Delhi University Colleges host International Symposium on Ciliate Biology 2018

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7: The International Symposium on Ciliate Biology 2018 (ISCB 2018) was co-organised by Acharya Narendra Dev College, Maitreyi College and SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi in partnership with International Research Coordination Network for Biodiversity of Ciliates (IRCN-BC), an affiliate society of International Society of Protistologists (ISOP).

Dr. Mahesh Sharma, MoS, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, graced the inaugural and Professor Chandrima Shaha, Vice President (Foreign Affairs), Indian Academy of Sciences was the chief guest at the Valedictory.

A large contingent of national ciliate biologists was joined by 9 overseas scientists to deliver 20 oral and 57 poster presentations. The specialisations varied from biodiversity to ecology, evolution, role of ciliates in the food web of soil and water, in telomeres, their role as rumen ciliates, bio-indicators of pollution, and in bioremediation among other fields. Use of ciliates as excellent eukaryotic unicellular model systems in science teaching and research was well brought out by all presenters.

A large participation of under-graduate students was a highlight of the symposium. Their enthusiasm in presenting their work and interactions with senior scientists won everyone’s heart.

Zoological survey of India (ZSI) came a big way as not only print partners but also in co-organising a workshop “Tools and Techniques used in Ciliate Studies” which was very enthusiastically attended by over 50 participants.

The organising core committee acknowledges the financial support by international agencies – ISOP and IUBS – and by several national governmental agencies including INSA, DBT, DST-SERB, CSIR, ICMR, DRDO, ZSI.

The symposium would not have taken a great shape were it not for our advisors, Dr Alan, Warren (NHM, UK), Prof Cristina Miceli (Camerino, Italy), Prof GR Sapra, Prof Rup Lal, Dr Ravi Chaturvedi and members of the national organizing committee.

The Indian Ciliate Biologists held several meetings during this period and the formation of a registered pan India society of ciliate biologists is now well under way. This will pave the way for more national activities in the field and set the ground for collaborations, both among the Indian ciliate biologists and with overseas laboratories.

Another major highlight of the symposium was that ZSI will be publishing the symposium proceedings as a book with ISBN listing and all presenters agreed to contribute their presentations in the form of short research articles; the cover page of the same was launched at the valedictory.

The core committee members, Dr. Komal Kamra (Convener), Dr. Renu Gupta (Organising Secretary), Dr Seema Makhija and Dr Ravi Toteja (Joint Secretaries) express gratitude to the Principals of the organising colleges and other staff members for extending full support for the successful conduct of the International Symposium on Ciliate Biology 2018.