PASIGHAT, SEP 17:
Two faculty members of Jawaharlal Nehru College (JNC), Pasighat, are participating in the Coordinator’s Meet-cum-7th Review Meeting of the Task Force under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Star College Programme in Maharashtra.
Dr Alakesh Phukan, Departmental Coordinator, Chemistry, and Dr Gete Umbrey, Departmental Coordinator, Mathematics, are representing JNC at the three-day programme being held from September 16 to 18 at K J Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Kopargaon. The programme is organised by DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, and hosted by the Kopargaon Taluka Education Society.
The inaugural session was addressed by senior DBT officials and members of the National Task Force. Dr Garima Gupta, Scientist ‘F’ and Programme Head, Star College Scheme, Human Resource Development (HRD) Division, DBT, spoke on the evolution of the scheme, which was initially launched with financial support of Rs 5 lakh per department and later expanded to rural institutions, including colleges in the North-Eastern Region.
Dr Dhananjay Kumar Tiwary, Senior Adviser, Head of the Directorate and Scientist ‘H’, DBT, stressed efficient utilisation of sanctioned funds and transparent implementation of the programme. He urged participating colleges to strengthen their academic ecosystems and pursue continuous institutional upgradation, while emphasising foundational literacy and numeracy and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.
Task Force Chairperson Prof Suresh K Garg, Director General, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Management Studies, New Delhi, and former Principal of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, stressed applied thinking and innovation in science education. He encouraged colleges to involve undergraduate students in minor research projects, provide summer research opportunities at universities, and facilitate laboratory exposure and mentoring for students from neighbouring schools.
He also called for greater collaboration among Star Colleges to facilitate exchange of institutional practices and strengthen the academic ecosystem.
The programme features special lectures by Dr Naveen Chandra Bisht, Professor, Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, on ‘Improving Mustard for Functional Foods, Better Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture’, and Dr Surajit Sarkar, Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, on ‘Finding Big Insights Through Simple Experiments’.
It also includes peer perspectives from leading Star Colleges, along with presentations and review of 31 completed projects and poster presentations by ongoing Star Colleges.
JNC Pasighat is the first college in Arunachal Pradesh to receive support under the DBT Star College Programme. The programme covers four undergraduate science departments—Botany, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics—under the stewardship of Dr Temin Payum, Associate Professor, Department of Botany and Project Coordinator.
The participation of JNC faculty in the national-level review meeting is expected to facilitate academic exchange, sharing of institutional practices and further strengthening of science education and research initiatives at the college. (DIPR)
