Jammu, Jan 7: The Department of Botany, Central University of Jammu organized one day National webinar on topic “Changing paradigms in Plant taxonomy” to mark the 75th glorious celebration of “Amrit Mahotsav” on 6th January.
Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu graced the occasion as Chief Patron. Prof. B.S. Bhau, Dean, School of Life Sciences, Head, Department of Botany, Central University and the patron of the Webinar, in his welcome address highlighted the significance of the webinar and said that such webinars would not only accelerate the different plant conservation strategies, but would also help students to know more about the advanced aspects of taxonomy, identification, conservation and their utilization.
On the occasion, Dr. Mudassir Ahmad Bhat, faculty, in the department and organizing secretary made the introductory speech and conducted the proceedings of the morning session.
In the webinar, keynote lectures on various aspects of plant identification, utilization and conservation were delivered by eminent field plant taxonomists. In the morning session, Prof. A.K Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Mansarovar Global University, Sehore, talked at length about the importance of plant taxonomy in the era of genomics.
He highlighted the present scenario of Indian floral diversity and explained the importance of plant conservation and bio-prospecting plant resources in socio-economic development. Further, Prof. S R Yadav, INSA scientist, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kohlapur laid stress on the changing paradigms in plant taxonomy and the role of education and research institutes in documentation, conservation and bio prospecting in plant resources.
Prof. D. Narasimhan, member, State Biodiversity Board, Tamil Nadu focused on the need for scientific intervention for conservation of plant diversity and the threat that discipline of Botany is facing in the present times.
Dr. R.K. Choudhary, Scientist-D, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune while addressing the gathering in the evening session talked about the historical background and evolution of plant field taxonomy. Prof. Choudhary delivered a defining lecture on changing paradigms in plant taxonomy presently.
Dr.Samantha Vaishnavi, Dr. Vikas Srivastava and Dr. Pratibha Lalotra conducted the proceedings of the technical sessions.
Many eminent professors, scholars and students from different institutes and universities from India, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa and Sri Lanka attended the webinar. Mohd Daler and Harshita Sharma got first prize while Lavanya Abrol clinched the second prize in E-Poster Making Competition on the theme “Biodiversity and conservation of nature”.
Monika Sharma won first prize, Vrinda Sharma the second prize and Nikita Pathania bagged the third prize while Jyoti Priya and Qurat Ul Ain claimed Consolation Prizes in Photography Competition on the same theme. Dr. Samantha Vaishnavi, Assistant Professor presented the formal vote of thanks.
