The department of Life sciences had organized a one day seminar
on “Emerging trends in Taxonomy: Flora, Fauna and
Microbes” on 20th February, 2020. Taxonomy is the science
of the description and classification of organism essential to
the inventory of life on earth. It is very important to know the
living organisms around us and careful and accurate
identification and classification are of vital importance.
Without taxonomy nobody would be sure of the identity of
organisms. Taxonomy is essential in theoretical and applied
biology like agriculture and forestry, biological control,
public health, wild life management, mineral prospecting through
the datation of rocks by their enclosed flora, fauna and
microbes, national defense, environmental problems, soil
fertility and commerce. Taxonomy is now in at one important
cross-road in its long history and we must decide to go into one
direction or another. New approaches have emerged and
technological progress is demanding. We must focus our efforts
convincing about the importance of taxonomy as a basic science
for understanding our lives and the skeleton of hundreds of
disciplines. And phylogenetics, DNA progress, the web, the new
statistic methods should be the tools to support taxonomy.
The vital aim of the seminar was to bring together academicians,
researchers and experts from different parts of the country to
exchange knowledge and ideas. It provided an in depth analysis
of subjects and updated the knowledge of the participants from
taxonomy experts. It also gave a platform to the young
scientists and researchers to contribute their ideas to this
field.
Total number of participant for this seminar was 106. The
seminar was started with inaugural function. The seminar was
inaugurated by Hon’ble Prof. Dr.Vinay M. Raole, Professor
Department of Botany, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of
Baroda, Vadodara as a guest of honour. The Chairperson was Prof.
Dr. Shivajirao Kadam, Hon’ble Chancellor, Bharati
Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University. Delegate participants,
all head of the departments, staff members were present for the
inaugural function. A tribute to Respected Founder Dr.Patangrao
Kadam was paid at the outset. Incharge Principal Dr. S. R. Patil
gave the welcome speech. Dr.Mrs. Sushama S. Pawar briefed the
theme of the seminar and introduced the chief guest.
Felicitation of guest was done by Incharge Principal Dr. S. R.
Patil. In the key note address Prof. Dr. Vinay M. Raole talked
on ‘Ethanobotany’. He discussed on diversity of
plants, relative cultural importance, methodology for economic,
social and ecological values of medicinal plants and role of
tribal people. He highlighted innovative approach, intracultural
variations, commercial valuations and Jungle ka Khana Khajana.
Vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs. R. S. Chavan and anchoring
was done by Dr.A.A. Jape.
The second session was started with the speech of Dr. Varad
Giri, Founder-Director, NIDUS, Reconnection people to nature
through theme based programmes, workshops and talks. He shared
his knowledge on basic taxonomy of animals, importance of
taxonomy especially of amphibians and reptiles. His style of
presentation was highly appreciated by the students. He also
introduced newly found species of lizards by him to the audience
which was highlight of his talk.
For post lunch session i.e. third session, resource
person was Dr.Kamlesh Jangid, Scientist ‘D’National
Centre for Microbial Resource, NCCS, Pune. He emphasized the
emerging trends in microbial taxonomy. He discussed
classification, nomenclature and identification of prokaryotes.
Also, elaborates LPSN, validity publications, ribosomal protein
in microbial identification.
The last session was started with the speech of well known
taxonomist in Botany, Prof. Dr. S.R. Yadav, Department of
Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He discussed and shared
the knowledge about plant taxonomy particularly of western ghat.
His expertise and presentation was informative for emerging
taxonomists. Seminar was concluded by the valedictory
function.
For the Valedictory function, Chief Guest was Prof. Dr. S.R.
Yadav, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
Incharge Principal Dr.S.R. Patil gave the address speech.
Organizing Secretary Dr. Mrs. Sushama S. Pawar presented
concluding remark of the seminar. Some of the participants
expressed their views about the seminar. Chairperson Dr.
S.R.Yadav gave guidance to the delegates. Certificates were
distributed to the delegates and participants. Vote of thanks
was proposed by Co-Convenor Dr.S.G.Pawar.
Overall, it was a knowledgeable event and all participants made
it a grand success!!!
Dr. Mrs. Sushama S. Pawar.
Organising Secretary