DEPARTMENT OF
OVERVIEW
Year of Establishment: Undergraduate – 1984, Post Graduate – 1999
Botany, plant science or plant biology,even though is one of the world’s oldest natural sciences has seen resurgence in the last few decades due to a growing awareness of the effects of climate change. We may have learnt much about most individual plants but in the coming years they will be vital in teaching us about the ecology of the future. As the knowledge of plants is a source of pleasure and profit, the objective of the department is to inculcate appreciation of nature and understand the role of plants towards the future of human societies as it allows us to
- Produce food to feed an expanding population
- Provides for basic needs like clothing and shelter
- Understand fundamental life processes
- Produce medicine and materials to treat diseases and other ailments
- Understand environmental changes more clearlyas we rely on them to provide carbon sink amongst other things
Botany today is such a large and varied area and has many important uses in a wide variety of disciplines, that it has evolved several niches and offshoots. Therefore, the course offered not only includestudy of diversity of plants and their economic importance but also offers a comprehensive overview of cell and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology and bioinformatics. Botany, along with its allied branches, provides employment opportunities in research and educational institutes, pharmacy, agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Over the years, the Department of Botany has witnessed a large number of graduates and postgraduates enter a diverse range of fields from science communication to agriculture, weed control to soil science, and landscape studies and conservation to teaching biology in our high schools and some have excelled in other areas. The Department maintains Laboratories, Departmental Library, Tissue Culture Facility, and a Botanical Garden.
BSc
Three Year Degree Course with Botany as one of the subject
MSc
Four Semester Course
Botanical Association
Convenor : Dr. Jyoti Bakshi
In 1995, Botanical Association was formed aiming to cultivate, promote and disseminate the knowledge of all the branches of plant sciences. The association comprises of students, faculty and proactive members of all other discipline in the college. It seeks to stimulate interest in the subject through seminars, conferences and workshops to develop an aptitude for research among students. Activities like field trips, excursions, outreach programs and competitive events allow each member meet enthusiastic likeminded people involved with the applications of plant sciences. The association assists in making connections that take the scientific journey by exploring topics that focus on diverse and recent developments in plant science. The e-Herbarium is one of the noteworthy contributions of the department. A MoU was signed by the Department of Botany with NGO: The Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Durg which works for poverty alleviation of the people residing in the drought prone villages of Tamil Nadu, M.P., Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. This collaboration with CCD is towards Research, Education and Extension Program (REEP) in the neighbouring region.
Activities of Botanical Association
2017-2018
Cleanliness drive: Ecoclub and Botanical Association
Date: 12th August, 2017
Participants: BSc and MSc students along with NSS, NCC and Ecoclub volunteers
Inauguration of Association for the session 17-18
Presentation: Eco friendly House Plants Date: 30th August 2017 Beneficiaries: BSc, MSc Students and Staff of Botany Department Resource person: Dr. Vinita Thomas, P.G Department of Botany
Quiz : Basics of Botany
Date: 30th August 2017 Beneficiaries: BSc and MSc I Sem students Conducted by MSc III Sem Students
Art of Giving: Akshay Patra- Unlimited food for Education
Date: 13.10.2017 Donated: Rs. 6300 Beneficiaries: Mid Day Meal of 7 school children for one year
Study Tour: Sanjivini– NWFP Mart
Aim: Study the Non-Wood Forest Product Date: 28.10.2017 Beneficiaries: MSc Students and Staff of Botany Department Arranged by : Dr. Rajkumar Gadpayle (Alumni)
Study Tour: Krishi Vikas Kendra, Anjora Aim: To study the fodder plants and their cultivation Date: 28.10.2017 Beneficiaries: MSc Students and Staff of Botany Department Arranged by : Dr. Rajkumar Gadpayle (Alumni)
Workshop on Electronic Herbarium: PG Department of Botany
2 day workshop on Electronic Herbarium and Digital Database of Dicot Plants was organized by the PG Department of Botany on 18-19 November for faculty and MSc students. Prof. T. Shrinivasu from the Department of Botany, RTM University Nagpur conducted the workshop where he shared the methodology and application of Electronic Herbarium in detail. Prof. Srinivasu also gave Hands on Training to all the MSc students and the faculty.
Earth Day Celebrated on April 25th, 2018
As the earth day was on Sunday Earth day was celebrated on 25th April, 2019. Dr. Vinita Thomas designed and printed a book mark on the theme End Plastic Pollution to commemorate the Earth Day. The Faculty of the Department and the MSc students distributed them amongst the staff and students of the college.
Wall Magazine – Boutonniere was prepared as it serves as a platform to exhibit the creativity of every member of the Association.
2018-2019
Interdisciplinary Workshop on Desaturation in Botanical Illustrations Date: 1st – 15th August 2018 Conducted by: Mr. Chandan Dekate, Asst. Prof., Dept of Education, Miss Tarinee Sahu, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Botany Beneficiary: M.Sc I Sem Botany
One day Dengue awareness drive Date: 17th August 2018 Conducted by: Dr. Vinita Thomas Beneficiaries: MSc Students were trained to conduct awareness drive in the nearby township.
3 day Dengue awareness drive Date: 20-23rd August, 2019 Conducted by: 26 MSc Students Beneficiaries : 75 residents from Ruabandha township
Participation in Kerala Relief Fund Date: 27th of August 2018
55 individuals of the department Donated 100 rs for supply of Sanitary napkins BSc II year and MSc students assorted and packed medicines collected systematically
Lecture cum workshop Date: 22nd September 2018
Topic: Domestic wet waste management Conducted by: Mr. Keshav Thakur, from Green Partner -My Green Bin-m Wintech Square Pvt. Ltd
Topic: Food and Immune System Conducted by: Dr. Sourabh Mukherjee, Senior deputy Director, Internal medicine, JLN Hospital Sector 9, Bhilai Beneficiary: Student of B.Sc I, II and III and M.Sc
Interdepartmental Activity
Date: 13th October 2018 Aim: Motivational talk Title: Plant What You Can Harvest Later Resource Person: Mr. Pratik Sharma, Assistant professor (Department of Commerce) Beneficiary: Student of MSc
Intradepartmental Activity by MSc Students
Date: 27th November 2018 Aim: Develop Team Spirit and Time Management Activity- Johny Jump up – Introduction to Ethanobotanical Plants Resource Person: Students of M.Sc III Sem (Botany) Beneficiary: Student of B.Sc I, II and III, MSc I Sem
Field Trip: Solar Energy Park Date: 25th January, 2019 Aim: To study the application of solar energy Accompanied by: Dr. Jyoti Bakshi Beneficiaries: BSc Final Year students
Intradepartmental Activity
Commemorated World Cancer Day Date: 4thFebruary, 2019 Activity: Creating awareness amongst the students and the post-its were exhibited in wall magazine in the Department Conducted By: Dr. Vinita Thomas Beneficairies: Both staff and students of the Department
Field Trip: Maitri Bagh Date: 8th February 2019 Aim: To study the ornamental winter blooms and canopy architecture Beneficiaries: Students of M.Sc
2 day Workshop on Instrumentation and Protocol Designing
Date: 14th and 15th February 2019 Aim: Introduction to Camera Lucida, micromeytry, Spectrophotometer and soil analysis kit and designing of protocol designing using these instruments Resource Person– Dr. Meenakshi Bharadwaj, Asst. Prof. Department of Botany, Indira Gandhi Govt. College of Arts and Commerce, Vaishali nagar, Bhilai Beneficiaries: Faculty and Student of M.Sc Botany
Guest Lecture Series:
Dr. P.C. Panda, Retd Prof. Department of Botany, Govt. V.Y.T college of arts and Science, Durg Date: 18th February 2019 Topic: Photobiology Beneficiary : Faculty and Student of M.Sc (Botany) \
Dr. G.K. Chandrol, Dept. Of Botany, Kalyan College, Bhilai Date: 25th February 2019 Topic: Community Ecology Beneficiary: Faculty and Students of M.Sc (Botany)
Interdepartment Activity : Workshop on Vermiculture process with the Department of Zoology Date: 11th March 2019 Resource Person: Khileshwar Painkara, Asst. Prof Department of Zoology, Kalyan college, Bhilai Beneficiary: Faculty and Students of M.Sc (Botany)
Interdepartmental Activity : Workshop on Application of Microsoft Office in Learning Process Date: 12-14 March, 2019 Resource Person: Dr. Mohan Patel, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Electronics, St. Thomas College, Bhilai Beneficiary: Faculty and Students of M.Sc (Botany)
Earth day was also commemorated by hanging water baths for birds as the theme for this year was Prevent Extinction of Species. 6 such water baths were placed in the campus and encouraged the members present to do the same in their homes too.
Wall Magazine – Boutonniere was prepared as it serves as a platform to exhibit the creativity of every member of the Association.
Dr. Vinita Thomas
Associate Professor & Head of the Department
Highlights of Achievement
- Merit First Position in MPhil, 1995 Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur
- Member Board of Studies, 1996-99Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur
- Consultancy in Women Empowerment for Women Teachers In Northern India , AIACHE-1999
- Consultancy Services in Organic Farming Techniques, Biomass Composting, Water Harvesting and Azolla Cultivation
- Principal Investigator of a Minor Research Project funded by University Grants Commission [UGC], New Delhi, India 2008-2010
Research Publication
Reactive Oxygen Species, Lipid Peroxidation, Protein Oxidation and Antioxidative Enzymes in dehydrating Karanj (Pongamiapinnata) seeds during storage. South African Journal of Botany 112 (2017) 383-390
Academic
Completed 4 week orientation course organise by UGC (University Grants Commission)- Academic Staff College Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla with A Grade.
Special Training
- Good English – Correspondence course conducted by Institute of Journalism,New Delhi-1983
- Creative Writing – 6 months correspondence course conducted by Institute of Journalism, New Delhi-1983
- Effective Communication Course for Human Resource Development conducted by All India Association for Christian Higher Education, New Delhi 1996
- Workshop on Conservation of Biodiversity and Community Participation organized by Indian Environmental Society, New Delhi- 1996
- Workshop on Campus Diversity Initiative- A Ford Foundation Project -1996
- Workshop on Bioinformatics and its Applications, organized by NITZA Biologicals, Hyderabad-2007
- Workshop on Collection of Data, Result Analysis and CBCS by Rashtriya Ucchatar Siksha Abhiyaan, RUSA organised by Govt. VYT PG Autonomous College, Durg, CG- 2015
- Workshop on Preparation of Roadmap to Spread Quality Higher Education in Durg by Rashtriya Ucchatar Siksha Abhiyaan, RUSA organised by Govt. VYT PG Autonomous College, Durg, CG 2016
- Workshopon “Discovery of Potential Bioactive Compound from Local Botanical Resources – Invitro studies to drug designing”. NiTZA biologicals, Hyderabad,2016
- Workshop on “Participative Training Methodology” Conducted by NUSSD-TISS, 2017
- Workshop on Electronic Herbarium: Digital Database of Dicot Plants conducted by RTM University, Nagpur 2017
- FDP on Innovative Methods conducted by Kalinga University, Raipur 2019
- FDP on Research Based Pedagogical Tools by ITM University, Raipur 2019
Conferences Attended
- National Seminar on Herbal Medicines, Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies, Danielson College, Chhindwara-1994
- Paper presentation – National Science Day sponsored by Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MAPCOST) ‑1995
- Paper presentation -International IUFRO Symposium on Innovations in Forest Tree Seed Science Technology‑1997
- National seminar on Bioremediation -Bhilai -2001
- National Conference on Innovations and Prospects in Life Science Raipur,2002
- South Asian Conference on ‘Water in Agriculture: Management option for increasing Crop Productivity per drop of water’ AgricultureUniversity, Raipur, 2007
- Paper presentation – Conference on Challenges and Emerging Strategies for Improving Plant Productivity, New Delhi- 2008
- National Conference on Approach to Green Chemistry,St. Thomas College, 2009
- National Conference on ‘Paradigm Shift in Higher Education: Steps Towards Quality Enhancement’ organized by Internal Quality Assurance Cell of St. Thomas College, Bhilai, 2009
- International Conference on Plant Science in Post Genomic Era organised by School of Life SciencesSambalpur University, Orissa, 2011
- National Conference on Advances in Biological Sciences, organised by School of Life Sciences, Pt.RSU Raipur.2011
Dr. Jyoti Bakshi
Assistant Professor
Highlights of Achievement
Principal Investigator of a Minor Research Project funded by University Grants Commission [UGC], New Delhi, India 2008-2010
Research Publication
- Comparative study of enzyme dehydrogenase activity inCicer arietinum and Arachishypogea.Current Research in Science and Technology2013 pp 16-17.Praveen Jain, Meenakshi Bharadwaj and Jyoti Bakshi.
- Impairment of Scavenging Enzymes mediated Seed Ageing in Jamun (Syzygiumcuminii) seed. International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-3148 (online) April – June 2019Vol. 7, Issue 2, pp: (18-25), Jyoti Bakshi1, S.C. Naithani2,
- Membrane Perturbations in ageing Jamun (Syzygiumcuminii) Seeds. International Journal of Scientific Research and Review 2279-0543 (Online) Jyoti Bakshi April – June 2019
Academic
Orientation programme, 28.01.11.to 24.02.11, Academic Staff College, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.
Seminars, Symposiums and Workshops
| S.No | EVENT | VENUE | DATE | STATUS |
| 1. | National Seminar on
“Botanical Researches: Present Scenario and Future Prospects” |
Department of Botany
Govt. College of Science Raipur C.G. India |
January
29th -30th 2008 |
Presented a paper |
| 2. | National Conference on
“Advances in Biological Sciences” |
School of Life Sciences, Pt. RSU, Raipur, Chhattisgarh | November
5th -7th, 2011 |
Presented a paper |
| 3. | International
Conference On “Plant Science in Post genomic Era |
School of Life Sciences,
Sambalpur University |
February,
17th -19th, 2011 |
Presented a paper |
| 4. | National Conference
On “Recent Advances in Biological Sciences” |
School of Life Sciences
Pt. Ravi ShankarShukla University, Raipur |
November
25th -27th, 2013 |
Presented a paper |
| 5. | Workshop on “Discovery of
Potential bioactive compound from Local botanical resources –invitro studies to drug designing”. |
St. Thomas College, Bhilai
Conducted by Nitza Biologicals |
March
3rd-9th 2016 |
Attended |
| 6. | Workshop on “Participative Training Methodology” | St. Thomas College, Bhilai
Conducted by NUSSD-TISS |
May
13th-14th 2017 |
Attended |
| 7. | Workshop on Electronic Herbarium: Digital Database of Dicot Plants | Conducted by
Prof. T. Shrinivasu Department of Botany, RTM University, Nagpur (MH) |
November 18-19
2017 |
Attended |
| 8. | FDP on Innovative Methods | Conducted by Kalinga University, Raipur | 2019 | Attended |
| 9. | FDP on Research Based Pedagogical Tools | Conducted by ITM University, Raipur | 2019 | Attended |