The department of botany was established in 1968. The Post-Graduation in botany was started in 1981 with a sole purpose to cater to need of rural students who wants to pursue higher studies in botany. This was the only government college in region to provide M.Sc. studies in botany. The department has grown into well recognized centre for higher learning. Department attracts student from Punjab, H.P, Haryana and from U.P. in addition to teaching through modern techniques, conference, workshop, invited lectures and botanical excursion are an integral part of academic curricula. Many students clear UGC, CSIR, GATE exams. Departmental laboratories are well equipped with all modern laboratory instruments like, pH meter, spectrophotometer, centrifuge, turbidity meter, MIPS, Electrophoretic apparatus etc. In order to prepare students for teaching and enhancing their knowledge seminars are being given to M.Sc. II year students every year as part of their curricula.
The department has a well-stocked Library with nearly 2878 books and 2 scientific journals.
Herbarium and Museum
The department has a herbarium and well-developed and maintained museum. At present nearly 350 herbarium specimen are kept. Nearly 300 museum specimen of botanical importance are in museum. Students can visit in museum and herbarium and study the specimen and identify the field material.
Botanical garden
The department has “Prof. S.S. Bir botanical gardens” spread over 4 acre of land. It is one of the best botanical gardens of colleges across Punjab. There are at present more than 300 species of plants belonging to trees, climbers, shrubs are planted. The garden is divided into six blocks. Gymnosperm block is the attraction of garden as it has Pinus, Cupressus, Juniperus, Araucaria, Agathis, Podocarpus, Zamia, Dioon, Cycas plants growing. As part of botanical garden there is a nursery in college, where through cutting plants are raised and planted. We have risen through cuttings Nerium, Hibiscus, Lawsonia, Rose etc. The botanical garden also provides source material for botanical studies to UG and PG students.
Courses Offered
At present department offers B.Sc. in science with Botany as one of the subject and M.Sc. (TYC/ 4 semesters) course. The eligibility for B.Sc. is 10+2 with PCB and for M.Sc. is B.Sc. with botany/ B.Sc. honours in botany and Panjab University OCET qualified.
Activities in Botany Department
From time to time department is organizing academic and extra-curricular activities to enhance the knowledge and to create social responsibility in students. Department is conducting every year invited lecture talks by renowned scientist, academician and researcher on different topics related to botanical sciences. Some of the recent activities conducted by department are:
On 27/03/2019 department organized a workshop on plant tissue culture for UG and PG students.
On 20/07/2019 department inaugurated medicinal plants garden in collaboration with PPCB Patiala.
Plant Excursion
M.Sc. Botany IInd Year Students On Field Study and Plant Collection Trip to Dalhousie, October 2018
M.Sc. Botany IInd Year Students On Field Study and Plant Collection Trip to Mussoorie, September 2019
Extension Lectures CUM Workshop organised by Post Graduate Department of Botany
Extension Lecture Cum Workshop on “Plant Microbe Interaction in The Rhizosphere: A New dimension For Sustainable Agriculture and Industry” by Dr. Neera Garg, Professor Department of Botany, Panjab University Chandigarh, 2018
Extension Lecture Cum Workshop on “Essential Oils and Aromatherapy”
Resource Person : Dr. Richa puri, Professor Department of Botany, Panjab University Chandigarh, March 2019
