GURU GHASIDASH VISHWAVIDYALAYA BILASPUR (CG)

DEPARTMENTAL PROFILE OF BOTANY

Department at a Glance

Established in 2009, the department of Botany is one of the youngest members of the faculty of Life Sciences. The department offers both basic and advanced courses in plant sciences. Along with an integrated 5 years Master (B. Sc.–3 years + M. Sc.–2 years) programme department is also running a Ph. D. programme. The integrated programme is designed so as to provide exit point after B. Sc. (Hons.) degree and also integrate it with master degree. The programme provides basic knowledge of the living world, plant diversity and evolutionary trends, cell biology, genetics, plant physiology, and plant ecology during the first three years. While as in the final two years advance knowledge in instrumentation skills, plant tissue culture techniques, molecular biology and bio-resources of Chhattisgarh is imparted. There are three broad specialization streams in the courses offered viz., stress biology of plants, ecology and environmental biology, biodiversity conservation and ethno-botany. The students are assessed and evaluated by regular class tests, seminars, assignments, end-semester examination.

The department has three numbers of laboratories possessing diverse forms of Algae (terrestrial and aquatic collected from varied habitats), Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Different classes of fungi and several fungal disease materials are also available for study. The laboratory and instrumentation facility in the department includes microscopy with Leica (DM200) Trinocular Research Microscope, Light Microscope, Compound Microscope and Dissecting Microscope, Gel Electrophoresis units with accessories for DNA, RNA and protein analysis, PCR theromocycler, Hot air Oven, BOD incubator, Laminar Flow, Autoclave unit, Deep Freeze (–20° C), Gas Sampling Kit, Respirable Dust Sampler, Hot Plate, etc. The departmental library fulfils the requirement of the faculty members and students. A number of reference books and access to online journals is also available.

The back bone of the department is its teachers headed by Professor M. L. Khan, who have specialized in frontier areas including microbiology, stress physiology, biotechnology, environmental management and restoration and biodiversity conservation. The faculty members of the department have contributed vigorously to scientific world through scientific and research publications and have received many distinguished national and international awards such as Nanda Memorial Award, New Phytologist Award, DST-BOYSCAST Fellowship, DBT Overseas Associateship, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships, JUAN DE LA CIERVA Postdoctoral fellowship and DBT-Cutting Edge Biotechnology Associateship. The faculty members have been elected as Fellows of the distinguished professional bodies such as National Agricultural Science Academy, National Environmental Science Academy, National Institute of Ecology and Range Management Society of India. The faculty members are contributing to the academic world by editing journals. They have been on the editorial boards of many journals and are referees for both national and international journals. The faculty members are also on the panel of regional and national level expert committees.

Vision of Department