GUWAHATI, Oct 10 - A two-day national conference with the support of Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC), DST, Government of Assam on �Bioresources for Sustaining Life and Livelihoods in North East India� organised by Department of Zoology of Nowgong College in association with Institutional Advanced Level Biotech Hub, Nowgong College and Zoological Society of Assam (ZSA) concluded successfully on October 5. This was stated in a press release.
Around 120 delegates from different Indian universities, colleges and institutions participated besides a number of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The inaugural function was anchored by Prof Lyra Neog and Dr Bhuban Chandra Chutia, organising secretary. The principal and president of the organising committee welcomed the guests, participants, invited speakers, scientists to the conference and thanked ASTE Council DST, Govt of Assam for financial support and Institutional Advanced Level Biotech Hub & Zoological Society of Assam for extending their helping hands.
The coordinator of IQAC, Dr Chintamoni Sharma briefly gave an introduction of Nowgong College to the participants. The two-day conference was inaugurated by Dr Arup Kumar Misra, Director, Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC), DST, Government of Assam. In his speech, Misra stated that research will be successful when it benefits the common people. He also appealed researchers for sustainable use of rich bioresources in industries so that our region and the nation is economically developed.
The keynote speech was delivered by Dr NC Talukdar, Director, Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology (IASST), DST, Government of India. Dr Talukdar explained how China, Vietnam and Thailand use their bioresources to develop their economies. Dr Kiran Hazarika, UGC member and Principal, Tengakhat College and Prof Priyabrata Lahkar, President, Zoological Society of Assam addressed the gathering as chief guest and guest of honour respectively in the inaugural function.
Eminent speakers including Prof Prasanta Kumar Saikia, HoD, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Prof JC Kalita, Director, HRDC, Gauhati University, Prof Karabi Dutta, Gauhati University, Prof Utpal Bora, Department of Bioengineering, IIT, Guwahati, Jayanta Kumar Sarma, freelance consultant, Guwahati addressed the four technical sessions and chaired the respective technical sessions.
Moreover, five young researchers including Dr Samarjit Ojah, Dr Hemen Deka, Dr Manas Das, Dr Parikhshit Gogoi and Dr LM Goswami presented their research outcomes as invited speakers. Prof Lalit Gogoi, working president of the organising committee mentioned that a total of 80 oral presentations and 26 poster presentations were delivered in the four technical sessions and one poster session. The Best Poster Award was received by Snigdha Das, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University.
The two-day conference concluded with a panel discussion and recommendations followed by a valedictory function, the release added.