Manipur University MMTTC begins a six-day life sciences research programme, offering teachers hands-on training in advanced research methods and emerging technologies.
Imphal, Oct. 5: The UGC–Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), Manipur University, in collaboration with the university’s Department of Biotechnology, on Monday inaugurated a six-day interdisciplinary short-term programme on “Advanced Research Methodology in Life Sciences” to strengthen the research capabilities of teachers through exposure to emerging techniques and practical training.
The programme, organised under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, was inaugurated at the Department of Biotechnology, Manipur University.
The training is designed to combine academic lectures with demonstrations and hands-on sessions, giving participants practical exposure to advanced research methodologies, laboratory facilities and sophisticated instruments available at Manipur University.
The inaugural function began with a welcome address by Prof. K. Sanatombi, Professor and Head of the Department of Biotechnology. Prof. N. Mohilal Meitei, Dean, School of Life Sciences, and Prof. L. Shanjukumar Singh, Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, also addressed the gathering.
Prof. R.K. Bhubhon Singh, Director of the UGC–Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, spoke about the objectives and academic significance of the programme, while Prof. Reena Haobam proposed the vote of thanks.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Bhubhon Singh said the programme was aimed at strengthening the research capabilities of college and university teachers at a time when new techniques are emerging rapidly in biotechnology and other areas of life sciences.
He said teachers may acquire theoretical knowledge about new developments and subsequently introduce them in classrooms, but direct exposure to experimental research methods and practical training would provide a better understanding of the techniques and enable them to communicate the knowledge more effectively to students.
Accordingly, the programme has been structured to combine lectures with hands-on training and demonstrations. Participants will receive practical exposure to research techniques and the laboratory infrastructure available at the Department of Biotechnology and other relevant departments of the university.
Prof. Bhubhon Singh said the joint initiative seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding of emerging scientific techniques and their practical application in research.
The number of participants has been restricted to 25 to allow for meaningful practical engagement and closer academic interaction during the six-day training.
He said the objective was not limited to training the participants during the programme. The participating teachers are also expected to take the knowledge, techniques and research orientation gained during the programme back to their respective institutions and share them with students and academic colleagues.
Participants have been drawn from colleges and academic institutions across Manipur and represent different branches of the life sciences.
The institutions represented include T.S. Paul Manipur Women’s College, D.M. College of Science, S. Kula Women’s College, G.P. Women’s College, Thambal Marik College, Oinam, Pravabati College, Lilong Haoreibi College, Kamakhya Pemton College, Pettigrew College, Western College, Konthoujam, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute, the Department of Zoology, Manipur University, and NIELIT Imphal.
Their areas of specialisation include biotechnology, genetics, biochemistry, plant physiology, cytogenetics, parasitology, genetic engineering, medicinal plants, phytopharmacology and zoology.
As part of the academic sessions, Prof. K. Sanatombi delivered a lecture on nanotechnology and the application of nanoparticles in plant tissue culture.
She said the programme would go beyond discussions on techniques, tools and materials by exposing participants to emerging developments that could assist researchers in formulating, planning and strengthening their research work.
Explaining the application of nanotechnology in plant sciences, Prof. Sanatombi said nanoparticles could be used at different stages of plant tissue culture, beginning with micropropagation and extending to the production of secondary metabolites and precision plant technology.
She explained that nanoparticles generally range from one to 100 nanometres in size. They can either be obtained in pre-synthesised form or synthesised in laboratories according to specific research requirements.
Prof. Sanatombi also emphasised interdisciplinary collaboration in contemporary research. She said collaboration with physicists and specialists working with nanoparticles could help life-science researchers obtain nanoparticles designed according to specific experimental requirements.
Researchers equipped with the necessary laboratory facilities and expertise could also undertake nanoparticle synthesis for their own research purposes, she said.
She explained that the extremely small size of nanoparticles gives them a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, allowing them to be effective even at relatively low concentrations. Their surfaces can also be modified using different compounds and functional groups or given positive or negative charges depending on the intended application.
The ability of nanoparticles to interact with different biological molecules also creates possibilities for their application in biological and plant research, she said.
The programme will examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of nanoparticles, allowing participants to understand both their potential applications and the scientific processes involved in their interaction with biological systems.
The six-day programme will continue with lectures, demonstrations, hands-on training and academic interactions focused on advanced research approaches and emerging developments in life sciences.
Through the initiative, the UGC-MMTTC and the Department of Biotechnology aim to provide participating teachers with practical research exposure that can subsequently contribute to teaching, research and student training at their respective institutions.
