National Conference on Current Scientific Innovations & Research in Plant Biology
(CSIR-PB)-2022
National Conference on Current Scientific Innovations & Research in Plant Biology
Two days (May 27-28, 2022) National Conference on Current Scientific Innovations & Research in Plant Biology (CSIR-PB) 2022 was successfully conducted by the Department of Botany, Eternal University, Baru Sahib (H.P.). The inaugural session started with the ‘Shabad’ by students followed by a welcome address by Prof. A S Ahluwalia (Pro Vice-Chancellor). He also shared the information about the department. Information about the conference was provided by Dr Pradeep Kumar Singh (Convener) indicating that around 150 delegates are participating in this conference for various sub-themes. The conference was conducted in a hybrid mode in association with Society of Plant Research, Noida and Akal University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab.
Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Dr Davinder Singh (President, Kalgidhar Trust) congratulated the Department of Botany for taking initiative for the conduct of this National conference and blessed for its success. The conference abstract book was released jointly by dignitaries on the stage.
Prof. S S Sandhu (Director, Innovation center & Professor of Biological Sciences, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, MP) delivered his keynote address on creativity, innovations & invention with special reference to IPR in plant sciences. Chief Guest Prof S S Chahal (Former VC, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur) impressed upon the participants to involve new technologies & gene editing in their research studies to improve crop yield. The organizing secretary Dr. Devendra K Srivastava expressed thanks to all those present and online delegates on behalf of the Department and Organizing committee. Dr Srivastava also acknowledged the necessary support & guidance of Dr. Neelam Kaur (Principal, Akal Academy & Dean, Health & Allied Sciences).
Technical (offline) session 1 started in the chairmanship of Prof S K Bhatnagar (Executive secretary, Society of Plant Research) and Co-chair Dr Nasib Singh (Head, Microbiology). In this session Prof Avinash K Nagpal (GNDU Amritsar) delivered a talk about “eDOPS - a Digital Resource for Plants of Punjab, India”; while Prof. L C Rai (BHU Varanasi) enlightened the audience about the molecular basis of arsenic toxicity in Anabaena species. The session concluded with the plenary lecture about bioprospection of ethanomedicinal plants and its options in India by Prof N K Dubey (BHU Varanasi).
Technical (offline) session 2 was under the chairperson Prof Monica Bhatnagar (MDS University, Ajmer) and Dr Kalyani Krishna (DU, New Delhi) as the co-chairperson. First plenary lecture was delivered by Prof S K Bhatnagar on “Environmental glory: nature blessings v/s man made disasters”. Dr Yogesh Mishra (BHU Varanasi) discussed Anabaena species as these deal with cadmium toxicity at molecular level and its post stress recovery. The session concluded with Dr. S S Cameotra (IMTECH, Chandigarh) discussing the various novel techniques to preserve the microorganisms.
Technical (offline) session 3 was organized for the poster presentations which was run parallel to the lunch. Since there were more than 100 papers to be presented online, technical (online) sessions were run in parallel. After the conclusion of day 1 the delegates visited the Botanical cum Herbal Garden and local facilities in the university campus.
Technical (Offline) session 4 on 2nd day was chaired by Prof Avinash K Nagapal (GNDU Amritsar) and co-chaired by Dr Bharti Chauhan (RSM College, Bijnor). It started with impressive talks of Prof Monica Bhatnagar (MDS University Ajmer) about the role of exo-polysaccarides in cyanobacteria. Dr Paramjit Singh (Former Director, BSI Kolkata) about the importance of taxonomy to the current scenario in plant sciences. It was followed by the oral presentations of the delegates. The four parallel sessions (online) continued for the 2nd day as well.
Technical (offline) session 5 was chaired by Prof G S Virk (GNDU Amritsar) and co-chaired by Prof Manish Kapoor (Punjabi University Patiala). Prof MIS Saggoo (Punjabi University Patiala) delivered a talk on Morphometrics, discussing the tools for analysis of intraspecific morphological variability in the plants. It was followed by Prof N S Atri (Punjabi University Patiala) about the Mushroom germplasm, applications and domestication strategies, mushrooms of Himachal Pradesh by Prof Munruchi Kaur (Punjabi University Patiala) and Dr. Avneet Pal Singh (Punjabi University Patiala) on diversity and evaluation of Poroid mushrooms. The session concluded with two oral presentations.
Technical (offline) session 6 included 3 plenary lectures chaired by Prof MIS Saggoo and Prof Munruchi Kaur (Punjabi University Patiala), of Prof Manish Kapoor (Punjabi University Patiala) on tree risk assessment & management for sustainable urban green cover, Dr Nirmal Renuka (CUP, Bathinda) on algal biorefinery and Dr S K Ratha (NBRI, Lucknow) on algal biofuels generation from waste water & fixation of CO2.
Valedictory session was chaired by Dr. Paramjit Singh. During the valedictory session the recommendations of the conference were discussed by Prof. A S Ahluwalia, Prof S K Bhanagar, Prof MIS Saggoo, Prof N S Atri, Prof Sandipan Gupta, Dr. Devendra K Srivastva and concluded by Dr Paramjit Singh.
The best presentations of the research scholars were evaluated and awards were announced and given away with certificates & mementos by the chairman. More than 150 delegates participated from different universities/institutes of the country. The best papers were awarded prizes and merit certificates. The recipients included Shovon Mandal (TERI, New Delhi), Harish Bharti (HIMCOSTE, Shimla), Tanvir Kaur, Sujan Kaanta (EU, Baru Sahib), Megha Sethi, Shivani Latwal, Rajni Yadav, Sheenu Sharma, Gagandeep Kaur, Amrit Pal (PU Chandigarh), Bhumika Arora (Akal University, Bathinda), Vinay Kumar (SGGS World University, Fatehgarh Sahib), Anamika Sharma, Poonam Chaudhary (GNDU, Amritsar), Hardeesh Kaur (Punjabi University, Patiala), Mohd. Zaman (Patna Science College, Patna), Kranti K Waghmare (AG College, Pune) in online, offline & oral / poster categories. All the faculty members of the Akal college of Basic Sciences under the patronage of the Dean Prof Sandipan Gupta, coordinated their efforts to make the conference a successful and memorable event. The recommendations proposed were recommended & passed unanimously by the house
Recommendations
The conference finally concluded with a vote of thanks by the Convener, National Anthem & Refreshment.
