Botany

About Department

The department of Botany came into existence with the inception of the college, in the academic year 1988-89. The institution initiated with mostly with two undergraduate level courses, particularly in science discipline with two branches i.e. B.Sc. in Mathematics and B.Sc. in Biology. Botany, as one of the major subject, has been incorporated from the beginning with the two other major subjects such as Chemistry and Zoology. Initially, the institution was run in rented building with very limited infrastructure and facility available with the department. Separate Botany laboratory adjoining with a cabin of Head and other staff was constructed in the year 1998 after a land acquired by the parent society for the construction of the college building.

Mr. R. N. Deshmukh was the first faculty appointed in the department in the academic year 1988 and he served as Head department of Botany up to 2004. Meanwhile Mr. S.K. Giri and Mr. K. Vishwakarma joined the department as a faculty member in the year 1992-93 and 1993-94, respectively. They left the department owing to the opportunity they received in other institutions. Mr. Avinash K. Aney joined the department in the year 1994 as a regular faculty member and taken over the charge of Head of the department after transfer of Mr. R.N. Deshmukh to Shivaji Science College, Congress Nagar, Nagpur. Mr. N. Gopkar joined the department in the year 2006 and served here up to 2008. He was transferred by the parent organization to other institution.

At present, the subject is run in combination of Chemistry and Zoology only. Dr. Avinash Aney, Head, and Dr. Sanjay Ghugal are the two permanent and regular faculties running all the academic activities of the department in assistance with few yearly appointed contributory teachers. Both the regular faculties have acquired their academic highest qualification and are actively engaged in research activities. Dr. Avinash Aney has acquired his M. Phil in the year 2000 and obtained his Ph.D. in the academic year 2017, whereas, Dr. Sanjay Ghugal was already a doctorate fellow at the time of his first appointment. He is also a research supervisor in RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur and till date one of the research student has successfully obtained her Ph.D. degree under his able guidance. Both the faculty members have published quality research papers in the peer reviewed journals of National and International reputes. Dr. Avinash Aney has four text books published in his name as either a sole or the main author. He is also a resource person for the refresher courses in life sciences organized by ASC of different universities. He was also invited as resource person in conferences/seminars, of national and international level, to deliver an invited talk. Both the faculty members have participated in various national and international conferences/seminars and workshops organized by various institutions. The first career oriented course, in the college, was assigned to our department. The UGC sponsored career oriented course entitled ‘Local Herbs and their Products’, with a outlay of Rs. 7,00,000/- was successfully completed by the department. The department has not only excellent history of giving outstanding results but also meritorious achievements in the university examination.

Presently, department is running a basic course in Botany and have submitted the proposal for Self Financing Skill Oriented Courses such as Mushroom Cultivation, Vermi-composting, etc. The department has been actively engaged in organizing various curricular and co-curricular activities imparting scientific temperament and making aware the students regarding the new avenues available in the subject. The department has established a botanical garden having grown the plants of medicinal values, the endangered plants and the plants used in cosmetic and herbal preparations. The department is regularly organizing the plant excursion tour to various places enriched by plant vegetation and also in the nearby area to make the students aware of the types of soil, vegetation, climatic conditions, and to study biodiversity of the plants.