*CSIR-IHBT Commemorated the 81st Foundation Day of CSIR*
CSIR-IHBT Commemorated the 81st Foundation Day of CSIR
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) Palampur celebrated 81st Foundation Day of CSIR on 15th November, 2022.
Prof. Anupam Varma, Former President, the World Society for Virology, Former ICAR National Professor, INSA Emeritus Scientist, Advanced Center for Plant Virology, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi was the Chief Guest. Prof. Varma addressed the audience and appreciated the efforts of CSIR-IHBT in transforming the life of people in the Himalayas. He highlighted the importance of plants in human life and stressed on the major problems like climate change impacting the Himalayan biodiversity and its inhabitants. Prof. Varma congratulated the institute to make Palampur as ‘Tulip City’ and Leh as ‘Lillium City’. Besides making Himachal as the number one state of India for production of aromatic marigold oil, he also applauded the institute for introduction of Saffron, Cinnamon and Asfoteida. Prof. Varma said that the establishment of Enzyme Bioprocessing Facility for enzymes production and Food Processing Hub at CSIR-IHBT for preserving and commercializing traditional Himalayan food will promote entrepreneurship, generate employment and boost the economy of this hilly state.
On this occasion, Padam Shri Prof. Sudhir K. Sopory, SERB Distinguished Fellow and Senior Emeritus Scientist at International Center for Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology New Delhi delivered the CSIR Foundation Day lecture on “Perception, Communication and Adaptation in Plants”. In his lecture, Prof. Sopory elucidated on the response of plants to different stimuli like light, temperature, touch, sound, electric signal, draught, water etc. He encouraged the scientists and young scholars of the institute to understand these plant phenomena under different ecological conditions for their adaptation in changing environment.
Earlier, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT welcomed the guests and presented a brief description of the main activities and achievements of the Institute. He also informed the gathering about the technological innovations and societal contribution made by the institute to improve the life of common man.
During this event, IHBT honoured three entrepreneurs for adopting the technologies of the institute. In this program, the winners of various competitions held to celebrate CSIR Foundation day and Vigilance Awareness Week were also awarded. Several students of Government College, Dharamshala along with teachers visited CSIR-IHBT on this day.
Program was attended by distinguish personalities of the regions, faculty and students of various regional institutes including press and media friends, former scientists and staff of the institute.