03 Nov 2015-11 May 2015|Gwalior | Amity University Madhya Pradesh Gwalior
Amity Institute of Biotechnology organizes DBT Sponsored Popular Lecture Series on Biotechnology
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Day – 1 (3rd November 2015)
Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Gwalior organised the first lecture of Popular Lecture Series, sponsored by DBT, New Delhi on 3rd Nov. 2015 in its campus at Maharajpura. Prof. P. B. S. Bhadoria, Chairman Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur delivered his talk to a large gathering of students including those from various schools of Gwalior. Prof. Bhadoria’s lecture was focused on Biotechnological Interventions for Sustainable Food Production.
He discussed the recent findings of his research on water saving rice production technology. During his lecture, he also mentioned about the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. The successful execution of NFSA requires evolutionary changes across crop production, procurement, storage and distribution, seamlessly coupled with information and communication technology. India needs to double its agricultural productivity by 2040 to reduce supply and demand gap. Increasing food grain productivity and minimizing post-harvest losses can be possible through implementation of scientific production and processing technologies in farmers’ field. This can lead to ensure food security in the scenario of global climate change. He discussed about the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) that generally saves 70-80% seed and 30-40% irrigation water requirement to minimize irrigation water requirements. In addition, advantages of practicing Organic Farming technology were also told by him. To promote crop diversification, cash crop like sweet corn, peanut and soybean should be introduced as the group headed by him had done in 14 acres of land adopted by IIT from 14 farmers in Kenthia village in addition to rice. The harvested rice yield was about two times higher than the yield of farmers’ practice. Similarly usefulness of different nutrients management technologies like chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, integrated management, reduced fertilizer, and SPAD-N management were discussed to maintain higher yield with minimum input application. In his interactive session with students he revealed that future plans of his research team include implementation of solar powered lights in the common areas, sprinkler irrigation systems, taking up of different crops, conducting training sessions and adoption of more villages. A small model has been developed around this project, which can be used to develop other villages in a similar way.
On this occasion, Lt. Gen. V. K. Sharma, AVSM (Retd.) the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, AUMP, emphasized on the potential benefits of biotechnological techniques for sustainable food production. He further motivated students for doing research on crop improvement for high quality and yield.
The lecture ended with the concluding remarks by Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Singh Tomar, Director & Head, Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Dean (Academics), Amity University, Gwalior. In his remarks he emphasized on the development of better genetic engineering methods to enhance the productivity of staple crops. He emphasized on the development of genomic resources at large-scale and providing unrestricted access to the research community. This would certainly accelerate molecular breeding for crop improvement. He concluded with a Vote of Thanks to guest speaker for his informative talk. The seminar was followed by interaction of students with guest speaker Prof. P B S Bhadoria.
Day – 2 (4th November 2015)
On the second day of Popular Lecture Series, sponsored by DBT, New Delhi
Dr. Gitanjali Yadav, Staff Scientist IV, NIPGR, New Delhi delivered her talk to a large gathering of students including those from various schools of Gwalior.
Dr. Yadav’s lecture was focused on Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture.
Dr. Yadav in her lecture mentioned that Plant biotechnology has the potential to provide our farmers with another green revolution. Development of this "new agriculture" relies on knowledge and use of the plant genome. Her talk included, mainly, ‘Agricultural Genomics’, high- and low-resolution chromosomal maps; the isolation and transfer of economically important genes; and new technology developments. She also discussed the role of NIPGR as a leading organisation in Plant Genome Research and coordination of data collection, database development and information management resources for the same. Dr. Yadav discussed that it has been estimated that in the coming decades, there will be a global food crisis, therefore the food production should be at least increased by 50 percent by 2030 and 70 percent by 2050 of the current food production to meet demands across the globe. Also, a lot of improvement is required in tackling issues like soil erosion, extreme climatic conditions, reduction in agricultural land due to urbanization, and global warming. She emphasized that Agricultural Genomics addresses agricultural problems directly. Genome resources have created the means to speed the improvement of plants - agronomic, horticultural, and forest tree species. The development of new cultivars using genome resources continues and amplifies a decades-long worldwide plant breeding legacy of responding to needs for pest and disease resistance and tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as heat, drought, and cold. In her interactive session with the students she discussed that new marketplace needs and niches, such as a demand for crop plants specifically adapted for biofuel production, define the contemporary agronomic goals of Agricultural Genomics research. Solution of specific problems will help support efficient production of food, feed, and fiber while concurrently reducing the environmental impact associated with farming practices and manufacturing.
On this occasion, Lt. Gen. V. K. Sharma, AVSM (Retd.) the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, AUMP, emphasized on the potential benefits of agricultural genomics. He further motivated students for doing research on in this area so as to find solutions to agricultural problems and to combat food crisis in the coming years.
The lecture ended with the concluding remarks by Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Singh Tomar, Director & Head, Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Dean (Academics), Amity University, Gwalior. In his remarks he emphasized on the broad impacts of plant genome research to fundamental advances in agricultural sciences and on the contributions of this research towards application of scientific knowledge including technological innovation and economic competitiveness. He concluded with a Vote of Thanks to guest speaker for her informative talk. The seminar was followed by interaction of students with guest speaker Dr. Gitanjali Yadav.
Day – 3 (5th November 2015)
On the third day of Popular Lecture Series, sponsored by DBT, New Delhi,
Prof. (Dr.) R.S. Tomar, Director-AIB & Dean (Academics) Amity University, Gwalior delivered his talk to a large gathering of students including those from various schools of Gwalior. Prof. Tomar delivered his lecture on Nanobiotechnology & Human Health: Pros & Cons.
He discussed the recent findings of Nanotechnology which is emerging as a rapidly growing field with its application in Science and Technology for the purpose of manufacturing new materials at the nano scale level. Prof. Tomar discussed that the use of materials in nano scale provides unparallel freedom to modify fundamental properties such as solubility, diffusivity, blood circulation half-life, drug release characteristics, and immunogenicity. Nano materials have unique physicochemical properties, such as ultra small size, large surface area to mass ratio, and high reactivity, which are different from bulk materials of the same composition. Prof. Tomar emphasized that one area of nanotechnology application that holds the promise of providing great benefits for society in the future is in the realm of medicine. Nanotechnology is already being used as the basis for new, more effective drug delivery systems and is in early stage development as scaffolding in nerve regeneration research. Moreover, the research funding for Nanotechnology in Cancer has increased, in the hope that investments in this branch of nanomedicine could lead to breakthroughs in terms of detecting, diagnosing, and treating various forms of cancer.
In his interactive session with students, Prof. Tomar discussed that Nanomedicines are already in clinical use; in the coming years, ever increasing number will come through the development pipelines. Government has introduced a number of funding initiatives and key target areas for therapeutic development. Education and training programmes are increasing in this area across the world. However, continuous coordination in the translation of nanomedicine efforts across academic, industrial and clinical organisations should be done and effective measures should be taken to develop the commercial supply chain + public & private investments into nanomedicine so that its full market potential can be realised.?Prof. Tomar emphasized that the encouragement to an open dialogue between regulators & nanomedicine developers to support regulatory evaluations should be given to improve the understanding of the applications and benefits of nanomedicines to society.
The lecture ended with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Shuchi Kaushik, Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Gwalior to the speaker for his informative talk. She also extended thanks on behalf of AIB to all the schools who have actively participated in the event with special mention to Scindia Kanya Vidhyala, RKVM School, Gwalior Glory School and Rishi Galav School. On this occasion, Pro VC, Registrar, Dy. Registrar, HoI and HoDs of various departments of AUMP and faculty members of AIB, Dr. Raghvendra Kumar Mishra, Dr. Vikas Shrivastava, Dr. Anurag Jyoti, Ms. Sharmistha Banerjee.
Dr. Pratistha Dwivedi, Dr. Raghvendra Saxena & Dr. Manish Kumar were also present. The seminar was followed by interaction of students with the speaker Prof. (Dr.) R.S. Tomar and laboratory visit by school students.