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Over the years, our educational pursuit has been a judicious mix of individual initiatives and innovations together with collective efforts.The department enjoys the reputation of having on its faculty, members with Ph. D. holders from five branches of plant sciences. Four of them are alumni of this department itself and the junior most (guest) faculty member belongs to the 8th generation, further increasing the bonding among teachers at different stages.

The scholarly experience shared by faculty and research guides trained in Royal Botanic Garden Kew England, Botanical Survey of India Calcutta, reputed Indian Universities (Delhi, Poona, and Baroda) and Spices Research Institute of India have a major impact in building up a community of scholars in the department. Recently two members have been selected for the Faculty Leadership Development Programme of UBCHEA New York. This year, one senior faculty member is undergoing M. Phil. There are over 100 research publications and 21 seminar presentations by the faculty and research guides.

The department follows a committee system of administration. In addition to the Staff Association and Botany Association, we have faculty and staff in charge of Library, Conduct of examination, Orientation programmes, Computer, Instrumentation and purchase, Infrastructure development, Green House and Garden, Research wing, Chemicals, Public relations, Herbarium, UG/ PG project preparation, Seminar presentation and Remedial teaching.

Courses Offered
Under graduate Courses:
B.Sc. Botany
Post Graduate Courses:
M.Sc. Botany
Ph.D

Faculty

Name of the Teaching staff	Highest Qualification	Experience in years
Santha M Mathew	M.Phil	27
Mani Varghese K.I.	Ph.D.	25
Aleyamma P.J.	M.Sc	26
Rani Varghese	M.Sc	20
Thara K Simon	Ph.D	10
Kuriachen P.M	Ph.D.	10
David Saj Mathew	Ph.D.	10
Thomas Mathew P.	Ph.D.	8

Activities of the Department

The conduct of exhibitions, association activities, participation in the intercollegiate seminars and competitions held by other colleges have helped in their soft skill development. Within the limits of the prescribed syllabus of the University, the provisions for innovative learning methods such as group discussions, field studies, and symposia are effectively utilised. Other than the traditional study tours, field trips are being conducted to the Sacred Grooves, Biosphere Reserves and such areas with high biodiversity. Students conduct floristic surveys also.

A major change occurred in the course pattern was the ‘research tilt’ where a paper equivalent research project was incorporated at both UG and PG levels, leading to the effective utilisation of the diverse research initiatives, ideas and skills of all the students. They are given special orientation for writing the thesis and presentation of seminars. The research culture of PG/ UG students has led to the publication of their projects in scientific journals (1) and presentation of papers at state level (1) and national level (1). Of the 7 Ph. D. research scholars of recent times, 5 are the alumni of the department. Trying to keep the right balance between ‘lecturing ’ and ‘facilitating’, the students are familiarised with e-learning techniques, apart from hearing lectures.

The department is one of the research active centres of the university. Within the past five years, 4 Ph. Ds have been produced and one scholar has submitted the synopsis. There are over 20 research publications. The department offers honorary consultancy services in identification of medicinal plants and plant products, Mushroom cultivation and plantation of Vanila. For the past ten years, the research and postgraduate wing of the department has been an active centre of mycology, plant pathology and environmental biology and is now focusing its attention on Plant Taxonomy as well as Microbiology. Members of the faculty are also involved in Biodiversity and Conservation programmes. The research wing is one among the very few international centres working on the endemic flowering plants of Podostemaceae with international collaboration. We completed two UGC major projects and produced 3 PhDs in this area. Two scholars from Kaiserslrutlrn University of Technology, Germany visited the department in January 2003 and shared their experiences in wetland research. More researchers are now working in the field.

Future projects of the department are (1) Starting a self financing PG course in Microbiology (2) Establishing centres for Genetic Resources Management and Wetland Research (3) Undertaking projects in Post Harvest Diseases of fruits and Medicinal Plant Systematics (4) Extension programmes in Building Science education in local and Global context. We are indeed proud of the alumni who adorn responsible positions in different parts of the world. Expressing our sincere admiration and affection to the retired faculty for sharing their exceptional knowledge and continuously seeking guidance and inspiration from them, the department looks forward to a bright future.

Highlights of the Department during 2000-2005

Major Achievements

2004-2005

1) Major Research Project: ‘Transit and storage of fruits, vegetables and tuber crops with special reference to fungal diseases’. Principal investigator-Dr. K. I. Mani Varghese; Co investigator-Dr. David Saj Mathew

2) UGC sponsored National seminar on Plant Genetic Resources Management 28^th to 30^th October 2004. Co-ordinator: Dr. P. Thomas Mathew.

3) Intercollegiate seminar on “Advances in Plant Pathological Research for Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). Key note address by Dr. Kuruvilla Jacob, C. Dy.Director, Plant Pathology Division, Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam.

4) Ph.D. Awardees (Mahatma Gandhi University)

Dr.Geetha K.(Supervisor: Dr. Thara K. Simon)

Prof. T. T. Cherian (Supervisor: Dr. K.I Mani Varghese)

5) Awardees of UB-Freeman Scholarship: Dr. P.M. Kuriachen

Selected for Faculty Leadership Training in Dept. of Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

6) Award from UBCHEA: Dr. Thara K. Simon, Fellow of the United Board

Undergone Faculty Training in Dept. of Biology, Hope College, Holland USA.

2003-2004

1) Intercollegiate seminar on Olericulture Dr. T.R.Gopalakrishnan, Prof.&Head, Dept. of Olericulure, Kerala Agriculture University, Vellanikara, Trichur.

2) University Rank Holders (Mahatma Gandhi University)

(a) I Rank- Mrs. Jaya Kuruvilla (Recipient of CSIR Junior Research fellowship)

II Rank- Miss.Subindu P. S.

3) Ph. D. Awardees (Mahatma Gandhi University)

Dr. Sarala Samuel (Supervisor: Dr. G. Velayudhan Thampi)

4) Awardees of UB-Freeman Scholarship: Dr. Thara K. Simon

Training in Division of Environment and Life Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, and Seminar presented in Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.)

1) Seminar on ‘Taxonomy a Synthetic Discipline” Dr. Lissy Mathew, Sl.Gr. Lecturer, Dept. of Botany, St. Teresa’s College Ernakulam.

2002-2003

2) Visit of Ms.Alexandra Bachran and Ms.Stephani Dojani From Kaiserslrutlrn University Germany, discussion on ‘New approaches in Wetland research)

3) Ph. D. Awardee (Mahatma Gandhi University):

Dr. Nileena C. B (Supervisor: Dr. C. Joyce Mathew)

7) Awardee of CSIR lecturership: Mrs.Shehan V. K. MSc. Botany (2001- 2003)

3) Lecture on ‘Future prospects of Botany’ Mr. George Ambatt, Sr. Manager, Synthit, Kolencherry.

2001-2002

8) Intercollegiate seminar on ‘Flower and the Environment’ Dr. P.K.K.Nair, Advisor, Regional Cancer Center, Trivandrum.

9) University Rank Holder (Mahatma Gandhi University)

Mrs.Saira George III Rank MSc. Botany

2000-2001

10) University Rank Holder (Mahatma Gandhi University)

Miss.Archana Kishore I Rank MSc. Botany (Recipient of CSIR junior Research fellowship)

11) Seminar on Scope of Biotechnology Dr. Joseph Padayatty, Academician & Scientist, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

1999-2000

12) University Rank Holders (Mahatma Gandhi University)

Mr. Dileep K. R. I Rank MSc. Botany

Mr. Sreekanth M. III Rank MSc. Botany

13) Completion of UGC Major research project :Interrelationships in the genera and species of the family Podostemaceae Principal Investigator: Dr. C. Joyce Mathew

Roll of Honour

Scholarship prizes and Endowments (2003-2004)

SL.NO.	TITLE	CLASS	NAME
1.	DR. ABRAHAM C KULANGARA ENDOWMENT PRIZE	III B.Sc. STUDENT (MARKS OF I^st & II^nd YEARS IN THE MAIN)	K.A KRISHA KUMAR
2.	PROF. T.C JOSEPH ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP	II B.Sc. STUDENT (MERIT SHOWN IN I^st YEAR)	PRIYA M P
3.	DR. O.M. MATHEW PRIZE	TOP SCORER OF M.Sc. (PREVIOUS)	SHERIN U M
4.	DR. C. JOYCE MATHEW PRIZE	FINAL B.Sc. TOP SCORER	ROHINI RAJENDRAN
5.	DR. G. VELAYUDHAN THAMPY PRIZE	M.Sc. PREVIOUS & FINAL AGGREGATE TOP SCORER	JAYA KURUVILLA
6.	DR. K. KURUVILLA MEMORIAL PRIZE	B.Sc. BOTANY TOP SCORER	ROHINI RAJENDRAN
7.	DR. K. KURUVILLA MEMORIAL EVER ROLLING TROPHY	FINAL B.Sc. TOP SCORER (MAIN AND SUB.)	ROHINI RAJENDRAN
8.	ORAVACKAL MATHAI MEMORIAL AWARD	M.Sc. STUDENT OF U.C.COLLEGE WHO SECURES I^stRANK IN BOTANY IN M.G.UNIVERSITY	JAYA KURUVILLA