As part of Albertian Knowledge Summit 2022, an international conference on multidisciplinary research, Department of Botany, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam organized an international webinar with the focal theme ‘Caring Plant Wealth for Sustaining Human Lives during Covid-19 Pandemic Times’ on 8th March 2022. The programme started at 10 am, with a prayer song by Ms. Anjana Bhaskaran, research scholar, Department of Botany, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous). Dr. Siju M. Varghese Head, Department of Botany welcomed the gathering and gave a brief introduction of the programme. Rev. Fr. Dr. Antony Thoppil, chairman & manager, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), delivered the presidential address. In his principal’s address Dr. M.A. Solomon congratulated the whole team for organizing the webinar. Mrs. Drishya K. Reghuvaran, Assistant professor, Department of Botany introduced the inaugural speaker Dr. Anitha Karun, Director, ICAR- CPCRI Kasaragod. Dr. Anitha delivered the inaugural address and declared the programme inaugurated. She congratulated all women on the special occasion of International Women’s Day. There was an interactive session with the participants. Dr. K. Madhusudhanan convenor of the programme delivered the vote of thanks.
Technical session 1 started at 11am. Dr. K. Madhusudhanan introduced and welcomed the resource person Dr. M. Jayakara Bhandary, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Botany, Govt. First Grade College, Mangalore, Karnataka. He delivered a talk on topic ‘Ethnobotany:Connecting Plants, People and Culture’. The talk was very informative and focused on the importance of conserving traditional knowledge for a better tomorrow.The speaker interacted with the participants where the participants cleared their doubts. Ms. Arsha Sebastian of II B.Sc. Botany, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam rendered vote of thanks to the resource person and the session concluded at 12.30pm.
Technical session 2 started at 6.30pm. Dr. Anna Ancy Antony A. joint convenor of the programme introduced and welcomed the resource person Dr. Pamela S. Soltis, Distinguished Professor, Curator, Florida Museum of Natural History and Director, UF Biodiversity Institute, Florida. She discussed on the topic ‘Herbarium Specimens and Integrated Research in Plant Biology’. Her enlightening words provided novel information on the use of herbarium, a traditional method of plant preservation in integrated research. There was an active interaction session with the participants. Dr. Anisha S. Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Albert’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam extended vote of thanks to the resource person and to the gathering. The session concluded at 8.30pm.
An intercollegiate essay competition was conducted for students and research scholars with this regard. The topic was ‘The role of Indian Women Scientists and their contributions in Biological Sciences’. A total of 12 entries from various colleges were there in the competition. (1) Akhila Ajesh, I B.Sc. Botany, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, Pattanamthitta; (2) Juliya Devassy, Research Scholar, St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam and (3) Bhagya Lakshmi, NS, I B.Sc. Botany, St. Joseph College, Alappuzha secured first, second and third positions respectively. The results were declared by Dr. K. Madhusudhanan, Convenor, during the closing ceremony of the programme.
Day 2, Technical session 1
In connection with Albertian Knowledge Summit 2022 paper presentations relating to Biological Sciences was conducted online on 22nd March 2022. 13 participants from different colleges and research institutions in and out of Kerala presented their research works. Programme started with a prayer song by Anjana K.S. of I M.Sc. Botany, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam. Each participant was given 8 minutes for presenting their work followed by 2 minutes discussion. Dr. Pinkie Cherian, Assistant Professor, St. Joseph’s College for Women’s Alappuzha chaired the session. The programme came to an end with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. K. Madhusudhanan.
