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DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

 A Brief History:

The self-financed department of Microbiology was established as an offshoot of the department of Botany in the year 1994. The course is linked as a combination of core subjects with Botany and Biochemistry with the acronym CZMb (Chemistry, Zoology and Microbiology). Currently the subject is one of the optional in the combined course of BtBMb (Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology). The department has experienced and dedicated staff, ICT-enabled classrooms and a well equipped laboratory with all the essential infrastructural facilities. Some of the equipments and instruments in the department include a Laminar air flow chamber, Hot Air Oven, Autoclave, BOD incubator, binocular microscopes, colony counter, photo colorimeter, haemocytometer, micrometer, inoculation hood, electronic balance, etc. The department also has a small collection of microbial specimens and cultures.

The Faculty:

Achievements:

Apart from the lecture method of teaching, using black board and chalk, teaching is made more effective and learning more interesting with the use of ICT aids like LCD projector and visualizer to give power point presentations(with videos and animations) . 3-D views and animation slides of topics are shown on the computer or on LCD projector after completion of the topics.

As part of the curriculum, educational visits to microbiology research and pathology laboratories and microbiology-based industries are organized for the final year students for experimental learning and in order to give a practical exposure of the subject and its applications. Under the autonomous syllabus, an internship programme in these laboratories or industries or an in-house project has also been introduced to enable the students to develop a scientific and analytical approach, to promote research aptitude and to expose the students to real life situations related to their course.

The staff and students are members of the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), Mysore Chapter. They have regularly participated in various competitions conducted by the AMI and have won prizes. The head of the department is an executive committee member of AMI and has hosted guest lectures and quiz competition for this year. The department encourages and guides the students to participate in various inter-collegiate competitions such as quiz, pick-and-speak, essay writing, poster presentation, model preparation for science exhibitions, etc. at the zonal, state and national levels in which they have won the first prize. The students are also encouraged to attend seminars, symposia, workshops and conferences organized by the college and other institutions. They are guided at every opportunity to prepare for competitive exams and entrance exams of their future courses. Students are encouraged to prepare static and working models and charts to have a better understanding of the curricular concepts and to nurture participatory learning.

The following seminars were jointly organized by the departments of Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biotechnology:

  • Workshop on “Herbal Remedies for Vibrant Health” on 24th April, 2014
  • UGC Sponsored Two-day State level seminar on “Recombinant DNA Technology” on 9th and 10th of April 2010.
  • UGC Sponsored Two-day National level workshop on “Biosystematics” on 23rd and 24th of April 2010.

The staff also worked as organizing committee members for the UGC- Sponsored state level seminar on “Emerging trends in Liquid Crystals And Coordination Compounds” organized by the departments of Chemistry and Physics on 21st and 22nd August 2009.

A series of special lectures by resource persons were organized on the following days,

  • “Microbiology- Principles and Explorations” by Dr. Geetha N.P. Asst. Professor, PG Dept of Applied Botany and Biotechnology, University of Mysore on 3rd April, 2014.
  • “Current trends in Clinical Microbiology” by Dr. Nagarathna Chandrashekhar, Dept. of Microbiology, NIMHANS, Bangalore on 3rd April,2014,.
  • “Clinical Microbiology” by Mr. Abhijit from ACRI Clinical Research Institute, Bangalore on 4th April, 2014.

The teaching fraternity of the department has honed its skills in the past five years by their proactive participation of the seminars conducted in the campus.

  • One-day workshop for teachers on “Achieving excellence in college teaching skills and strategies” on 5th September 2006 at St. Philomena’s College, Mysore.
  • One-day National level Seminar on “Religion, Spirituality and Education in the Challenging Globalised World” on 8th -10th of April 2007 at St. Philomena’s College, Mysore.
  • Colloquium on “Frontiers in Microbiology” held in collaboration with the Association of Microbiologists of India, Mysore Chapter by Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Instt. of Science, Commerce and Management, Mysore, on 19th January 2008.
  • Two-day State level Seminar on “Recent Trends in Plant Sciences’ Myma Plansci, at Maharani’s Science College for Women, Mysore on 29th and 30th August 2008.
  • Two-day National level Seminar on “Advanced Trends and Perspectives in Biotechnology organized by the departments of Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology, S.B.R.R. Mahajana First Grade College, Mysore.
  • UGC Sponsored Two-day National level workshop on “Biosystematics” on 23rd and 24th of April 2010 organized by the departments of Zoology, Botany ,Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, St. Philomena’s College, Mysore.
  • One-day symposium on “Microbial Energy” organized by Sir. M. Visvesvaraya Chair and Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore on 15th September, 2010.
  • One of the staff members has attended a language enhancement training program at Infosys campus, Mysore.
  • KSTA Open lecture Series Program-2011-12, II lecture, St. Philomena’s College, Mysore on 12th September, 2011.
  • One Day Seminar on “Teacher’s Role in Higher Education: New Challenges, IQAC, St. Philomena’s College, Mysore on 28th November, 2013.
  • One Day workshop on MIS, Curriculum Development and Industry- Academia Interface on IQAC, St. Philomena’s College, Mysore on 24th January, 2014.
  • KSTA regional conference on “Science and Technology for Education and Health Care” jointly organized by KSTA and JSS College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Ooty Road, Mysore on 21 & 22nd February, 2014.

The department had its extended activity of inviting students from two schools (St.Anthony’s High School and Fr. Gregory’s School, Mysore) and made a presentation on “Microbes and You” in order to create awareness among young minds of microbiology as a basic science, and to emphasize the importance of microorganisms , personal hygiene, and prevention of microbial diseases. The department plans to make this as a regular annual activity and to involve students in it.

 Future plan of action:

  • To organize a UGC-sponsored National level seminar on “Integration of Sciences in Molecular Biology” with seminar presentations by students from various branches of science.
  • To offer certificate or diploma courses
  • To introduce an elective paper in clinical microbiology.
  • To apply for UGC minor research project.
  • To collaborate with industry and research institutes for internship programmes.

PRESENT FACULTY:

Ms.Syeda Farhana
Asst. Professor
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Ms.Uzma Bathool
Asst. Professor
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