ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT 2016-2017
BOTANY ASSOCIATION INAUGURATION
Botany department association was inaugurated by A. O Sunny Thomas, DFO, Peechi- Vazhani Division on August 22nd, 2016. He also a delivered a talk on “Biodiversity of Medicinal plants with special reference to Red list categories”.
DAY CELEBRATIONS
Environment Day Celebration
In connection with World Environment Day Celebration, Department of Botany, St.Mary’s College, Thrissur has conducted various programmes with financial support from KSCSTE from 2nd to 20th June 2016. The programmes include:
Planting tree sapling in College Campus
World environmental Day celebrations was inaugurated on 3rd June, 2016 by principal Dr. Sr. Marriette by planting Agathy tree saplings in College ground. She motivated the students to imbibe the pulse of conservation through active participation of conservative activities.
Invited talk on ‘Organic farming in families’ Dr. S. Estelitta, Professor and Head, Communication Centre, Kerala Agriculture University, Mannuthy conducted an invited talk on the subject “Organic farming in families” on 3rd June 2016.
Distribution of tree saplings to staff and students As part of world Environment Day celebrations, tree saplings were distributed to staff and students of the college. The program was formally inaugurated by Honorable Agriculture Minister of Kerala, Advocate Sri. V. S. Sunil Kumar on 9th June2016.
Invited talk on ‘Biodiversity of Western Ghats’ Conducted invited talk on topic, “Biodiversity of Western Ghats” Dr. Jain J. Therattil, Assistant Professor in Zoology, St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, Thrissur on 10th June 2016.
Invited talk on “Plant Vitilizer -Fish Amino
Conducted a talk on “Plant Vitilizer -Fish Amino” by Dr. Julie P Lazer, H.O.D, Department of Economics, St. Mary’s college, Thrissur on 10th June 2016, to promote organic farming and recycling fish waste generated in families.
Invited talk on ‘Illegal trafficking of wild animals’ An invited talk by Sri. M.I Varghese, IFS (Retd) on the topic “Illegal trafficking of wild animals on 13th June 2016.
Campus Cleaning Programme
A campus cleaning programme was organized as a part of environment day. The students of the botany department cleaned herbal and ret garden by removing the weeds.
Power point presentation competition
An intercollegiate power point presentation competition was conducted for college students based on the theme “fight against illegal trafficking of wild animals’’ on 17th June 2016. 24 students from various colleges participated in the competition.
Awareness programme for School Children Selected students from neighboring schools were given a half day programme on Wildlife conservationon 17th June 2016.. Slide shows, documentary shows and environmental songs were included in the programme.
A field trip was arranged for school students on 17th June. Forty school children from rural area were selected for field trip to Zoo, Thrissur. Programme Co-ordinator Dr. Sr. Meena K. Cheruvathur, accompanied the team and gave needed guidance.
World wetland day celebrations
Visit to Wetlands A trip was conducted to Kanimangalam kole wetland and Azhikode wetland to observe World Wetland Day on 27 th January, 2017 . The visit included oath taking for protection of wetland, cleaning of wetland, human chain formation in Kanimangalam Kole land, boating at Azhikode estuary and visit to Azhikode beach.
Wetland visit-kanimangalam kole land Cleaning - Azhikode wetland
Oath taking –for protection of wetlands Human chain formation
Talk on “Wetlands for disaster risk reduction Talk on “Wetlands for disaster risk reduction” by Dr.C.P Shaji, Former Principal investigator, Kerala Biodiversity Board, on 2nd February, 2017.
Talk by Dr. C.P.Shaji
Exhibition on “Wetlands and their importance An exhibition on “wetlands and their importance” was arranged on 27th Feb-2017 as part of one month long activities of World Wet land day celebration.
Inauguration of the exhibition students watching the exhibition Talk on Wetlands for disaster mitigation Organized a talk on ‘Wetlands for disaster mitigation’ by Dr. S. Sreekumar, Associate Professor, Dept. of Geology and Environment Science, Christ College, Irinjalakuda on 2nd March 2017
Talk on Wetlands for disaster mitigation
NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ‘HABITAT RESTORATION AND BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION’
Conducted a Two day National seminar on “Habitat Restoration and Butterfly Conservation” on 7th and 8th February, 2017 in association with Dept. of Zoology, supported by KSCSTE.
INVITED TALKS
An exam oriented class on “Taxonomy, identification of plants and key preparation” by Dr. Anto P V, Asst. Professor, St Thomas College, Thrissur was arranged for IVth Semester M.Sc students on An informative talk was conducted on “Biodiversity and uses of pulses with special reference to underutilized pulses” by Professor Bince Mani, St Thomas College, Pala on December 15th 2016. A talk was conducted on “Application of IT with special reference to life science” by Sr. Joel, UGC Librarian, St Mary’s College, Thrissur for M.Sc 3rd Semester students on 9th January, 2017.
A class was arranged for 3rd M.Sc students on the topic “Basics of Information Technology” by Jyothidas, Assistant Professor on contract, B.Voc Dept., St Mary’s College, Thrissur on 12th January, 2017
A workshop was organized for 3rd semester M.Sc students on the topic “ Taxonomic identification of plants, methodology of using floras, key preparation and illustrating floral diagrams” on 21 January, 2017 by Sojan Jose, Assistant Professor, Victoria College, Palakad
ALUMNAE ACTIVITIES A talk on ‘Nutritional values of Amla’ by Dr.Rajithan, Superintend of Oushadhi Panjakarma, Ayurvedha Hospital was arranged for students of Botany Dept. by on 18th July 2016.
A talk was conducted on “Medicinal uses of pulses” by the Alumnae member Dr. Rony P Mathew, BAMS, Ayurvedic practitioner on 22nd July 2016.
A cookery show was hosted by Mrs. Santha Rajagopal, an elder marian ,75-77 batch for the degree students on October 22nd, 2016.
RESEARCH STATION /FIELD VISITS Two day nature study camp was conducted on 25th and 26th July, 2016 for 2nd semester M.Sc students in Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary. The camp included trekking into the forest and talks on conservation of biodiversity.
A visit was conducted to the tissue culture lab and molecular biology lab in KFRI, Peechi for fourth semester M.Sc. students on 26th August 2016.
A plant collection trip to Perumala, Kecheri was conducted on 15th October, 2016 for 3rd semester M.Sc Botany students.
A plant breeding station visit was conducted to Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy for 2nd semester M.Sc Botany students on 17th October, 2016. Study tour to Ooty and Mysore was conducted for III B.Sc students on 25th to 29th Oct.2016. A taxonomy collection trip to Thumburmuzhi and Sholayar Forest area under the guidance of Dr. Anto P.V, Asst. Professor in Botany, St. Thomas College, Thrissur was conducted for M.Sc 3rd semester students on 6th January 2017.
Visit to Plant Breeding station of KAU by III UG IPG students on 26th February 2017.
Visit to plant breeding station
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES Salabholsavam Botany and Zoology department together conducted a program called ‘Shalabholsavam’ on 1st November 2016. Host plants and nectar plants of Butterflies were distributed to the selected institutions including schools and colleges. A training programme on Butterfly gardening was also given to the students. The Programme was inaugurated by Dr Sajeev T V, Scientist, Department of Forest Entomology. KFRI, Peechi. P. J Francis, the guiness book record holder for marathon lecturing was felicitated during the programme
Butterflies plant distribution Exhibition on ‘Pulses and their importance in life’ As part of Marian Monsoon Fest held on 4th and 5th August, 2016, Dept. of Botany arranged an exhibition on ‘Pulses and their importance in life’ which was inaugurated by Sri. Balachandran Chullikkad, a Poet and Cine Artist. Sale of various pulse seedlings was also arranged in the exhibition.
Distribution of food packets The students of botany distributed 100 food packets to poor people, as a part of “Karunardram” programme of the College on October 11th, 2016. Visit to Special School As a part of outreach programme along with alumnae, 1st DC students visited Carmel Mount special school, Mulloorkara on 17-11-2016. They actively entertained the inmates throughout the day and distributed sweet packets to them.
GENDER SENSITIZATION PROGRAMME As a part of gender sensitization programme, Botany department conducted a talk on the topic “ Women and Law” by Mujeeb Rahiman,Sub Judge, Secretary, DLSA, Thrissur on 14/03/2017