STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: An inter-college seminar on Plant Biology and Biodiversity in Changing Environment was organised by the Science Club of GCW Udhampur in collaboration with J and K State Council for Science and Technology, Distict Udhampur.
Dr. Bhavnaish Chand convener of the seminar presented keynote address. In his key note he said individual species, food webs and whole ecosystems are altered when the environment changes. There is a significant current interest and research focus on the phenomenon of recent anthropogenic climate changes or global warming. Focus is on identifying the current impacts of climate change on biodiversity and predicting these aspects in the future.
Earlier the seminar started with the lighting of traditional lamp by the Principal of the College Prof. K.S Koushal and other dignitaries. In his presidential address he said that changing climate variables relevant to the function and distribution of plants include increasing carbon dioxide concentrations, increasing global temperatures, altered precipitation patterns and changes in the pattern of extreme weather conditions such as cyclones, fires or storms. Increase in carbon dioxide has been implicated in vegetation thickening which affects plant community structure and function.
Prof. Romesh Atri (HoD Botany, GDC Udhampur), Prof. Brinder Kumar (HoD Zoology, GCW Udhampur) and Prof. Sumita Rao (Dept. of Zoology GCW Udhampur) were in the panel of experts to adjudge the participants.
About 12 students from various colleges of District Udhampur participated in the seminar. First and second prizes were bagged by Archana Khajuria and Sunanda Bakshi respectively from GCW Udhampur, while third prize was clinched by Abhishek Sharma from GDC Boys Udhampur. Consolation prizes were awarded to Sapna Devi, Arti Chalotra and Mega all from GCW, Udhampur.
Diksha Gupta and Preeti Sharma of B.Sc. Part –III conducted the proceedings of the seminar, while Prof. Arun Kumar delivered vote of thanks. In the end prizes and certificates were distributed among winners/ participants by the Principal of the college and convener of the seminar.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Dr. Ashok Kumar, Prof. Ravinder Kour, Dr. Shalini Sharma, Dr. Parveen Kumari, Prof. Neetu Raina, Physical Director Sudesh Kumar and Sakshi Sharma.