Break boundaries in study of sciences

The P.G. and Research Department of Botany, Periyar EVR Government Arts and Science College, has sought to convey through a two-day lecture workshop on 'Emerging Frontiers in Plant Sciences' that learners will benefit more by breaking the boundaries of different fields of science.

Experts from different areas of plant sciences presented case studies to illustrate that plant science and biology in general gains more by borrowing and integrating concepts and methodology from other areas of science.

Lecture series

The workshop, sponsored jointly by Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; and The National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad, witnessed interaction with students by R. Uma Shaanker of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, on 'Emerging Frontiers of Plan Sciences as Lineages of Classical Botany', by Convener K.N. Ganeshaiah, Former Professor and Dean, School of Ecology and Conservation, UAS, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, on 'Behavioural Ecology of Plants: Darwinian Continuity between Plants and Animals' and by R. Vasudeva of College of Forestry, Sirsi, Karnataka, on 'Science of Biodiversity can save the future of mankind'.

As many as 200 postgraduate students and M.Phil and Ph.D research scholars in Botany are taking part in the workshop on Wednesday and Thursday without levy of any registration fee, the Coordinator of the Workshop D. Kandavel, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Periyar EVR College, said.

The workshop intended to demonstrate that plant biology is becoming more integrative of both organisms and the thematic subjects has been hosted by the Botany Department for the first time.

Potential research centre

Recognised as a Potential Research Centre by Bharathidasan University, the Department of Botany offers B.Sc.,M.Sc., and Ph.D programs in Botany, and the faculty members are involved in research in in Taxonomy, Pharmacognosy, Marine Algae, Nanotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Endophytic associations.

The second day of the workshop will feature sessions by Soubadra Devy, ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment), Bengaluru, on 'Unravelling Plant: Pollinator Interactions of Community and Landscape Level, by Prof. Uma Shaanker on Revisiting Darwin's Experiments: Lessons for a Modern Biologist'; by Prof. Ganeshaiah on 'Evolution of Insect Plant Interactions'; and by Prof. Vasudeva on 'Connecting Technologies for Conservation: How can we combine Space Technoogy, Forest Ecology and DNA tools for saving plants?'.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/break-boundaries-in-study-of-sciences/article19549736.ece