Workshop on Microbiology & Immunology ends at USTM  

January 11th Jan, 2018, USTM, Ri Bhoi : 7 days long workshop conducted by the Department of Applied Biology, University of Science & Technology Meghalaya from 4th -10th Feb, 2018 was drawn to a close yesterday. “It was a life time experience for me as we got exposed to various instruments for experimentation on molecules, earlier for such workshop we had to travel to Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata as all major research organizations are based there and in that sense USTM had brought us a unique opportunity”, explained one Ph.D scholar from Cotton State University, while her sharing views with all the dignitaries present on the occasion. The Chief Guest of the valedictory session was Dr. Arijit Bora, Dy. Secretary (Academics), GU, once again reminded the student participants classical micro biology is the pillar of all microbial researches or newer techniques that are invented to explore and identify microbial signature ; “ we all know that microbial signature implies the structural pattern that lies within all living micro organisms and it’s true that as the time goes on, newer techniques to read and identify those structural pattern evolve but those advancements are only based on earlier techniques as propounded by the Classical micro-biology” – Dr. Bora added. While Dr. M. Rahman, Director, Research, USTM, had asserted “application of micro biological researches, be it immunology, Bacteriology or the study of bacteria, Mycology or the study of fungi, Protozoolog or the study of protozoa etc, is the dire need of the time. Experiments for the application of microbial techniques can be on carried out on animal bodies to check what kind of Polymarus Change Reaction gets emerged”. The participant students were also given certificates. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Deboja Sarma, Asst. Prof, Dept of Applied Biology.
Meanwhile, it should be mentioned that the workshop was organized with a view to promote all pervasive microbial culture, the culture to explore the world of microbes for the benefit of mankind. As explained by the HoD, Department of Applied Biology, Dr. Ranjan Dutta Kalita “ the purpose is to address and cover the knowledge-gaps regarding basic and molecular techniques in Microbiology and Immunology for students, research scholars, industry and laboratory personnel’. Earlier, the workshop got kick-started with the welcome address by Dr. R K Sharma, Pro-VC, USTM followed by Dr. Suresh Ch Das, Dean, School of Biological Sciences, USTM, Dr. Ranjan Dutta Kalita, HoD, Dept. of Biotechnology. All three, while narrating how microbes play an important role both in the physical world as well as body-system, emphasized the need to upgrade policies by the Government for conducting extensive research on newer techniques of exploring the diversity of microbic world. Dr. Kalita specifically informed that the School of Biological Sciences, USTM is providing support to the surrounding colleges in Guwahati for conducting workshops on Microbiology & Immunology as very less colleges have the resource and infrastructural facilities to generate knowledge on advanced techniques.
A total number of hundred students from various universities across North Eastern states and outside NE Region including PG students and research scholars from Manipur Central University, Nagaland Central University, NEHU, Cotton University, Gauhati University, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (Chennai), Amity University (Noida), Shoolini University (Himachal Pradesh), Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University (Uttarakhand), had participated in the workshop. The valedictory session, followed by sharing of views, ended with a firm resolve by all the dignitaries and scholars, students present that science would be taken from laboratory to the real ground so that all genuine problems concerning all hazards can be minimized and used for the social and economic growth of the country.