manoj Sinha at Khanpur, Nagrota in Jammu on 29^th May 2023. The Department was represented by Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, curators, officials, research scholars and students of M.Sc. 4^th semester. The Students and research scholars were applauded for their active participation in this event. Besides, Chief Wildlife Warden, Sh. Suresh Kumar Gupta, alumnus of Department of Botany encouraged the researchers to explore biodiversity prevalent in this protected area for the research projects.

• Prof. Madhoolika Agarwal delivered an awareness lecture entitled “Sustainable strategies for improving rural health, food security and livelihood” on 13^th March, 2023.

Department of Botany organized a lecture by Prof. Madhoolika Agarwal (General Secretary- NASI-Jammu Chapter), Dean faculty of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi). During the lecture entitled “Sustainable strategies for improving rural health, food security and livelihood”, she acquainted the students, research scholars and teachers with different steps taken by her team for uplifting the status of tribals and rural people by making them aware about nutritious food available naturally around them and also by distributing nutraceuticals and medicines to them at regular intervals.

• Prof. Arvind Jasrotia delivered an awareness lecture on “Constitutional Values” on 25^th January, 2023

Department of Botany organized an awareness lecture by Prof. Arvind Jasrotia, Professor, Department of Law and Registrar, University of Jammu. He made students aware of different constitutional values.  He apprised them of fundamental rights and duties given to them by Constitution of India. He stressed upon the audience that while enjoying different rights, each person should also perform his/her duties with greater concern.

• Prof. Felix Bast, Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda delivered an invited talk on “Science and Way of Life” on 23^rd December, 2022.

Department of Botany organized an invited talk by Prof. Felix Bast, Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. During his popular and non technical talk entitled “Science and Way of Life” he stressed upon importance of scientific temperament and curiosity in every sphere of life. He also emphasised that students should develop positive attitude towards education, research, technology development and transfer. Prof. Bast also answered the queries raised by the audience comprising of students, research scholars and teachers.

• Prof. Tej K. Pandita delivered an invited lecture entitled “Chromatin status impacts DNA damage repair” on 16^th November, 2022.

       Department of Botany in collaboration with NASI-Jammu Chapter organized an invited talk by Prof. Tej K. Pandita, Centre for Genomics and Precision Medicine, Texas, A&M College of Medicine, Houston entitled “Chromatin status impacts DNA damage repair”. Professor Pandita made the students aware about different cytological tools, both classical and modern, for carrying out detailed chromosomal studies. While stressing upon the impact of chromatin status on DNA damage and repair, Prof. Pandita also inspired the students and research scholars to explore different project opportunities provided by National and International funding agencies.

• UGC SAP (DRS II) sponsored National Seminar on Plant and Microbial Science: Achievements and Way Forward from November 4-5, 2022 Seminar_Brochure.pdf REGISTRATION  LINK: https://forms.gle/yLzHdoH3hEn4Mank7 LAST DATE OF REGISTRATION & ABSTRACT SUBMISSION EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 15, 2022
• UGC SAP sponsored National Seminar on Plant and Fungi- Polyphasic Characterization and Bioprospection from March 25-26, 2022
• UGC SAP sponsored National Seminar on Diversity and Reproduction in Plant and Microbes : Present scenario from February 7-8, 2020
• Prof. K.R. Shivanna from ATREE, Bangalore delivered a lecture entitled “Galapagos islands where Darwin’s theory of evolution was born” on 18^th September, 2019

Department of Botany organised an invited talk by Prof. Prof. K.R. Shivanna entitled “Galapagos islands where Darwin’s theory of evolution was born” He talked about his family visit to the famous island where theory of natural selection by Darwin was founded. He shared photographs of plants and animals, mentioned in the original theory of Charles Darwin. And so in a virtual manner, he took the students, scholars and teachers back to the era of Darwinism. The audience was awestruck with the biotic diversity of these islands.

• Mr. Ravi Kesar (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) and Mr. Suresta Gupta (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) conducted Brain storming session on “Conservation of threatened taxa” of J&K on 16^th April, 2019.

Department of Botany organized Brain-storming session on “Conservation of threatened taxa of J&K” which was conducted jointly by Mr. Ravi Kesar (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) and Mr. Suresh Gupta (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests). Both the resource persons, the distinguished alumni of the Department, took the students to virtual world of threatened taxa by showing them their pictures and possible causes of their extinction. While discussing different measures for conservation, they motivated students to take first steps towards conservation of threatened species.

• UGC SAP sponsored National seminar on Plant and fungal diversity: Status and Challenges and Symposium on Plant Ecology from March18-19, 2019.
• An interaction with Prof. Subir Kumar Bera on “Coenozoic vegetation history and climate change in Eastern Himalaya using multi-proxy approaches.”on 25^th February, 2019.

Department of Botany organized an interactive session of Prof. Subir Kumar Bera, University of Calcutta, Calcutta with research scholars and faculty members of the Department on 25^th February, 2019. Prof. Bera acquainted the students with research activities of his research group on “Vegetation history and climate change in plants of Coenozoic era in Eastern Himalaya using multi-pronged approaches.”

• Training workshop-cum-field collection program on Global Seed Conservation Challenge- Conserving India’s threatened Flora from May 28, 2018 – June 01, 2018
• Prof. Shaliendra Goel delivered an invited talk entitled “Understanding the control of apomixis” on 2^nd April, 2018

Department of Botany organised on invited talk by Prof. Shaliendra Goel from University of Delhi, Delhi. In his invited talk on “Understanding the control of apomixis” on 2^nd April 2018, Prof. Goel introduced the audience with different kinds of apomixis and discussed about the genetic mechanisms controlling this phenomenon. During his talk, Prof. Goel also stressed that studies at detailed level are possible by funding from Government agencies and sensitised the students to prepare quality projects related to their work for getting handsome funding. In this way, their proposals can be practically realized.

• Ten-day workshop on Recent Trends in Plant Ecophysiology from Feb. 27 to March 7, 2018
• National Conference on Fungal Biology: Recent Trends and Future Prospects and 44th Annual Meeting of Mycological Society of India from November 16-18, 2017.
• National seminar on New Vistas  in Plant and  Microbial Sciences  from March 12-13, 2016
• National seminar on Innovative Trends in Plant and Microbial Sciences from March 2-3, 2015