Inspire & Equip

Inspire & Equip

Newsletter 2017-18 DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode 9 ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ Reaccredited by NAAC with A+ Grade

SOCIETY

Clean Water Drive: Water analysis for neighbourhood & Adopted School

▲Visit to old age Homes ▲Celebrating Festivals with Lesser

privileged ▲School Adoption Programme

▲Pain and Palliative Care Activities ▲Blood Donation

SCIENCE ▲Seminar on ‘Nurturing nature’

▲Workshop on’ Molecular Biology’ ▲ Students’ Research Projects (11 PG + 7 UG)

▲Research Guidance for PhD ▲Research articles

STUDENTS ▲Academic linking with other institutions ▲Meeting the Founder Faculty members

▲Placement for projects in reputed Institutes

▲Off campus & Invited Lectures ▲Visit to Research Stations

▲Certificate Course ▲Field Visits/ Study Tours

▲Attending Seminars/Workshops ▲Film Shows & Exhibitions ▲Competitions

NATURE ▲Planting Saplings

▲Gift a Sapling on birthday ▲Santhisthal: for Biodiversity Conservation

▲Updating Campus Biodiversity Register ▲Plastic Eradication Drive

▲Celebrating Relevant Days like ●World Environment Day ●Ozone Day

●World Wetland Day ●World Water Day ● World Forest Day

●World Meteorological Day

STATE AWARD for

►BEST BMC ►

ACADEMIC

1. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

▲Pass percentage : UG – 82%

PG – 92%

2 STUDENTS’ PROGRESSION

▲25% PG students cleared M.Phil. entrance

examination (Calicut University)

▲ 10 % PG students cleared Ph.D. entrance

examination (Calicut University)

▲36% UG students pursuing PG Courses

3. INVITED TALKS:

▲Talk on ‘Applications of Bioinformatics’

by Dr. Sayuj KP for final year UG and PG

students.

4. OFFCAMPUS LECTURES

▲Talk for PG and UG students, on ‘Plant

systematics by Dr. Prof Daike Tian,

International Nelumbo Registrar, China, on 19

Aug 2017, at MBGIPS Kozhikode.

▲Talk for PG and UG students on ‘Molecular

techniques in plant breeding’ by Dr. Arun on

22 Jan 2018 at CSRTI Mysore

▲Talk for PG and UG students on Silk

production technology’ by Dr. Joicy, Senior

Scientist on 22 Jan 201 at CSRTI Mysore

▲Talk for PG and UG students on Food processing and packaging by Dr. Jennifer

Raj, Scientist on 22 Jan at DFRL Mysore

▲Talk for PG and UG students on Wheat

breeding by Dr. Jayaprakash, Senior Scientist on 23 Jan 2018 at Wheat Breeding Station,

Wellington, Ooty

▲Talk for PG students on Rice Breeding

Techniques by Dr. Chithra, Scientist, on 26

Feb 2018 at Rice Breeding Station Pattambi.

V

Seminar cum Workshop

Invited Talks

Off campus lectures & Demonstrations

EXTRACURRICULAR /

COCURRICULAR

5. CERTIFICATE COURSE ▲’Herbal First Aid and Healthcare’ in

collaboration with MBGIPS Kozhikode

6. COMPETITIONS

▲Essay writing (Topic –Connecting people to

nature, Theme of the World Environment Day

2017) (5th

June 2017)

▲Poster making competition in connection

with Ozone Day 2017.

7. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

▲Maintenance of ‘Santhisthal’ (Repository

of Endemic Fruit Tree Species in 10 cents of

land outside the campus, with financial

support from Kerala State Biodiversity

Board).

▲Awareness classes on Biodiversity

Conservation.

▲Displays like Plant of the week, Info Desk

8. STUDY TOURS ▲Conducted study tours to ▲CSRTI

(Mysore) ▲DFRL (Mysore) ▲Bonsai

Garden (Mysore) ▲IARI RS Wellington

(Ooty) ▲Govt. Botanical Garden (Ooty)

▲RARS (Pattambi) ▲RARS (Ambalavayal)

▲MBGIPS etc.

9. TRAINING PROGRAMMES PG students attended a district level training

programme in ‘Bonsai making’ organized by

ICAR KVK on 23rd

April 2018.

10. FILM SHOWS

▲ Kaippad- Blackish Water Rice Prawn

Cultivation Ecosystem by Babu Kambrath.

11. SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS ▲Workshop on ‘My Nature My nurture’

sponsored by KSCSTE (13-14 June 2017)

Green

initiatives

12. OBSERVING RELEVANT DAYS ▲World Environment Day (5

th June)

▲International Ozone Day (16th

September)

▲World Wetland Day (2nd

February)

▲International Darwin Day (12th

February)

▲ World Forest Day (21st March)

13. OTHER ACTIVITIES ▲Plant of the week (Theme of 2017-18:

Star Plants

▲Infodesk

▲Manuscript magazine ‘Blossom’

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

14.SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS

ORGANIZED ▲Workshop on PCR and its Applications

4th

Nov 2017

15. RESOURCE PERSONS INVITED

▲ Dr. Jayakumar, Scientist, CWRDM

▲Dr. PN Ravindran, former Director, IISR,

Kozhikode

▲Mr. Narasimham Chakrapani, BIORAD ▲Dr. sayuj KP, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for

Biotechnology, TVM)

16. RESEARCH ARTICLES PUBLISHED

▲ Minoo Divakaran, Nirmal Babu K,

Peter KV 2017. Cryopreservation of vanilla

pollen and its utilization in interspecific

hybridization between V.planifolia and

V.aphylla. European J Biomedical and

Pharmaceutical Sciences 4 (11) : 441-446

▲Saranya Babu Jayaprakash CM, Minoo

Divakaran, Madhusoodanan PV,

Prakashkumar R. 2017. An efficient in vitro

propagation protocol for Morinda citrifolia

L., an important medicinal plant. European

J Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

4 (11): 458-463.

▲Deena Meria Jose 2017. Diversity of

Students’ participation outside the campus

Observing Relevant Days

mushrooms in the foothill of Western Ghats- a

study from the eastern part of Malappuram,

Kerala. Int. J. Scientific Research 6(7): 1-3

▲Deena Meria Jose, AV Athira, EV Ayisha, J

Gloria, PT Greeshma, MB Manju. 2017,Total

polyphenols and phytochemical constituents in

a few neglected and underutilized tropical

minor fruits J. Advances in Biological Sciences

4(1): 11-13.

17. CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

▲Minoo Divakaran, Rebijith KB, Rajesh MK,

Nirmal Babu K, 2017. Spices – Molecular

Markers and Marker Assisted Selection, In

Chowdappa P, Anitha K, Rajesh MK &

Ramesh SV (Eds.) Biotechnology of Plantation

Crops, pp193-218, Daya Publishing House-

Astral Publications, New Delhi, ISBN 978-93-

86071-72-9

▲Nirmal Babu K, Minoo Divakaran, Geetha

SP, Ravindran PN, Peter KV 2017. Spices –

Regeneration systems, In Chowdappa P, Anitha

K, Rajesh MK & Ramesh SV (eds.)

Biotechnology of Plantation Crops, pp101-124,

ibid

▲Nirmal Babu K, Minoo Divakaran, Geetha

SP, Yamuna G, Saji KV, Ravindran PN, Peter

KV 2017. Spices – In vitro conservation, In

Chowdappa P, Anitha K, Rajesh MK &

Ramesh SV (eds.) Biotechnology of Plantation

Crops, pp 489-506, ibid

▲Nair RR, Minoo Divakaran, K Nirmal Babu

2017. Vanilla. In Parthasarathy VA, Aswath C,

KN Babu, Senthil Kumar R (eds.) Breeding of

horticultural Crops Vol.1-Part-A : Spices, pp

193-238, T&TP Publishers, New Delhi, ISBN

1-55528-421-1

18. PAPERS PRESENTED IN SEMINARS

▲ Dr. Ajusha S 2017. ‘Basics of plant tissue

culture’ in the national seminar on ‘Frontiers in

Biotechnology’, organized by KKTM Govt

College Pullut, Thrissur on 22 Nov 2017.

19. FACULTY AS MEMBERS IN

ACADEMIC & RESEARCH BODIES

▲Members of the UG Board of Studies

(Botany) University of Calicut (Dr. Deena

Lab visits

Nature Awareness Programmes -Skit

Field visits

Meria Jose, Dr. Minoo Divakaran)

▲Member of the PG Board of Studies

(Botany) St. Joseph’s College Devagiri

(Autonomous), Kozhikode (Dr. Deena

Meria Jose)

▲Member of Purchase Committee at

MBGIPS Kozhikode (Dr. Minoo

Divakaran)

▲Member of interview board for selection

of project staff at MBGIPS Kozhikode (Dr.

Minoo Divakaran)

20. STUDENTS’ACHIEVEMENTS

Qualifying National Eligibility Tests 2 PG students -Theertha AP qualified CSIR

JRF NET & Dipija AP qualified ICAR NET

Intercollegiate Events

▲Aiswaya IS (2 Sem PG) won second prize

in the intercollegiate project presentation

competition held as a part of ‘Sastra 2018’

at PWC Kozhikode.

▲Akshaya KK & Megha Das (4Sem PG)

won first prize in the intercollegiate quiz

competition organized by Govt. Arts and

Science College, Kozhikode as part of

World Wetland Day celebrations, 2018.

Other Achievements ▲Archana Amreth (4 sem UG) successfully

completed NPTL online certificate course in

Cell Culture Technologies.

▲ Students of Botany Dept. won first prize

in the interdepartmental cultural events in

connection with the Fine Arts Day.

21. FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS ▲Dr. Minoo Divakaran won the PWC Best

Teacher Award 2017-18

22. SEMINARS ATTENDED: ▲ Dr. Deena Meria Jose attended a national

seminar ‘Biodiversity of Western Ghats:

status and challenges’, organized by ZG

College Kozhikode (2 February 2018).

▲ Dr. Deena Meria Jose attended a national

seminar ‘Urban Wetlands- Restoration and

Conservation’, organized by GAS College

Kozhikode (5 February 2018).

▲ Dr. Minoo Divakaran attended a one day

STATE LEVEL AWARD

Qualified JRF/NET Completing NPTL Online Course

INTERCOLLEGIATE LEVEL

INSTITUTION LEVEL

Achievements

seminar on ‘Herbal Plants and Home

Remedies’ organized by OISCA international

center, Kozhikode (31 May 2017).

▲ Dr. Minoo Divakaran attended a lecture

workshop on ‘Plant Taxonomy’ organized by

MBGIPS Kozhikode (1-2 March, 2018).

▲Dr. Ajusha S attended National seminar on

‘Frontiers in Biotechnology’, organized by

KKTM Govt College Pullut, Thrissur on 22

Nov 2017.

▲ PG students attended a seminar on

‘Pollution’ organized by River protection

Council, Kerala.

23. COLLABORATIONS & MoUs ▲CCDU, Water Resources Dept., Govt. of

Kerala

▲Directorate of Environment and Climate

Change Govt. of Kerala

▲Kerala State Biodiversity Board

▲Malabar Botanical Garden &Institute for

Plant Sciences

▲OISCA International, Kozhikode Chapter.

MoUs ▲Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR),

Kozhikode

▲Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for

Plant Sciences (MBGIPS), Kozhikode

24. RESEARCH GUIDANCE ▲3 Students pursuing PhD under the

guideship of Dr. Minoo Divakaran

25. PLACEMENT FOR M.Sc PROJECTS ▲ Coffee Board Regional Station Wayanad

▲ MS Swaminarhan Research Foundation

(MSSRF) Wayanad,

▲Centre for Medicinal Plant Research

(CMPR), Kottakal

26. STUDENTS’ RESEARCH PROJECTS UG

▲Allelopathic and antibacterial properties of a

few invasive climbing weeds of Florican Hill.

▲Determination of total polyphenol content of a

few popular imported fruits of Malabar.

▲comparative studies on the characteristics of

root of tomato and chilly grown under

hydroponics and soil systems

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPORTS

▲Studies on morphology and medicinal efficacy of nanoparticles synthesized from two Curcuma spp., C.

longa and C. caesia.

▲Cytotoxic consequences of liquid synthetic food flavouings, condensed milk and strawberry.

▲Allelopatic effect of three weeds on seed germination and seedling growth of Vigna radiata (l.) Wilczek

PG

▲Effect of shade patterns on chemicals and biological properties of soils cropped to coffee.

▲Sulphur level of coffee soil in Wayanad region: the effect of different organic sources in available sulphur

status.

▲Effect of various organic and inorganic sources on chemical and biological properties of coffee soil and

grades of coffee.

▲Ethnobotany of Thachanadan Mooppan Tribal community in Wayanad.

▲Micropropagation of Piper longum and Piper sarmentosum – comparioson.

▲Evaluation of different plant extracts for management of mealy bug in Robusta coffee plantation.

▲Influence of organic nutrient mixture spray on Robusta coffee.

▲Impact of compost and microbes in growth and root characteristics of Robusta coffee seedlings.

▲An assessment of plant species diversity of Kolagapara rock clusters, Wayanad.

▲Flora of Kolagappara, Wayanad.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPORTS

27. SPORTS DAY 2018 ▲The department won the First runner up trophy in the sports day competitions

▲The department became the Second runner up in the March past competition held on the sports day

EXTENSION

28. FOR PROTECTION OFNATURE ▲Tree planting on World Environment Day ▲Distribution of saplings

29. FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PEOPLE ▲Water quality analyses, in the Jalasree Harithasala Lab

established in the department with support from Water

Resources Department, Govt. of Kerala.

▲Water Literacy Programmes (awareness campaigns) –

distribution of pamphlets describing measures to be taken

for well recharging, rain water harvesting etc.

30. CARE FOR THE AGED

▲Students visited Mercy Home – Old age home for men,

Vellimadukunnu and celebrated festivals like Onam and

Christmas with the inmates.

31. ACTIVITIES AT THE ADOPTED SCHOOL (MAM UPS PARAMBIL BAZAR).

▲Awareness programme- Plastic Eradication Drive

▲Water quality analysis for the adopted school- 20 well water samples were analyzed for

physicochemical and bacteriological parameters.

32. OTHER EXTENSION ACTICVITIES ▲Students visited Anganavadis and taught skills like painting to the kids

▲A few students donated blood to the needy persons during the blood donation camp.

▲A few students of 2nd

year were involved in pain and palliative care activities.

▲A few students participated in the exhibition and sale of products made by the cancer patients

Extension programmes

AERITH - BIODIVERSITY CLUB Reg. No. KSBB/BC/07, BDC Code: KSBB/BDC/11001

(Supported by Kerala State Biodiversity Board)

VISION

▲ To conserve and enhance local biodiversity

MISSION / OBJECTIVES

▲ To assess the local biodiversity

▲ To conduct awareness programmes on

environment and biodiversity conservation.

MAINTENANCE OF ‘SANTHISTHAL ▲Santhisthal, a collection of traditional fruit trees

was established in 10 cents of land outside the

campus in the year 2013, with financial support

from Kerala State Biodiversity Board. The

activities like Bio-fencing, periodic cleaning,

watering, weeding, replanting etc. were done

regularly.

ATTENDING SEMINARS ▲Members of the club attended seminars on

Biodiversity Conservation.

AWARENESS PROGRAMMES ▲Seminar on underutilized leafy vegetables for

spreading awareness about agro-biodiversity and

conservation of landraces and farmers’ varieties

FIELD STUDIES ▲Members of the club conducted field studies to

study biodiversity of mushrooms in Malaparamba

COMPETITIONS ▲Displays like Plant of the week, info desk etc. by

B.Sc students on a competition basis.

BIODIVERSITY REGISTER ▲ Campus Biodiversity Register was maintained

and updated.

BHOOMITHRASENA CLUB BMC Code: (BMC-055/KKD/05/09)

(Supported by Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Govt. of Kerala)

VISION

▲To have environmental concern in education

by undertaking awareness and action programmes

for environmental protection

MISSION / OBJECTIVES ▲To encourage college students appreciate

environment and environmental issues of the locality

▲To provide environmental education opportunities

for college students and involve them in addressing

environmental issues of the locality

▲To utilize the enormous manpower available with

college students as conduits for awareness of the

society

▲To make students practice & advocate sustainable

life styles

ACHIEVEMENTS

▲Bhoomitrasena unit won the state award for the

Best Unit in the North Kerala Zone.

WORLD OZONE DAY ▲World Ozone Day was celebrated on September

16th

.

COMPETITIONS ▲Essay writing competition on the topic

‘Connecting people to nature’, Theme of the

World Environment Day 2017 on 5th

June 2017

▲Poster making competition (Connecting people to

nature, on 5th

June 2017

▲Painting competition on the topic ‘Ozone Depletion

on world Ozone Day 16th

Sept 2017.

WORLD FOREST DAY ▲World Forest Day was observed on 21

st March

2018

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY ▲ World Meteorological Day was observed on

23rd March 2018 (Theme: Weather- ready,

Climate- smart.

JALASREE CLUB (Supported by CCDU, Water Resources Department, Govt. of Kerala)

VISION ▲ To ensure safe potable water for all

MISSION / OBJECTIVES ▲To proclaim the college as ‘Water Sanitation

and Information Centre’ under CCDU

▲To generate a sensitive and responsible

attitude towards water among people through

constant professional endeavors with diverse

intervention strategies, which demands different

devices, advanced technologies, improved

designs and skills.

▲To build a behavioral change among society

which results in the reduction of loss of water,

control and prevent contamination and enhance

water quantity, enrich water quality and assure

water prosperity in a sustainable manner

WATER LITERACY PROGRAMMES ▲Pamphlets describing water conservation,

Keeping wells clean, Well recharging, Rain

water harvesting, Restoration of water bodies,

Monsoon diseases etc. were distributed to the

neighborhood people.

▲The members visited CWRDM laboratories

as part of Water Literacy Programme.

WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS ▲Water quality of 65 water samples collected

from the students and teachers of the adopted

school (MAM UPS Parambil Bazar) was

analyzed and water cards were distributed. The

analyses were done in the Jalasree Harithasala

Laboratory established with support from the

Water Resources Dept., Govt. of Kerala.

WORLD WETLAND DAY ▲World Wetland Day was celebrated on 3rd

February 2018.

▲A film Show on KAIPPAD (The blackish water- paddy- prawn field ecosystem) directed by Mr.

Babu Kambrath was held in connection with wetland day

WORLD WATER DAY ▲World Water Day was observed on 22nd March 2018.

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NATURE CLUB

VISION ▲ Protection of Our Environment

MISSION / OBJECTIVES ▲ To inculcate a deep love and understanding for our

natural environment in today’s young women

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY ▲World Environment Day 2017 was celebrated on 5th June.

A few saplings were planted on the occasion. Essay writing

and poster making competitions were conducted for students

of the theme of World Environment Day 2017.

▲A skit on Nature Awareness was performed on the

occasion of WED 2017.

SEMINARS ORGANIZED ▲ Organized a Seminar cum Workshop on Energy, Water

resources and Biodiversity Conservation on 13 June 2017

STAR PLANTS GARDEN ▲A ‘Star Plants’ garden was established, in collaboration

with NGO ‘Prithvi’

‘GIFT A SAPLING’ PROGRAMME ▲Innovation in birthday celebrations: Presenting a sapling as birthday gift to students

PROMOTION OF NATURAL FOOD ▲Natural and healthy food items were prepared and distributed during the science film shows

organized.

ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION ‘PROVIFLORA’

ACHIEVEMENTS ▲Anjusha S (2009 UG Batch) (Kerala University) Sinitha K (1994 UG Batch), & Anjana S (2008 UG

Batch) (Calicut University) were awarded PhD in Botany.

▲3 Members (Dipija AP, Aswathi P & Shimi Cherian (2015 PG Batch) completed M.Phil from Calicut

University.

▲Theertha AP (2015 PG Batch), Sruthi Bharathan (2014 UG Batch),

Jaseela VP (2007 UG Batch) & Aparna Prasad (2012 UG Batch) cleared CSIR JRF

▲Dipija AP (2015 PG Batch) cleared ICAR NET

▲Anjusha S (2009 UG Batch) pursuing PDF (Kerala University)

▲7 members pursuing PhD : Saranya Babu (2007)), Jeeja Jayakrishnan (2010),

Bhagyasree Raveendran (2012), Vinjusha K (2012), Arathymol A (2013).

▲1 member (Anjitha, 2016 PG Batch) pursuing MPhil.

Published by Compiled by

Department of Botany Dr. Deena Meria Jose Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode 9, Kerala