Department of Biotechnology PU organised distinguished lecture 

Chandigarh, April 25, 2022: Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh under the aegis of Chandigarh Forum for Science and Technology Communication and Indian Science Congress Association (Chandigarh Chapter) organized a distinguished lecture today. The event was hosted in the hybrid mode. Several eminent dignitaries and department’s faculty members were invited to grace the occasion with their presence.

The event began with the opening remarks of Dr. Kashmir Singh, Chairperson, Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University and Co-ordinator, DST-Centre for Policy Research, Panjab University, where he invited and welcomed Dr. R.C. Sobti, INSA Senior scientist and former V.C. Panjab University.  Dr. Sobti introduced Dr. Manju Sharma, the speaker for the talk, and Dr. V.P. Kamboj to the audience. He further emphasized the multifarious contributions and roles the two eminent personalities have played in their respective fields. Then, Dr. Sobti gladly invited the speaker for the lecture – Dr. Manju Sharma, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnolgy, New Delhi and Distinguished Woman Scientist Chair, NASI. Her talk was titled “Biotechnology Journey From 1982 To Till Date – Future Roadmap.” Through her long and distinguished career experience at DBT, Dr. Sharma exposed the students to the various ways in which the Biotechnology domain has evolved over the decades. She then elucidated the establishment of several nationally important institutions with their respective biotech related programmes.

Further, she described how the entire Indian Biotechnology sector is structured focussing mainly on the collaborative approach of the DBT. By taking COVID-19 as an example, she lucidly explained the DBT’s strategies, plans and services to combat the pandemic – highlighting the huge internal network of the Indian Biotechnology sector. She ended her talk with the description of the immense future possibilities of biotechnology and what is required to widen its diaspora. Following the lecture, Dr. Sobti thanked the speaker and invited Dr. V.P. Kamboj, former Director, CDRI, Lucknow to share his insightful views.

Dr. Kamboj illustrated the great outreach that Genetically Modified crops have had and their ubiquity in our quotidian life. In addition, he explained the unparalleled contribution of Dr. Manju Sharma in not only shaping but also building up the “Indian Biotechnology.” The event concluded with a sincere vote of thanks and congratulatory remarks by Dr. Sobti.