RAMNAGAR, Sep 12: To bridge the gap between classroom learning and field research, the Department of Botany successfully conducted an extensive educational botanical tour to Marta, Gadsair Ramnagar. The highly academic excursion was organised under the visionary guidance and leadership of Principal Prof. Daljeet SinghManhas, and expertly assisted by senior faculty members Dr. Ashni Devi (HOD, Botany) and Dr. Kewal Kumar.
The primary objective of the field trip was to familiarise students with diverse ecosystems, providing them with hands-on field experience in plant identification, collection methodologies, and ecological conservation.
During the intensive field studies, Dr. Ashni Devi and Dr. Kewal Kumar interactively taught the student cohort about lower and higher plant groups. The faculty deeply acquainted the students with the structural adaptations of Bryophytes and Lichens thriving in micro-habitats, as well as the evolutionary significance of various Gymnosperms integrated into the regional landscape.
A key highlight of the tour was the supervised, sustainable collection of plant specimens. Students were trained in standard field herbarium techniques, documentation, and preservation. The faculty members further enriched the students’ knowledge by explaining in detail the ethnobotanical uses of the local flora. Students learned how indigenous communities historically utilised these wild plants for traditional medicine, culinary purposes, and cultural practices.
Speaking on the successful culmination of the tour, Principal Prof. Daljeet Singh Manhas stated, “Such experiential field trips are indispensable for young botanists. Observing these plant communities in their natural habitats instils a profound understanding of biodiversity and fosters a strong commitment toward global environmental conservation.”
The immersive educational tour concluded with students compiling detailed field reports, enriching both their academic curriculum and their practical understanding of plant sciences.