Biswabrata Goswami
Midnapore, 26 March: Against the backdrop of intensifying climate challenges and growing global concern over biodiversity loss, the Fourth Botanical Congress commenced on Thursday at Raja Narendra Lal Khan Women’s College (Autonomous), marking the beginning of a three-day national scientific congregation aimed at advancing research in plant sciences and environmental sustainability.
Organised with the support of the Botanical Society of Bengal and funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, the Congress has brought together leading academicians, scientists, and policy experts from across the country, underscoring the rising significance of botanical research in addressing contemporary ecological crises. The event will continue until 28 March.
The Congress was formally inaugurated by Prof. Dipak Kumar Kar, Vice-Chancellor of Vidyasagar University. Delivering the keynote address as Chief Guest, Prof. Arnab Sen highlighted the urgent necessity of interdisciplinary scientific approaches to confront emerging environmental and climatic challenges, stressing that plant science research must increasingly integrate ecology, geography, and climate studies.
Among the distinguished dignitaries present were Dr. Kalyan Rudra, Chairman of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board; Dr. Debaprasad Chattopadhyay, Founder Director and Scientist-G at the ICMR National Institute of Traditional Medicine; and Dr. Sudhanshu Sekhar Das of the Botanical Survey of India. The inaugural session was also attended by Dr. Prabir Kumar Saha, President of the Botanical Society of Bengal, and Dr. Santanu Pal, Secretary of the society and Head of the Department of Botany at the University of Calcutta.
Hosting responsibilities are being led by the college Principal, Dr. Swapna Ghorai, with Dr. Rashmi Mukherjee serving as Convener of the Congress.
Over the next three days, the programme will feature technical sessions, panel discussions, and research presentations focusing on biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, plant taxonomy, and climate change. Scholars from different regions of the country are participating, turning the Congress into a significant platform for academic dialogue and collaborative exchange.
Speakers during the inaugural session observed that the thematic focus this year centres on the impact of geographical variations and climatic conditions on vegetation patterns, plant growth, and developmental processes. Special emphasis has been placed on understanding climate change and its far-reaching ecological implications.
Experts are expected to deliberate on issues such as the ecological importance of flowering plants, carbon sequestration potential of plant species, adaptive resilience of vegetation under changing climatic regimes, and broader plant–environment interactions. The discussions aim to strengthen interdisciplinary research frameworks while contributing to policy formulation and maintaining global standards in plant taxonomy.
A notable feature of this year’s Congress is the active participation of young learners. Representatives from ten schools, comprising nearly 40 students accompanied by teachers, are taking part through presentations and educational visits to the institution’s Biodiversity Park — an initiative designed to cultivate scientific curiosity and environmental awareness at an early stage.
As deliberations unfold over the coming days, organisers expressed hope that the Congress will generate meaningful scientific insights and foster collaborations capable of advancing botanical research while addressing pressing environmental challenges.
