Welcome to Department of Botany
The Department of Botany, which came into existence in the year 1989, has developed strong research programmes in the fields of stress physiology, structural & developmental botany, environmental botany, plant systematics, medicinal botany, plant biotechnology and plant molecular biology. The first registration for Ph.D. dates back to 1991 while the post-graduate and under-graduate teaching programme started in 1994 and 2017 respectively leading to the award of degrees of M.Sc. & B.Sc. (Hons.). The first Ph.D. from the department was awarded in 1995 and the first batches of students were awarded M.Sc. and B.Sc. (Hons.) in 1996 and 2020 respectively. An Advanced Diploma in Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment is also offered by the department through distance mode of learning.
During the last 31 years, as many as 114 students have received Ph.D. degrees. The alumni of the department are noted teachers and scientists occupying important positions in Indian universities, research institutions, colleges and non-governmental organizations. The department has been acknowledged for its excellence and creativity by various funding agencies of National/ International repute.
Twenty-three research projects from various funding agencies including DBT, DST, UGC, AYUSH, IPI, CCRUM, have been successfully completed in the department. The department has received generous funding DST-FIST & UGC-SAP (DRS-I) programmes. At present the department is receiving substantial funding from DST-SERB, UGC & SERB-NPDF.
The students of department have been successfully clearing the national level exams including NET/GATE/ICMR test for JRF and have been selected in reputed institutions such as JMI, Delhi University, AMU (Aligarh), Amity University, IGNOU, Kashmir University, NIOS, DRDO, Integral University (Lucknow) etc. Besides national institutions, students of the Botany department have been enrolled in Ph.D. programmes of international universities. Moreover, students of botany have been qualifying the highest level of civil services exams including IAS, IPS, KAS.
Research at our department ranges from fundamental discovery (through integrated physiological, biochemical and molecular biology approaches) to delivery of research-based information and new technology to end users.
Vision
The department yearns to be a centre with state-of-the-art facilities for promoting holistic study of plant sciences and realizing products and processes in alignment with sustainable goal developments for the overall well-being of society.
Mission
The mission of the department of botany is to
- attain excellence in teaching and research in botany;
- address global issues intervened by plants through cutting-edge research, dynamic graduate and postgraduate education with exemplary outreach;
- train and develop human resources in botany by tapping their inherent potential and enriching their learning experience;
- address the global issues of food insecurity and climate change by way of basics and translational research;
- effect in-situ conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants native to the NCR of Delhi in the herbal garden which is an integral part of the department;
- develop state-of-the-art facility for plant-based herbal drug identification and characterization;
- introduce relevant and tailor-made courses to address burning global issues such as climate change;
- promote public outreach programmes such as World Environment Day, World Ozone Day, Fascination of Plants Day etc;
- adopt sustainable development goals (SDGs) in teaching and research;
- develop and maintain Green India and promote sustainable healthy environment by adopting and implementing social programmes like Haritha Haram; and
- maximize the employability opportunities of maximum number of students.
Achievements
The humble beginning of the department of botany dates back to 1989. Ever since its conception and inception, it has come a long way and substantially contributed to the overall growth and development of Jamia Hamdard. The department stands prominently and strategically in Delhi as one of the two universities offering botany as a specialization at UG, PG and doctorate levels, the other being the University of Delhi. The faculty members have made noted contributions in academic and research fronts.
The faculty members have successfully published their research in international reviewed peer journals. Biotechnology Advances, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Carbohydrate Polymers, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Chemosphere, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, Environmental and experimental botany, Anti-oxidant, New Phytologist, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, Plant Physiology, Plant Cell Reports, Frontiers in Plant Science and Plant Physiology and Biochemistry are prominent among the publications. Further, the faculty edited and authored 15 books (Springer, Elsevier, CRC Press) across diverse areas of plant sciences.
Awards/Fellowships/Memberships/Editorial Roles conferred on the faculty members
- NASI-Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award 2021
- Young Scientist Award 2019 by Indian Society of Plant Physiology, India.
- Junior Scientist of the Year Award-2017 by National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi, India.
- DAAD Fellowship at the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn
- Bentham Ambassador 2018-19
- IPI-FAI (2003) Award for contribution towards potassium nutrition management for improvement of crop yield and quality
- Felicitation (2006 and 2009) by International Potash Institute for fruitful cooperation with IPI during International Symposium on Balanced Fertilization for Sustainable Crop Productivity
- Editorial board of international journals such as Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 3Biotech etc.
- Guest Editor in Frontiers in Plant Science, Plant and Soil, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
- Reviewer of National and International funding agencies
Curricula and Human Resource Development Activities
The department offers botany at UG, PG and doctorate levels. The department offers CBCS and as of 2021, SWAYAM based MOOCs have been adopted into the curricula (both at UG and PG). During the last 30 years as many as 109 students have received PhD degree. So far 28 batches of postgraduate students have come off with flying colours. The department has been successfully able to reach the unreached by offering a Post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment through distance mode of learning. The department of botany is the nodal centre for offering Environmental Sciences to under-graduate students across various schools of the university.
A modest number of students have been cracking competitive examinations and securing fellowship and National eligibility regularly. Some of the alumni have been successful in achieving heights of success and been absorbed in distinguished positions across universities, research institutions, colleges, non-governmental organizations and civil services.
Some of the major conferences/ seminars/ symposia/ workshops/ orientation programmes organised by the department in the past include
- 26th All India Botanical Conference & National Symposium on Plant Biology and Biodiversity in Changing Environment, December 29 - 31, 2003
- Satellite Session of the Third International Conference on Plants and Environmental Pollution, New Delhi, December 04, 2005
- 28th Annual Session of the Academy of Environmental Biology & National Symposium on “Environmental Stress & Bioresource Management, November 20 – 22, 2008
- Orientation Programme on “MOOCs and Blended Learning” (for faculty members of Jamia Hamdard), November 25, 2021
- Special Lecture on MOOCs and Blended Learning on “Building Teacher’s Competencies in Blended Learning: a step-by-step approach” (for faculty members of Jamia Hamdard), December 1, 2021
- Orientation Programme on “Outcome-Based Education” (for faculty members of Jamia Hamdard), February 2, 2022
- Special Lecture on “NEP 2020 – Concept, relevance and implementation” (for faculty members of Jamia Hamdard), June 14, 2022.
Teaching
The department has developed a 360° holistic curricula (both for UG and PG) taking into consideration the imminent issues in teaching and learning. The curricula are need-based and fosters all-round development of the learners. The syllabi of papers across the courses have been revised and revamped keeping in line with the recommendations of UGC. Further, a single paper in each semester at masters (starting with second semester) is outsourced to be offered by SWAYAM based MOOCs. Post COVID-19 surge, the department has resorted to blended mode of teaching learning retaining the maximum charm of face-to-face mode of teaching and learning.