Department of Biotechnology - Activities & Events conducted in year 2019-20

THAKUR COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS  2019-20

National level Webinar on ‘Boosting Immunity with Ayurveda'

Ayurveda offers many options for preventive care by enhancing the body’s immune mechanisms, which is an important healthcare strategy during COVID-19 period.  A National level Webinar on ‘Boosting Immunity with Ayurveda' was organized on 12th May 2020 with the objective to share the scientific information on the methods to boost our immunity with Ayurveda, from the experts in the field.  Resource persons for the webinar were:

1.     Dr. Supriya Bhalerao [M.D., Ph.D. (Ayurveda), PG Diploma in Bioethics] from Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune. 

2.      Dr. Girish Tillu [M.D. (Ayurveda), Ph.D. (Health Sciences)] from Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Savitribai Phule Pune University

The Webinar was attended by 624 participants including faculties, students and researchers from different parts of India- Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Assam. The webinar was found very informative and useful by all the academicians from various fields.

Seminar

A Seminar on “Use of Foldscope for Research” was organized on 23rd August, 2019. The resource person was Dr. B. Prakash, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women, Tamil Nadu. The seminar was attended by 54 students from BSc Biotech. 

Guest lectures

Guest lecture on “Careers in Research” was delivered by Ms. Preethika Nair, Research Scholar from ACTREC [Advanced Centre for Training,  Research and Education in  Cancer], Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.  on 17th July, 2019. The lecture was attended by 86 students from B.Sc. Biotechnology. 

Guest lecture on the cross-cutting issue

Guest lecture on the cross-cutting issue “Eco-Conservation” was delivered by Mr. Jayesh Vishwakarma, Education and Extension Officer, Sanjay Gandhi National Park on 20th July, 2019. The lecture was attended by 175 students from F.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech and CBZ), S.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech and CB) and T.Y.BSc (Biotech and Botany).

Hands-on workshop on Molecular Biology

Two-day hands-on workshop on Molecular Biology was organized in association with HiMedia Laboratories Ltd. on 21st-22nd January, 2020. The objective of the workshop was to introduce the students to various techniques in molecular biology such as PCR, DNA isolation GMO detection, RFLP, and give them a hands-on experience in carrying out the techniques. A total of 39 students from department of Botany, Chemistry and Biotechnology participated in the workshop.

                                               Hands-on Workshop in Bioinformatics

Hands on Workshop on `Primer designing and Other Advanced Areas in Bioinformatics’ was organized on 8th February,2020. The resource person was Dr. Sanket Bapat, PhD (Bionformatics) Assistant Professor, MIT School of Bioengineering Science and Research, Pune. A total of 43 students from departments of Botany and Biotechnology participated in the workshop.

‘EUREKA 2019’

Intercollegiate competition ‘EUREKA 2019’ on 31st August, 2019. The event was sponsored by Positive News Corner. The competition comprised of two events. In the first event, students from various departments presented their innovative ideas across multiple fields. Learners from various colleges and departments attended the competition and presented their Innovative Ideas. The ideas ranged from resolving day to day problems, global issues to information on outer space. Second part of the event Eureka 2019 was a Petri-Art Competition, where learners expressed their creativity in art on Agar Media plates using Microbial Cultures. The panel of judges for the event included Mr. Sushil Shinde (Botany Department) and Mr. Vipul Purohit (Chemistry Department) from Thakur College of Science and Commerce. 

WINNERS OF `EUREKA 2019':

Poster competition on “Career Avenues in Lifesciences” on 8th February, 2020. 27 students from S.Y and T.Y.BSc participated in the competition. The posters were judged by Dr. Sanket Bapat, PhD (Bionformatics) Assistant Professor, MIT School of Bioengineering Science and Research, Pune. Winners of the competition were: 

• 1st: Ritu Gupta (T.Y. B.Sc.)

• 2nd:  Priya Singh (T.Y. B.Sc.)

• 3rd: Lawanya Rao (T.Y. B.Sc.)

Career Guidance session by Ms. Urvashi Chawla, Career strategist and Trainer from Personal Excellency on 10th February, 2020. The speaker discussed about various career options and emphasized on communication skills, CV writing and interview skills. The session was attended by 39 students of S.Y and T.Y. B.Sc.  Biotechnology.

Extension Activity: Students of Dept. of Biotechnology participated in signing Campaign for `SAVE TIGERS’ by Sanctuary Nature Foundation.

Extension Activity: Students of Dept. of Biotechnology made a documentary on Govt. program `Ayushmaan Bharat Yojana and Indradhanush Yojana’. The documentary was screened for the nonteaching staff of TCSC. Also, the students educated the staff through personal interactions and presentation about the Govt. schemes. 

`Go creative with Science’ competition

`Go creative with Science’ competition was organized as s a part of  Skill  and Talent Enhancement program from 19th May to 25th May. Number of Online Participants: 36 ; Mode of Participation: Google form and Google drive

Winners:  Art Competition:

1st: Saakshi Bangera, T.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech) 2nd: Akshata Rao, F.Y.B.Sc. (CBZ)

3rd: Harmeet Panesar, T.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech) &  Amrita Upadhyay T.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech)

Winners:  Cartoon making competition:

1st:Tulsi Nishad, T.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech)  2nd: Shreya Mishra, S.Y.B.Com. (J)

3rd:Richa Shukla,T.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech) & Priya Singh, T.Y.B.Sc. (Biotech)

Global alumni connect ‘Sparkles’

Session 2: Date: 30th May 2020

Resource person:  Ms. Anahita Bharda, PhD scholar, Kangwon National University, South Korea

Number of Online Participants: 52; Mode of online streaming: Google Meet

Ms. Anahita Bharda is a Research Scholar and Ph.D Student of Biochemistry in the Lab of Protein Structure & Function (LPSF), Kangwon National University under the Principal Investigator, Dr. Hyun Suk Jung.She presented her research work on `Myosin Protein and Virus Image Capture' using Transmission Electron Microscope and Cryo Electron Microscope. Also, she gave the participant students a virtual tour to the Electron Microscopy Lab in Kangwon National University, South Korea.  She also guided students regarding higher studies abroad.

Apart from the above activities, the students of biotechnology participated in various college activities such as Origin-Science exhibition, tree plantation drive, ‘Garjana’ donation drive, NSS and DLLE activities. The students also organized the events Cooking without Heating and mocktail making competition and forensic game CSI as a part of Taarangan 2019.

STUDENTS ACHEIVEMENTS:

1. Rodhan Patke & Paridhi Sharma (S.Y.B.Sc.) presented research project titled “Isolation and Characterization of endophytic bacteria from Moringa oleifera’ in Pure Science category and UG level Selection Round of 14th Avishkar research convention 2019-20 held at Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Chembur, Mumbai on 24th December,2019 for Mumbai-2 zone.

2. Anjani Haripriya Vishnubatla presented paper entitled `An Awareness study on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, in One Day National Conference on “Women Empowerment and Gender Equality –Contemporary Issues” held at Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Kandivli (E), Mumbai on 4th January, 2020. The paper is published in `Our Heritage Journal’Vol-68, 1st Jan 2020 [ISSN: 0474-9030, Impact Factor 4.912 (SJIF)]

3. Paridhi Sharma (S.Y.B.Sc.) successfully completed NPTEL online certification course in function genomics and SWAYAM online certification course in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

4. Harmeet Panesar (T.Y. B.Sc.)  successfully completed NPTEL online certification course in Dairy and Food Process and Products technology.

5. Anjani Haripriya Vishnubatla (T.Y. B.Sc.)   successfully completed NPTEL online certification course in Tissue Engineering and Biomedical nanotechnology.

6. Kenisha Baretto (F.Y. B.Sc.) successfully completed NPTEL online certification course in Patent Drafting for beginners. 

7. Muskan Singh (S.Y. B.Sc.) successfully completed NPTEL online certification course in Body language key to professional success.

WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES ATTENDED 

1. Ms. Shweta Sharma participated in First Term Training Program for Extension Work Teachers and Student Managers organized by Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension, University of Mumbai held at B.L. Amlani College of Commerce and Economics, Vile Parle (E), Mumbai on 9th July, 2019.

2. Dr. Aparna Deshmukh, Ms. Shubha Govil and Ms. Shweta Sharma participated in the National Conference “River Rejuvenation and Water Management with Policy Perspectives-2019” held at Thakur college of Science and Commerce, Kandivali (E), Mumbai held on 19th September, 2019.

3. Dr. Aparna Deshmukh and Ms. Shweta Sharma participated in  One Day National Conference on “Women Empowerment and Gender Equality –Contemporary Issues” organized by Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Kandivli (E), Mumbai in collaboration with University of Mumbai, Shree Halari Visa Oswal College of Commerce, Bhiwandi and Aviral Ganga Mission, Jalbiradari, on 4th January, 2020.

RESEARCH PAPER PRESENATIONS/ PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Aparna Deshmukh presented paper entitled `An Awareness study on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, in One Day National Conference on “Women Empowerment and Gender Equality –Contemporary Issues” held at Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Kandivli (E), Mumbai on 4th January, 2020. The paper is published in `Our Heritage Journal’Vol-68, 1st Jan 2020 [ISSN: 0474-9030, Impact Factor 4.912 (SJIF)] 

RESOURCE PERSON 

Dr. Aparna Deshmukh participated as a Research Paper reviewer for the International Conference on Advances in Information Technology and Management with the theme 'Leveraging Information Technology for waste management in Agriculture and Medicine' organized on 8th -9th February, 2020 at Thakur Institute of Management Studies, Career Development and Research, Mumbai.