Department of 'BIOTECHNOLOGY'

 Visit to UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences

The Departments of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics participated in an Open Day Visit at the UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, at the Nalanda Building at the Vidyanagari Campus of the University of Mumbai. The group was met by Prof. Jacinta D’Souza, Chairperson, School of Biological Science.   

 

The 29 Students and accompanying Faculty Members were divided into groups and then taken to visit the various Departments and laboratories and facilities of the Centre, such as the Plant Tissue Culture (PTC) lab, Epigenetics lab, Microbiology lab, Cancer – Genetics lab, Molecular biology lab, Media Preparation/Discard area, and Distillation Set Up. In addition, various research approaches and their outcomes were discussed. Finally, Students were taken to the Instrumentation Zone where they were shown real time instruments and their processing to analyse samples.

 Workshop on “G-suite”

On August 30, 2022, the Department conducted a workshop on “G-suite”for its FY Biotechnology Students. The resource person was Mr. Pushkar Bhojane, Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology. The aim of theworkshopwas to introduce the concept of using G-suite and its different applications such as G-mail, Google Forms, Google Books, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Docs for academic purposes. Students were assigned several activities that were aimed at showing the convenience of using G-suite.

 

The workshop was attended by a total of 42Students and proved extremely beneficial.

 RUSA-Sponsored State Level Webinar on

“Understanding Pathophysiology of PCOS: A Multifaceted Approach”

On 26^th August, 2022, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology organised a RUSA-sponsored State-level Webinar on, “Understanding Pathophysiology of PCOS: A Multifaceted Approach.” The guest speaker was Dr. Srabani Mukherjee, PhD Scientist F, Molecular Endocrinology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health.

Dr. Mukherjee explained the PCOS condition, manifestation of symptoms and diagnosis, and current advancements in the field. She elucidated the importance of phenotype subgrouping during diagnosis, with the NIRRH study showing difference in genetic pathogenesis between lean and obese women. She also spoke about insulin resistance linked with PCOS and its resultant consequences, dysregulation of follicular angiogenesis in women with PCOS, and described some of the studies undertaken.

The session was attended by more than 100 participants and their feedback was extremely positive.

 BIOFACET: RUSA-sponsored International Webinar on “Protein-Protein Interaction – Yeast Two Hybrid Systems”

 

On August 6, 2022, a RUSA-sponsored international webinar – BIOFACET – on the theme “Protein-Protein interaction – Yeast Two Hybrid Systems”, was organized jointly by the Departments of Biotechnology and Microbiology, and which was attended by more than 100 participants. The guest speaker was Dr. Evelyn Sattlegger, Associate Professor in Molecular biology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand.

 

Dr. Sattleggerdiscussed topics such as protein-protein interactions (PPIs), how yeast two hybrid system can be used to study these protein-protein interactions, scoring of PPIs and protein tags. She also gave the overview of combining structural biology, yeast molecular biology and biochemistry. Dr. Sattlegger’s talk was followed by an interactive session.

 

Participants found the webinar extremely informative.

Seminar on “Spectrum of Haematological Disorders”

On July 13, 2022, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organized a seminar on “Spectrum of Haematological Disorders”, and which was attended by 41 Students from the Departments. The speaker was Dr. Aparna Jairam, Founder and Director, Dr. Aparna's Asavlee Laboratory.
Dr. Jairam explained the CBC (Complete Blood Count) profile and its operation by manual and automated methods, the atypical parameter ranges for certain diseases, different types of anaemia as well as leukaemia, their causes, symptoms, and diagnostic features. Her lecture was accompanied by images of blood smears for each type of anaemia and leukaemia. The lecture was followed by an interactive session.
The feedback from the Students was highly positive.
 

 ROOBAROO — Discussion and Talk on “Opportunities in the Field of Research for PhD Scholars”

On July 23, 2022, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organized ROOBAROO, a webinar on “Opportunities in the Field of Research for PhD Scholars”, and which was attended by 42 Students from the Departments. The invited guests were Ms. Bhavisha Doshi, PhD Scholar, Rosewell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Buffalo, USA, and Mr. Parth Trivedi, PhD Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology—Bombay.
The guests were asked questions regarding eligibility, degree programme, required skills sets, SOP, average salary package, and the current scenario in the field of research in India and the US. The Students found the webinar highly beneficial.

National Online Quiz for “World Nature Conservation Day”

Between July 28 and 30, 2022, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organized a National-level Quiz competition on the occasion of “World Nature Conservation Day”.
The theme for the Quiz was “Cut down on Plastic”. This non-biodegradable material is used extensively in industrial and domestic processes leading to environmental degradation in a major way. The Quiz sought to create an awareness of its hazards and measures for environment conservation.
A total of 416 students from various various colleges and universities in India participated. Respondents hailed from states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and West Bengal.
 

Poster Competition on “Seasonal Diseases and Awareness”

On July 6, 2022, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organized a poster competition for their SY Students on the theme “Seasonal Diseases and Awareness”. A total of 80 Students participated and presented posters on themes such as typhoid, malaria, dengue, cold and flu, and leptospirosis.
The winning posters were displayed in the College Campus to help raise awareness about the transmission of these diseases and their prevention. E-certificates for participation were given to all the participants.

The winners were:

Prize	Names of Group Members	Department
Ist	Saloni Harvade Chitra Panikar Rameeza Khan	Biotechnology
IInd	Shubham Baikar Jayshree Nile Darshan Yelve Tanaz Shaikh	Microbiology
IIIrd	Kartik Devadiga Prathamesh Shetty Sahil Dhurat Rutuja Sarwade	Biotechnology

Virtual Lab Tour and Demonstration of Basic Techniques in Animal Tissue Culture

On March 26, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a guest lecture on “Virtual Lab Tour and Demonstration of Basic Techniques in Animal Tissue Culture”. The speaker was Dr. Rajesh Raghunath Pharande, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Mumbai Veterinary College, MAFSU, Parel. The lecture was attended by 46 Students.
Dr. Pharande discussed the history and the various techniques practiced in animal cell culture, the different instruments used such as inverted microscope and carbon dioxide incubator, equipment such as T-flask, laminar air flow, and micropippetes. He also played a video of the process of warm trypsinization and how cells would be seen after trypsinisation under microscope, and focused especially on those experiments that cannot be carried out in College.
There was a Q&A session at the end of the lecture.  

Guest lecture on “Fundamentals of Patents’

On March 10, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a webinar on “Fundamentals of Patents”, in association with IWSA. The resource person was Dr. Raj Hirwani, Emeritus Professor, AcSIR at CSIR-URDIP, Pune Adjunct Professor, IIT, Bombay, and Visiting Professor IIT, Dharwad. The lecture was attended by 72 Students and 5 Faculty Members. The session aimed to understand the concept of patents and how to frame the research objective before undertaking projects.
Dr. (Mrs.) Surekha Zingade of IWSA introduced the organisation and its role and activities. Dr. Hirwani spoke about the fundamentals of patents with various examples and motivated all participants to focus their research with this aim. The Valedictory address was delivered by Dr. Paramjit Anthappan gave valedictory speech on behalf of IWSA Association.

Guest lecture on “Review of Literature and Framing of Objectives”

On February 27, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a webinar on “Review of Literature and Framing of Objectives”. The speaker was Dr. (Mrs.) Shital Patil, Lecturer, Department of Commerce (Management Studies) Patkar-Varde College. The lecture was attended by 64 Students.
Dr. Patil focused on the concept of literature review and its importance in research process as well as steps in framing objectives before undertaking any research project. She also cited different sources of data collection, common errors, and tips for effective review of literature. She then went on to explain the steps in framing objectives with the help of case studies.
There was a Q&A session at the end of Dr. Patil’s talk.

ISR initiative: Webinar on “Breast Cancer Awareness”

On February 20, 2021, as a Department ISR initiative, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a webinar on “Breast Cancer Awareness”. The speaker was Dr. Tabassum Wadasadwala, Professor and Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. The lecture was attended by 89 Students.
Dr. Wadasadwala spoke about the types of cancer and its treatment. Focusing on breast cancer as one of the most common type of cancer, she spoke about the diagnosis, and the duration and kind of treatment to be given at different stages. There was an interactive session at the end of her talk.

Inter-Departmental Competition on “Ethics and Compliance”

On April 15, 2021, an inter-departmental debate competition was jointly organized by the Departments of Biotechnology and Microbiology on the theme “Ethics and Compliance — A speak-up Culture”. The aim of the competition, which comprised two events — article writing and one-act play — was to inculcate ethical values and principles in Students and help them to become responsible citizens of society.
Faculty Members were judges for the competition. Articles were evaluated by Dr. Anuradha Mitra, and the one-act plays (performed on Google Meet) were judged by Mr. Pushkar Bhojane.
The winners were:

Name of the Event	Position	Name of the Students	Department
Article writing	First	Advait Naik Komal Kadam	FY Microbiology SY Biotechnology
	Second	Vishudhi Chauhan	FY Microbiology
	Third	Sakshi Medge Dhanraj Desai	SY Biotechnology SY Biotechnology
One act play	Winner	Advait Naik	FY Microbiology

 

Guest Lecture on “Balanced Diet and Dietary Diversification”

On April 12, 2021, a guest lecture was jointly organized by the Departments of Biotechnology and Microbiology on “Balanced Diet and Dietary Diversification”, which was attended by 60 Students of the Departments. The speaker was Dr. Neha Joshi, Founder – Nutra-Educare.
Dr. Joshi explained the concept of human immunity with examples and stressed the importance of balanced diet and traditional food to increase immunity. She also spoke about the food pyramid, classification of foods, nutrients, micro- and macro-nutrients, antioxidants, various cooking methods and unhealthy eating habits. She also provided tips on growing one’s own food.
 

ROOBAROO: A discussion and talk show with alumni on “Job Opportunities in Pharmaceutical Industries”

On March 21, 2021, the Departments of Biotechnology and Microbiology jointly conducted “ROOBAROO”, which is a discussion and talk show with Department alumni. The theme was “Job Opportunities in Pharmaceutical Industries”. The alumni invited were Ms. Suha Joshi Sakharkar, R&D Associate, Hindusthan Unilever, Mr. Abhishek H. Sakharkar, Supply Chain Manager at Glenmark Ltd., and Ms. Dhanashree Navelkar, QC officer at Unichem Laboratories Ltd.
The interaction touched upon various issues such as eligibility criteria, training programmes, qualifications and skills required, job profiles, average salaries, and current industry scenario. The interaction was followed by a Q&A session with the participants.
The event was attended by 70 participants.
 

Inter-Departmental Debate Competition on “Gender Issues”

On March 12, 2021, an inter-departmental debate competition was jointly organized by the Departments of Biotechnology and Microbiology for their FY Students. The competition was conducted in three rounds and aimed to assess students’ views regarding gender issues.
There were 42 participants (22 FYBT and 20 FYMB), and the judges were Faculty Members Mr. Pushkar Bhojane and Ms. Tanvi Rane. The topics were: for the elimination round “Do you think same gender Marriage Act in India is a good implementation in Indian law?”, for the semi-final “Is women empowerment a myth in developing countries?”, and for the final round “Should women be allowed to serve in combat roles in the armed forces?”
The winners were awarded with certificates and were as follows:

                                                                                     

Prize	Names
First Prize	Deboshruti, Tapasya, Kritika, Meryl, Devanshi
Second Prize	Pranav Ghandade, Afreen Khan, Shifa Qureshi, Akshata Samant, Julie Gupta

VIRTUAL LAB WORKSHOP

Three Virtual Lab sessions on the IIT-Bombay Virtual Lab website were organised for 25 FY, 30 SY and 32 TY Students of the Department. The sessions were conducted on March 17 & 24, 2021, and April 15, 2021. Faculty Members Mr. Pushkar Bhojane, Mr Hitesh Gurav, Ms. Shridevi Devadiga, Ms. Karishma Sawardekar were the mentors.
The sessions were meant to familiarise Students with experiments performed virtually and how to relate them to experiments conducted manually in the lab. The list of experiments to be performed virtually was provided to Students and they performed each experiment by watching the demo animations.
  

Webinar on ‘Gender Equality at Workplace’

On September 9, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a webinar on ‘Gender Equality at Workplace’, which was attended by 40 of their SY Students. The resource person was Dr. Khevana Desai, Assistant Professor, Mithibai College.

Dr. Desai began with distinguishing between gender and sex and explained the concept of ‘Gender-bred Person’ to understand different aspects such as identity, orientation, sex and expression which constitute the gender identity of an individual. The audience was made aware that there are as many as 81 possible gender identities. There was also discussion of the issues of LGBTQ+ people.

Dr. Desai discussed gender discrimination in society and at the work place against the backdrop of patriarchy. She explained how gender discrimination operates at the workplace right from the stage of the interview and thereafter. The relevance of the 'Vishakha Guidelines’ and the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), Women Development Cell (WDC) in the workplace were also discussed. Students benefited greatly from this gender sensitisation webinar.

Virtual Demonstration on ‘Gas Chromatography’

On September 6, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a virtual demonstration on ‘Gas Chromatography’, for their TY and MSc-II Students. The resource person was Ms. Srushti Sanghavi-Shah, CEO, Nanghavi Chromatography solutions.
Students were explained the principles, instrumentation and applications of Gas Chromatography, and at the end of the demonstration Students got their queries resolved in an interactive session. A total of 73 Students attended the session and their  feedback was highly positive.

RUSA-sponsored One-day International Webinar BIOFACET: “CRISPR Gene Editing in Virus Research”

The RUSA-sponsored International webinar BIOFACET: “CRISPR Gene Editing in Virus Research” was jointly organized by the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology on August 19, 2021. The resource person was Dr. Ujjwal Rathore, Postdoctoral Scientist at Marson Lab, Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA. The webinar was attended by nearly 200 participants.
Dr. Rathore began with a basic introduction to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology and its applications in various biological studies, and also explained his method of studying latency mechanism of HIV-virus with its help. He then shared his experience of working alongside Dr. Jennifer Doudna, 2020 Noble Laureate, and inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, at UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology.
The webinar ended with an interactive session and e-certificates of participation were issued to all the participants.
 

Guest Lecture on “Epifluorescence Microscopy”

On August 21, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a guest lecture on “Epifluorescence Microscopy” for 78 SY and MSc Students of the Departments. The speaker was Department of Biotechnology Alumna Ms. Komal S. Khade, Project Technical Officer, ICMR National Institute for Research In Reproductive Health.
Ms. Khade explained the basics and process of fluorescence, then went on to explain the details of instrument setup and its different components, its calibration, and data analysis to determine the proper results. She then explained the difference between fluorescence and epifluorescence and various applications, and also the different parts of epifluorescence microscopy with the help of images. The session concluded with an interactive discussion.
 

Competition on “National Integrity and Communal Harmony”

On the occasion of Independence Day, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised an intercollegiate poster and slogan competition on the theme “National Integrity and Communal Harmony”, which aimed to allow students to express and celebrate India’s unity in diversity, and the idea of socioeconomic development leading to increased communal harmony and peace.

The posters received were judged by Faculty Members Ms. Karishma V. Sawardekar and Ms. Tanvi Rane. The winners were:

 

Prize	Name of the Participant	Class and Subject	Name of the CollegeName of the College
Winner	Ritu Ganesh Hemne	S.Y.B.Sc Microbiology	Patkar-Varde College
Runner up	Akshanda Maruti Jadi	S.Y.B.Sc Microbiology	Patkar-Varde College

 

The winning and selected other posters were displayed on the social media account of the College on August 15, 2021. The winners and all participants were awarded with e-certificates

Webinar on “Challenges and Opportunities in Pharmacy Profession”

On August 10, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organized an intercollegiate webinar on "Challenges and Opportunities in Pharmacy Profession” for the students of Biological Sciences. The session was attended by 118 students from colleges across Mumbai. The resource person was Dr. Mahesh Burande, Pharmaceutical Consultant, Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Pvt. Ltd (IPER).
Drawing on his richly diverse experience as consultant for more than 100 pharmaceutical companies, and trainer for preparing for WHO, ISO 9000, and USFDA Certification programmes, Dr. Burande explained the important skills required in various fields in the pharmacy profession, such as R&D, marketing, quality control, quality assurance, and clinical studies. He then discussed such practical aspects as the available opportunities, required qualifications, and salaries. Another important aspect covered in his talk was an overview of courses offered by IPER, its collaborations and the awards received. Dr. Burande concluded by giving the examples of successful entrepreneurs and with a short video.
There was an interactive session and a short quiz at the end of the session. The feedback from the participants was excellent.
 
 

Career Guidance Webinar on “Overseas Education (IDP)”

On August 4, 2021, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised a career guidance webinar on “Overseas Education (IDP)”, which was attended by 90 Students of the Departments. The resource person was Mr. Anoy Sengupta, Manager, Business Development, IDP Education India, Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Sengupta and his colleagues talked about the education opportunities available in UK, Ireland, Australia, USA, Canada and European countries, and how learning a foreign language helps one to engage with a foreign culture better. The qualifications required and the skills that are becoming increasingly important to the industry were also discussed.
There was a QA session at the end and the feedback from the participants was excellent
 

Career Guidance Lecture

On November 20, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised an online lecture on “Career Guidance for FY Microbiology & Biotechnology Students”, which was attended by 46 Students of the Departments. The speaker was Dr. Manish R. Bhat, Assistant Professor and In-charge, Training and Placements, School of Biosciences, D.Y. Patil University, Navi Mumbai.

Dr. Bhat discussed various job opportunities for Students of Microbiology and Biotechnology, and also talked about such aspects as research-based courses, jobs in private industries and government sector, undertaking research in foreign universities, the preparation schedule for various competitive examinations, and how to improve one’s profile by completing training or certificate programmes and skill development courses. Dr. Bhat’s talk was followed by a QA session.

“BioSkit” – Skit Competition

On October 15 and 17, 2020, the Departments of Biotechnology and Microbiology jointly organized “BioSkit”, a Skit competition for their FY Students, in which 64 Students participated.

The elimination round was held on October 15, 2020, and was judged by Ms. Tanvi and Ms. Disha. Each group had to select a disease, and to enact the role of the causative organisms in causing the infection. Each skit was followed by a QA session. Three groups from each Department were selected for the final round, held on October 17, 2020, for which Mrs. Rohini Shetty and Ms. Karishma Sawardekar were the judges. The groups presented their skits before the judges and the following were the winners:

 

Group no.	Name of the Student	Department	Prize
2	Gupta Julie	Microbiology	First Prize
	Gurav Aarya
	Jadhav Akshada
6	Mali Jesika	Biotechnology	First Runner-up
	Masarankar Purva
	Mitra Deboshruti
5	Maurya Shubham	Microbiology	Second Runner-up
	Naik Advait
	Narvekar Rishita

E-certificates of participation were provided to all the Students.

ROOBAROO

 

On September 6, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology, organised ROOBAROO — “A discussion and Talk with Alumni on MBA in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management”. The speakers were Ms. Priya Mishra, Business Development Executive, Insignia Learning, Mumbai, Ms. Rutuja Raut, Account Manager, Insignia Learning, Mumbai, and Ms. Akshata Mhatre, PGDM Healthcare. All of them are MBA degree holder in Healthcare or Pharmaceutical Management and alumni of Microbiology and Biotechnology Departments.
The webinar began with an introduction of the concept of Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management, and went on to discuss issues related to MBA in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management, such as eligibility, colleges offering the course, entrance exams, skill sets needed, scope, job profile, job area and average salary. The speakers also explained when to start the preparation for exams, how to choose a good college to get a better job profile and tips to increase the chances of getting a good profile.
At the end of the webinar there was an interactive session.

 

Introduction to Gas Chromatography and its application in industry

On September 17, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology jointly organised an online guest lecture on “Introduction to Gas Chromatography and its application in industry”,which was conducted by Ms. Srushti Sanghavi-Shah, CEO, Nanghavi Chromatographic Solutions.
Ms Sanghavi-Shah introduced the topic with basic details of GC equipment such as its working, and explained how gas chromatography can be used in industries for the analysis of desired products from a mixture of samples. The instrument was shown online and all of its parts were explained in detail. She also demonstrated the process of interpretation of results after analysing sample from the chromatogram obtained, and explained the precautions needed to be taken to avoid sample contamination.
The lecture was attended by 64 Students and 3 Teachers, and ended with a QA session.

Gnotobiology and Gnotobiotic animals

 

On September 23, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology organised an online guest lecture on “Gnotobiology and Gnotobiotic animals”, for SY Students of the Departments. The speaker was by Dr. Anil Narsinge, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Yogeshwari Mahavidyalaya, Ambajagai, Aurangabad. The session was attended by 56 Students from both Departments.
Dr. Narsinge explained the basics of Gnotobiology and its applications, as well as the importance of microorganisms in human beings. He also focused on the various tools and techniques that are involved in the creation, handling and study of gnotobiotic animals.
The lecture was followed by a QA session
    
 

Flow Cytometry and Its Application in Immunodiagnostics

 

On September 12, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology organised a guest lecture on “Flow Cytometry and its Application in Immunodiagnostics”, for SY Biotechnology and TY Microbiology Students. The lecture was conducted by Ms. Neha Jodhavat, Research Assistant and PhD scholar at NIIH, Parel. The session was attended by 51 Students and 4 Teachers.
In the first session, Ms. Jodhavat discussed the basics of flow cytometry and the details of the set-up and calibration of instruments. She also explained the method of data analysis and interpretation of results. In the second session, Ms. Jodhavat spoke of the various applications of flow cytometry and its routine use in cell sorting and collection. She also discussed her ongoing research, displayed her experimental data and explained how different data analysis softwares can provide and predict valid results. She ended her talk by detailing the applications of flow cytometer in immunodiagnosis and its use in various immunological techniques.
The session ended with an interactive discussion with the Students.

Business Planning

 

On August 20, 2020, an webinar on “Business Planning” was organised, and  was conducted by Mr. Aditya Parab, Lecturer, Department of BMS, Patkar-Varde College.
Mr. Parab explained the concept of business planning and its importance for undertaking any business ventures. Concepts like market research, sources of finance/capital, and scope for women’s entrepreneurship were discussed. In addition, Mr. Parab also discussed Government of India initiatives to help start ups — schemes such as Startup India, Skill India, Kaushal Bharat-Kushal Bharat, Make in India,Mahila Vikas Nidhi, Priyadarshini Yojana, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat were highlighted. He ended his talk by explaining the certification schemes required for successful entrepreneurial ventures, such as Udyog Aadhar and GST.
The audience, which consisted of 56 Students and 3 Teachers of the Departments, found the webinar highly informative.

 

Orgen Donation

 

On August 13, 2020, an awareness-raising webinar on “Organ Donation” was organised to commemorate World Organ Donation Day. The Webinar was conducted by Ms. Jaya Jairam, Project Manager, MOHAN Foundation.
Ms. Jairam explained the importance of organ donation and explained the types of organ donation (live and cadaver/deceased), and discussed the organs that could be donated by a living person, and which vital organs could be donated in case of death in hospital. She also explained the concept of brain death and its relevance to organ donation. Finally, Ms. Jairam dispelled myths about organ donation and sought to create a positive attitude among the audience, which consisted of 102 Students and 5 Teachers of the Departments.

 

GLP Certification

 

•   On August 8, 2020, a webinar on good laboratory practices, titled “GLP Certification in India”, was organised. The speaker was Mr. Abhishek Bairi, Microbiologist, Technician at Colgate Palmolive (Goa).

Mr. Bairi explained the principles and need of GLP at the institutional and industry levels, and explained some of the basic practices. Speaking of the GLP certification scenario in India, Mr. Bairi discussed the application process and requirements for certification and for online applications, costs, as well as the benefits of certification. He also mentioned the different certifying bodies in India.  

The session was highly beneficial and was attended by 93 Students and 4 Teachers of the Departments.

Mental Health and Well-being

•    On July 18, 2020, a Webinar on “Mental Health and Well-being” was held, and which was attended by 52 TY Students of the Departments and 4 Faculty Members. The resource person was Ms. Shridevi Devadiga, who spoke on the current situation and the need and measures for achieving mental well-being. She also discussed the common signs of mental illness, associateddisorders, diagnosis, emotional well-being, and benefits and measures to improve emotional health.
•    A three-day Intercollegiate Quiz on “Mendelian Genetics” was held for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students, from July 22 to 24, 2020, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Gregor Mendel, Father of modern Genetics. A total of 259 students participated in the Quiz and those who scored 60% and above were given e-certificates.

 

On August 1, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology, in association with MANAV — The Human Atlas Initiative, organised an interactive webinar on “How to Read Scientific Literature? and Introduction to MANAV — The Human Atlas Initiative”. The webinar was attended by 168 participants and was conducted by Dr. Anupma Harshal W., Consultant, (Science Communication and Public Engagement), MANAV —The Human Atlas Initiative, IISER, Pune.

Dr. Anupma introduced the topic of reading scientific literature with basic details on research, gathering information and sources of information. She then gave a brief overview about the different parts of a research paper andthe time allocation for reading the different parts.

In the next part of the session Dr. Anupma spoke aboutMANAV, which is a citizen science project funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and co-funded by Persistent Systems as a collaboration between Persistent Systems, NCCS, and IISER, Pune. The project aims to construct a comprehensive map of the entire human body to document explicitly macro- to micro-level information. Dr. Anupma explained the working of the project and urged students and faculty members to join.

 

 

On July 28, 2020, the Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnologyorganised a Webinar to commemorate ‘World Hepatitis Day”. The Webinar was conducted by Mr. Pushkar Bhojane, Faculty Member, Department of Biotechnology, Patkar-Varde College.

The World Hepatitis Alliance has launched a three-year global programme — “Find the Missing Millions” — to raise awareness, and for the diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis.

The Webinar also aimed to promote such awareness. Prior to the Webinar, a survey was carried out to gauge the knowledge on Hepatitis among Students, working professionals, freelancers and homemakers. The Webinar was designed on the basis of the survey results.

Mr. Bhojane commenced the Webinar by a short introduction of Hepatitis, and also discussed the types of Hepatitis, and the transmission, treatment and prevention, as well as the myths regarding the disease. An interactive session followed Mr. Bhojane’s talk.

The Webinar was attended by 62 Students and 6 Faculty Members of the Department.