ICAR-NOFRI conducts Foldcope workshop for students of NBB Degree College, Tadong
ICAR- National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI), Tadong in collaboration with Department of Botany, Nar Bahadur Bhandari (NBB) Degree College, Tadong organized one day workshop for orientation on assembly of Foldscope and its utilization as a tool for identification of plant pathogen and its effect on host for the third semester students of botany on 25th September, 2018. A Foldscope is an optical microscope which can be easily assembled from simple components, including a sheet of paper and a lens. It has been developed by Indian physicist Manu Prakash at Stanford University, USA, and designed to cost less than US$1 to build. It is part of the "frugal science" movement which aims to make cheap and easy tools available for scientific use in the developing world. Dr. Chandramani Raj, Scientist (Plant Pathology) and Dr. Shweta Singh, Scientist (Plant Pathology) from ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong and Dr. Lhanjey P. Wangdi, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, NBB Degree College, Tadong are working individually on this Foldscope through projects sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. To democratize this science, the three scientists organized a workshop for 33 botany students of the degree college.
During the programme, Dr. Shweta Singh (Scientist, Plant Pathology) welcomed the students and faculty from NBB Degree College and scientists of ICAR-NOFRI for the workshop. She briefly presented the audience about the foldscope, its benefits and application in identification of plant pathogens. Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) addressed the gathering about the research and extension works of ICAR-NOFRI with different stakeholders who have benefitted from the technologies of ICAR-NOFR. Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) & Head, KVK, East Sikkim briefed about the technologies developed by ICAR-NOFRI and highlighted the role of technologies in change in cropping systems in Sikkim. The students also interacted with Dr. Chandan Kapoor, Scientist (Plant Breeding & Genetics) and Dr. Sudip Kumar Dutta, Scientist (Horticulture).
During workshop, college students assembled the foldscope paper to microscope under the guidance of Dr. Chandramani, Dr. Shweta, Dr. Chandan, Dr. Sudip and Dr. Lhanjey Bhutia. They also prepared slides of various pathogen infected samples, cultures of pathogen and biocontrol agents and viewed under the foldscope. The students had a very interactive sessionwith the scientists on different aspects of plant pathogens and their features. The programme ended with vote of thanks to all the guests and participants by Dr. Chandramani Raj. The programme was assisted by Miss Kala Chhetri, Miss Sangay Chuzem Lepcha and Smt. Babita Chettri of ICAR-NOFRI and Miss Srijana Mangar and Mr. Arpan Pradhan of Nar Bahadur Bhandrai Degree College.
Participants observing the plant pathogens under foldscope (a paper microscope)
