Refresher Course -2

Refresher Course in Environmental Sciences and Geosciences
2–22 January 2018 | Organized at HRDC, Pondicherry University | Coordinated by Prof. S. Jayakumar

A comprehensive Refresher Course in Environmental Sciences and Geosciences was held from 2nd to 22nd January 2018 at the Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC), Pondicherry University. A total of 55 Assistant Professors from across India participated in this multidisciplinary program designed to enhance their academic knowledge and teaching competencies.

The course offered wide-ranging lectures and discussions on topics such as geomatics applications in environmental management, hydrogeology, environmental forensics, climate change scenarios and mitigation strategies, and the behavioral ecology of wildlife. Sessions also addressed marine biodiversity, phytoremediation, environmental ethics, and the conservation of endemic plant species.

Special emphasis was placed on environmental biotechnology, waste management—including strategies in Antarctica—bioprospecting of marine microbes, microalgae-based carbon sequestration, and the resource potential of neglected crops for food security. Innovative modules covered plant functional traits, bird-tree interactions, and publishing research in ecology.

Participants engaged in enriching interactions on environment and health, environmental archaeology, mining impacts and reclamation, environmental impact assessment (EIA), and the therapeutic potential of traditional medicinal plants.

The program included seminars, expert lectures, knowledge-sharing sessions, and field components, providing participants with an interdisciplinary and applied perspective on environmental and geoscience challenges.