Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 1: The department of botany, under the school of life sciences, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), organised a one-day hands-on workshop on the theme 'Techniques in plant science' on July 28. The programme began with a formal inauguration at Sanidhya Hall followed by skill-based experiments at botany lab with the participation of 60 pre-university students in and around Mangaluru and Udupi districts.
The inaugural session featured speeches by the director of Xavier Block and dean of the school of life sciences. The director of Xavier Block, Dr Ishwara Bhat in his address, highlighted the importance of organizing such workshops as a means of encouraging curiosity and practical learning among students.
The dean of school of life science, Dr Hemachandra in his speech, stated the institution’s commitment in organizing the workshop annually, recognizing its value in reinforcing academic learning with practical exposure. He emphasized the importance of botany as a fundamental pillar of basic science, contributing to a strong foundation in life sciences. The programme was compered by Susanna Xalxo, invocation by Ankitha and Swarananda of III BSc. Welcome speech was delivered by Shilpa B, head of the department of botany, and vote of thanks by Akshatha Pai, III BSc. The programme was coordinated by Dr Sana Sheikh, assistant professor, Dr Jyothi Miranda, associate professor, department of botany and students of III BSc Harshith KK and Akshatha Pai P.
During the workshop, participants engaged in a range of experiments and demonstrations to familiarize themselves with essential laboratory techniques in plant science. The experiments included Synthetic seed preparation, Agarose gel electrophoresis, Soxhlet extraction of phytochemicals, Clevenger apparatus demonstrating essential oil extraction, gram staining, herbarium specimen preparation, isolation of rhizobium from root nodules, identification of microalgae, instrumentation, sterilization techniques, exploration of various ecological groups of plants in fern house etc.
The workshop provided a platform for interactive learning, skill development, and academic enrichment. The hands-on nature of the program enabled participants to gain confidence in using scientific equipments and applying theoretical knowledge in practical settings. Overall, it contributed significantly to the participants understanding of modern plant science techniques and reinforced the relevance of botanical science in contemporary research and development.