Annasaheb Kulkarni, Department of Biodiversity at Abasaheb Garware college, believes in and imparts ‘borderless education’ to the students by the way of ‘experimental learning’ process. It mainly focuses on research which is supported by prime agencies such as Ministry of environment & Forests (MoEF, GoI), Department of Science & Technology (DST, GoI), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO-UoP), Department of Biotechnology (DBT, GoI), University of Pune to name a few. We have always promoted out of the box thinking which has helped students reach higher levels in their life such as Antarctic Expedition, Darwin Scholarship, Harvard Field Course at Borneo, Asian Geographic Photography prize etc.
We are proud to claim that many of our students have bagged awards for research at National levels and co-authored more than 15 peer-reviewed publications in reputed National and International Journals. This department also offers Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and currently four students are pursuing their Ph.D. on various crucial topics such as Conservation of threatened species, Bio prospecting and Molecular diversity.
Our Vision
To become a Model for self-support in academics, produce research oriented output and extend globally.
Our Aim
- To create awareness on wide range of career opportunities in the field of Biodiversity
- To impart education beyond the boundaries of classrooms and textbooks
- To extend the scope of potential research and creativity
To establish forward linkages with ongoing research projects
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the appreciation of variability found among 8 million plant and animal species. The term biodiversity (biological diversity) refers to measuring and studying the variety among the living organisms on Earth which includes different ecosystems and the diversity within the species belonging to those ecosystems.
Nurturing Biodiversity is important as it provides ecological support by maintaining oxygen levels, clean air and ground water levels, pollination of plants, the food chain and overall atmosphere. The livelihood of farmers, fishers and timber workers are dependent on biodiversity. It also has great importance for recreational activities such as bird watching, hiking, camping and fishing. But with every passing day, our rich biodiversity is getting depleted due to many threats such as climate change, loss of habitat, overexploitation, invasion by non-native species, deforestation and pollution caused by humans. Hence as the saying goes ‘the fewer animals we have, the fewer human we will have’, it is our responsibility to take care of this precious biodiversity so that all living organisms including humans can co-exist happily.
M.Sc Biodiversity
Edward O. Wilson has rightly said, “Biodiversity is our most valuable but least appreciated resource.” Biodiversity is the largest source of potential wealth for the country, which unfortunately remains under explored. One of the main reasons for under utilization is the scarcity in the knowledgeable and well informed personnel. The current generation of biologists is largely divided into field-oriented taxonomists and ecologists on one hand and the lab oriented functional and molecular biologists on the other. This division has become a restricted the study in Biodiversity.
- Started in 2003, this course is one of its kinds in Pune University sanctioned under Innovative Programs Scheme of University Grants Commission (UGC).
- Monitoring and Utilization (Credit system) is a two year postgraduate course of University of Pune, comprising of four semesters and is a unique program conducted at Abasaheb Garware College, Pune.
- The curriculum gives holistic coverage to the extremely valuable field of Biodiversity. It bridges the gap between field and laboratory biology which helps students to discover their calibre.
- This course will help to generate wealth through a cautious and sustainable use of the country’s bio resources.
Highlights of the course
Exposure and hands-on experience to the diverse fields such as
- Plant, Animal & Microbial Diversity
- Wild Life and Conservation Biology
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Pollution & Environmental Impact Assessment, Laws, Policies
- Bioinformatics and Phylogenetics
- RS-GIS in Biodiversity Studies
- Quantitative Biology & Research Methodology
- Molecular Tools in Biology & Bio analytical Chemistry
- Biodiversity Internship and Dissertation
Uniqueness
This course involves innovative evaluation practices on and off the field.
Course Structure
This course consists of two years and total four semesters. The first year includes field oriented studies while the second year focuses on labs and practical.
The syllabus for each semester is as mentioned below:
- Semester One
- This semester is devoted to taxonomy and diversity of various life forms and emphasizes on basic techniques of exploration of diversity.
- Semester two
- This semester focuses on quantitative techniques in biology, biogeography and population ecology which forms the key component in shaping up of natural systems. It also includes other subjects such as Environmental Journalism and Media and Biodiversity Internship
First two semesters can make a good naturalist and ecologist as they emphasize on conceptual as well as empirical knowledge of the ways in which natural systems work.
- Semester three
- Topics like Environmental laws & policies, Wildlife and conservation biology, Agrobiodiversity and Livestock diversity form the core of the third semester. In this semester, dissertation & understanding research methodology is a vital component because many projects based on natural systems are dynamic and directed to field level research.
- Semester four
- The last semester will expose students to modern techniques like Bioinformatics and Phylogenetics, chemical diversity, understanding Environment Management and Restoration
Third and fourth semester will expose students to various facets of environment, its conservation and utilization. These two semesters will help students acquire a holistic approach towards assessing potential and utilization of bio resources and protection of natural resources.
Considering the fact that dissertation and understanding research methodology is a vital component, the students shall attempt core/compulsory courses (TC) and some noncore/ optional courses (TNC) for theory and compulsory courses for Practical in the respective semesters.
Eligibility Criterion
- B.Sc. with any branch of Life Science, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics Geography, Agriculture, Fisheries, Pharmacy, Medicine, Engineering(any branch) etc.
- Clearing the entrance examination.
- A minimum of 50% marks at B. Sc. (45% marks for reserved category) is required to be eligible for M. Sc. admissions.
Future Perspectives/Opportunities
There is tremendous scope for research in biological sciences. The thrust areas of research are as below:
- Bio prospecting
- Biodiversity assessment
- Environmental Microbiology
- Ethnopharmacology
The conservation of biodiversity cannot be like an average nine to five job. It mainly includes working in the field that is staying outdoors, in the forests or sanctuaries among wildlife. They also take care of abandoned or injured animals and ensure that their population size remains healthy.
Some other job opportunities include Aquarist, Herpetologist, Ichthyologist, Marine Biologist, Entomologist, Primatologist, Soil Conservationist, Wildlife Conservationist, Conservation Scientist, Conservation technician, Natural Resource Manager, Agriculture Programme Manager, Sustainability Expert, Nature Conservation Officer and conservation Photographer/Filmmaker Career.
Summary
As humans and as one of the factors causing the loss of biodiversity, we are responsible for innovating new ways to create awareness about the harmful effects of loss of biodiversity on human population and the precautions that need to be taken to avoid the loss. Although there is no way to bring back the species which are already extinct, the biodiversity officers have a very crucial job of discovering new ways to slower the rate of loss of biodiversity.
If you are a nature lover and are willing to live a life full of dauntless adventures and amazing surprises presented by nature, this course is your perfect match. By signing for this course, you will receive ample opportunities to be in nature and reveal its beautiful secrets while protecting and nurturing it.
Physics is all around us. We use Physics on day to day basis. An ancient and vast field of science, Physics encompasses studies about the gigantic bodies such as the stars and planets and smallest bodies such as atoms and electrons. Physics is a fundamental science where physicists study matter, its motion and behaviour through space and time, and other entities related to energy and force. It also includes studies about heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, mechanics and atoms.
Physics has existed since the beginning of times. The ancient Greeks were the founders of early Physics as some of the physicists such as Aristotle, Socrates and Plato explored the world around them. The modern-day Physics came into existence in the 1500-1600s because of some renowned physicists such as Copernicus, Galileo and Newton. Many revolutionary inventions such as revolving of earth, gravitational force of the earth, etc. were made during this period.
What do you get to learn during a Physics Degree?
Physics is a gateway into a wide range of sciences and its sub disciplines. Physics mainly based on experiments, measurement and mathematical calculations. Hence, the students opting for Physics degree study the topics such as particle physics, quantum mechanics, quantum optics and electrodynamics and also sub disciplines such as astronomy, cosmology and string theory.
Physics not only generates fundamental knowledge required for further technological advancements but also provides trained personnel to get benefitted from scientific discoveries. It helps us to get better understanding of the subjects which are of substantial importance to other people.
What do you get in the classroom learning for Physics?
The Physics course will bring in copious amount of experiments and research work which also means there would be plentiful theoretical learning and complex mathematics. It will emphasize on fundamentals of Physics as also the modern concepts such as Quantum Mechanics, Classical Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electrodynamics, Electricity, Statistical Mechanics and Magnetism Optics and waves.
The Department of Physics at MES AGC was established in 1945 and is one of the oldest departments in the college. The Post- graduate program was started in 1993 and since 2012 the department has become a recognized research centre for Ph.D.
The undergraduate degree program helps to lay a strong foundation which can further help to pursue the Master’s degree in Physics. The main aim of the courses is to create a solid ground in Physics studies which would open up ample opportunities for the students to carry out individual research work and development an all-round experience and experience a steep growth in their careers.
General Features are:
- High calibre, experienced and extremely supporting Teaching staff
- Department has separate laboratories for F.Y.B.Sc., S.Y.B.Sc., T.Y.B.Sc. and M.Sc.
- At T.Y.B.Sc. level, department runs Materials Science, Physics of Nano-materials, Lasers and Astrophysics as elective subjects
- Well-developed Laboratory for M.Sc. and Research (Ph.D.)
- Sc. course takes in to account, state-of-art in Physics and its application at all levels
- Sc. course has a high potential with an appropriate balance of theory, experiments and project work
- Department has specialization in Materials Science, Nano Technology and Thin films
- Thin film synthesis and characterization, Sensor testing laboratory, VSM.
- Investigational and exploratory learning on the basis of presentations and Guest Lectures
- Visits to research institutes e.g. BARC etc.
Skills and Competencies required to hone a brighter career
The study of Physics requires an inquisitive mind and a keen interest in mathematics. It also requires tremendous focus, patience, willingness to hard and a ‘don’t give up’ attitude.
Following are some skills required to become a knowledgeable Physicist and pursue a vibrant career in physics:
- Problem solving skill
- Analytical skill
- Versatile and adaptable
- Ability to learn and understand
- Ability to conduct researches, gather information and develop theories
- Knowledge about the usage of computer and ability to prepare technical reports
- Mathematical analysing and modelling skills
- Ability to make decisions and manage time
The Physics curriculum is designed to help students acquire skills to think scientifically, critically and creatively as also communicate ideas and views about physics related topics.
Career prospects in Physics
When we think about career prospects or job opportunities in Physics, it can be a gratifying career as science school teacher to a far-reaching career in NASA or ISRO as a space researcher. Hence, while discussing the careers in Physics, sky is the limit would be an understatement!
A Bachelor’s degree in Physics can prepare you for a wide range of careers like mechanical engineering, sound engineering, data analyst, technical author and other development and research activities.
A Master’s degree can help candidates pursue careers in more intense fields such as healthcare, climatology, meteorology, aeronautics, metallurgy, Geophysics, Nanotechnology, Astronomy, Radiation protection, Clinical science or medical physics, etc. Build basis for competitive and professional examinations.
As a physicist, your job can be noble, as well as very lucrative.
Summary
Modern world would have been a very different place without Physicists. Studying Physics is like going on an exciting adventure that not only inspires people to carry out more researches but also broadens the horizons of knowledge about Nature. It is a challenging field of studies which keeps you on your toes. Hence, study of Physics is a way to appreciate modern technology and use it optimally for the development of society.