Botany is the scientific study of plants. Plants have intrigued people for thousands of years. They provide aesthetic beauty as well as materials for our basic needs. Plants are the chemical factories. Many of the chemicals that they produce are useful to humans. Besides food, plants provide raw materials for paper, building materials, solvents and adhesives, fabrics, medicines and many other products. Hence the study of plants is very important for the sustenance of life. The visionaries of the college realized long back the need of including this unique subject in the higher educational institution. Thus department of Botany came into existence in NGM College.
The department of botany was established during the year 1972 with an undergraduate course in botany. The course is highly integrative in nature in order to ensure vertical and horizontal mobility to students. Curricular contents range from the classical Botany to molecular and cellular processes and to the ecosystem levels of organization. The infrastructure and the expertise available in the department convert lead to conduct part time and fill time M.Phil. and Ph.D. research programmes. The department is a recognized research Centre of Bharathiar University to carry out interdisciplinary research in both fundamental and applied fields of Botany.
The faculty members are experts in the core and allied fields of Botany viz. Taxonomy, Herbal Botany, Ecology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Tissue culture, etc. The expertise available in the department is also shared and served to the users especially in the fields of environmental impact assessment, Limnology, Algology, Taxonomy, Bioinformatics, etc.
Infrastructure
In order to provide hands on experience to students, two separate laboratories viz. Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology are available with sophisticated instruments such as Phase contrast Microscope (with photomicrographic unit), Computer interfaced microscope, Laminar Air Flow, tissue/bacterial Culture chambers, Colorimeter, Spectrophotometer, UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, pH meter, PCR, Electrophoresis, Digital balance, etc. Computers with internet facilities are provided to each student to carryout Bioinformatics practicals. The department has a good stock of herbarium and collection of digital resources for learning purposes. The referral library in the department helps the students to locate their reference materials. Apart from this, several field/industrial trips are arranged to expose the students to the nature and also to the industrial environs.
Extension Activities
An Association has been formed in the department in the name of ATP (Association of TechnoPhytologists) to organize students meet, expert lectures and various other student development programmes. Several experts from national/regional institutes are frequently invited to deliver thought provoking lectures on leading topics in the emerging fields of Botany, Biotechnology and all other interdisciplinary titles
The department has also been involved in various extension activities over the years through different student clubs. ‘MEDIPLAP (Medicinal Plant Awareness Awarness Programme)’ club is functioning with following objectives.
- To maintain medicinal plant garden in the College Campus
- To organize medicinal plant exhibitions
- To display a herb each day to impart knowledge about it
- To train the students to prepare herbal formulations
Another club “PAPYRUS” has been launched in the department to kindle the creative skills of the students.
The objectives of ‘PAPYRUS’ are to
- Explore the entrepreneurial potential of Botany
- Prepare and exhibit eco-friendly greeting cards.
- Train and sell cut flower products such as bouquet, flower vase, wall mounts, etc.
