Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur

NAAC Reaccredited (4th cycle): A+ Grade - CGPA 3.45

College with Potential for Excellence (2016-2020)

Affiliated to the University of Calicut

Mentor College in NAAC Paramarsh Scheme

Supported Under RUSA & DBT Star College Scheme

ISO 9001 - 2015 Certified

ACHIEVEMENTS

Faculty Achievements

Dr.Rekha K

Published 33 research articles, 5 books and 6 book chapters
Presented 5 papers in International and 8 papers in National seminars
Recognized as Research Guide under University of Calicut in 2019
Appointed as HoD, Department of Botany on 03-06-2024
Completed 2 Projects as PI - funded by UGC and KSCSTE
Chairman - CV camp III and IV sem UG Botany & IV sem Practical of University of Calicut from 2021 onwards

Dr. Sheeja T Tharakan

Presented a paper entitled ‘’Role of dietary fibres and microbiota in health’’ in the 5^th International conference on food and Nutrition organized by Universal Society of Food and Nutrition, Malaysia, virtual platform, on 17^th November 2022.
Published two text books for B Sc Botany Semester IV Core and Complementary, The Calicut University Central Co-operative Stores in 2020
Recognized as Research Guide under University of Calicut in 2019
Appointed as HoD, Department of Botany on 03-06-2019
NPTEL online elite certificate for functional genomics in 2018
Research Award for the Best Paper in the discipline of Natural Products, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, Mumbai, 5 th January2013
First Prize for Paper presentation in the UGC sponsored National Seminar in 2011
Published 34 Research articles, 3 books and 3 chapters
Completed 2 Projects as PI - funded by UGC and KSCSTE

Dr. Silvy Mathew

Dr. Silvy Mathew received Asia's Outstanding Researcher Award by the World Research Council

presented a paper “studies on essential oil extraction in Plectranthus amboinicus (lour.) leaves and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities” in TSCHE sponsored national seminar on Forest resources, diversity, utilization and conservation conducted by Dept.of Botany, Gopal Rao Patil Government Degree College, Bhainsa, Telangana on 5^th November 2022.
Awards received: - Best Researcher Award by VDGOOD professional Association 2021, Innovative Educationalist & Dedicated academician award by SIESIP (2021), Indo-Asian Award for Best College Teacher of the Year 2019, Best Teacher Researcher award by Vimala College in 2019 and most popular article award by International Journal of Research and Review.
Published 5 books:Laboratory Manuel : BSc Botany BSc Botany Core (2021), Biodiversity conservation and Ecosystem Restoration (2022) , Alpinia calcarata: The goldmine of future therapeutics by Lambert (2021), Phytonano technology; Challenges and prospects by Elsevier (2020) and Zero waste: A Handbook on Waste Manage ment by Sara publication (2018).
Recognized as Research Guide under University of Calicut in 2020
Completed NPTEL Online Certification Course on Enhancing Soft Skills and Personality with Silver Medal by IIT Kanpur 2019.
Published 23 Research articles and 4 book chapters and 32 DNA sequences in GENBANK.
Completed 3 KSCSTE projects as PI and one ongoing project by DST as Co-PI.
Editorial Board Member of 4 international and 2 National Journals

Smt. Smitha P.S

Received Prof. P J Thomas Endowment awardinstituted by Mr. Jeo Thomas for the Best Research Scorer of Botany Department with high Impact factor in the academic year 2022-2023at St Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur
Received Prof. C D Varghese Endowment award for the Best paper in the academic year 2022-2023 at St Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur

Published a text books for B Sc Botany Semester IV Complementary, The Calicut University Central Co-operative Stores in 2020
Availed DHR Fellowship Award 2018 from School of Health Sciences and Integrative Medicine, Savithribai Phule Pune University during the period November - December 2018.
Completed NPTEL online course on Enhancing Soft skills & Personality Development with Elite and Gold Certificate February to April 2019

Dr Manju Madhavan

Published two text books for B Sc Botany Semester III& IV Core and Complementary, The Calicut University Central Co-operative Stores in 2020 &2021
Recognized as Research Guide under University of Calicut in 2019
NPTEL online elite certificate for Nanotechnology in Agriculture in 2018
Published 26 research articles, 4 books and 4 chapters
Completed 2 Projects as PI - funded by UGC and KSCSTE

Dr Jayalakshmi M

Presented a paper on the topic “ Pollination allocation in plants with special reference to caesalpinioid members” in the Online International Conference on “Recent Advancements in Life Sciences” organized by the Department of Biotechnology, CEPCI, Laboratory & Research Institute, Kollam during 23^rd -25th May 2022.
Presented a paper on the topic “Effect of soil properties and mycorrhizal association on endemic plant species Humboldtia decurrens Bedd. Ex Oliv.” In the National Seminar on Sustainable Management of Agrobiodiversity (NSSMA) 2022, organized by St Thomas College, Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta, Kerala on 02/12/2022.
Secured Third prize in paper presentation competition in International conference on Recent Advancements in Life Sciences, Organized by Department of Biotechnology, CEPCI Laboratory & Research Institute, Kollam during 23rd-25th May 2022.
Awarded for best poster in National Seminar on Flowering Plant Reproduction and Diversity on 9^th January 2015.
Served as a coordinator in the workshop on Pollination on flowers by insects, conducted by the University of Exeter & IISER in 2016
Awarded PhD in 2018
Published 6 research articles, 3 books, 4 chapters and 10 paper presentations.
Served as a coordinator in the Survey of plant nurseries organized by Kerala State Biodiversity Board as part of the RKI Project "Database of Tradable Bioresources and their Economic Valuation in Kerala" in 2020.
Served as faculty coordinator of Biodiversity club and Journal club run by Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur.
Judged a session on An Interdisciplinary Research Paper Presentation Competition in Science organized by The Research and Consultancy Cell & IQAC, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur on 11th December 2021
Served as a resource person handled a session on the topic “Structuring a scientific research paper” organized by Kuriakose Elias College, Mannanam, Kottayam on 10/09/2021 via Google meet.
Served as a coordinator in the extension activity of the Department of Botany in collaboration with the INMIND campus for labeling their plants.

Dr Jisha K

Awarded Ph.D. in 2020
Published 7 research articles and 6 paper presentation
Completed 1 Project as PI - funded by KSCSTE
Completed Advanced Certificate course on Geo-informatics and GIS mapping from Centre for Environment and Development, Thiruvananthapuram

Dr Karthika S Menon

“Enhancement of carbon biosequestration via engineered structures - A sustainable approach for better future” in the Online International Conference on “Recent Advancements in Life Sciences” organized by the Department of Biotechnology, CEPCI, Laboratory & Research Institute, Kollam during 23^rd -25th May 2022.
Assessment of Atmospheric Pollution Tolerance Index of selected trees of Swaraj Round, Thrissur in National Seminar on Sustainable Management of Agro-Biodiversity organized by Biodiversity Club, St. Thomas college Kozhanchery in association with Kerala State Biodiversity Board on 5^th December 2022
.Secured second prize in paper presentation competition in International conference on Recent Advancements in Life Sciences, Organized by Department of Biotechnology, CEPCI Laboratory & Research Institute, Kollam during 23rd-25th May 2022
Finalist in All India Youth Challenge Programme in memory of Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam conducted by KSCSTE (2016).
Team member in preparing environmental audit report of University of Calicut in 2016.
Team member for conducting awareness on energy conservation as a part of Urjakiran funded by ECAC (2017) of Energy Management Centre, Government of Kerala, organized by the Department of Botany, University of Calicut.
Resource person for Inculcate programme conducted by Kerala state government.
Resource person for handling a session on Algal world conducted by Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishath in University of Calicut in 2018.
Judged session in Kerala State Children’s Science Congress conducted by Kerala Shastra Sahithya Parishath at University of Calicut during 20^th-22^nd April, 2018.
Awarded PhD in 2019
Resource person for handling a session on Making of a manuscript in INSIGHT-1 conducted by Enflammer- Journal Club of Postgraduate Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur on 21^st November 2019.
Resource person for handling a session on Tips for a good power point presentation in INSIGHT-11 conducted by Enflammer- Journal Club of Postgraduate Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur on 31^st January 2020.
Faculty Coordinator of Enflammer- The Journal Club of Postgraduate Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur (2019-2020 and 2021-2022)
Second prize in Review paper writing contest organized by Enflammer-The Journal Club, Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur in 2020.
Third prize in Review paper writing contest organized by Enflammer-The Journal Club, Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Thrissur in 2021.
Published 7 research articles, 2 books, 7 chapters and 10 paper presentations.

Dr Divya K Venugopal

Awarded PhD in 2024.

Papers Presented:

XXVII Annual Conference of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy & International Symposium on “Plant Systematics: Priorities and Challenges”. Oral presentation on “Reinstating Fagraea coromandelina Wight (Loganiaceae),with notes on its typification” 10th-12th, November, 2017. Department of Botany, University of Delhi.
XLI All India Botanical Conference of the Indian Botanical Society & “Ecological Restoration, Carbon sequestration and Biotechnological Approaches for Biodiversity Conservation”Oral presentation on “Acnistus arborescens (Solanaceae): potential invasive plant from America with notes on its typification”.25th-27th October, 2018 School of studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior
National seminar on “Plant Sciences: Current Challenges &Perspectives” Oral presentation on “A new species of Parasopubia H. –P. Hofm. & Eb.Fisch. (Scrophulariaceae) from Idukki February 28-March 1,2,2019 Department of Botany, University of Calicut
XLII All India Botanical Conference of the Indian Botanical Society and National Symposium on ‘Innovations and Inventions in Plant Science Research’ Oral presentation on “Studies on the diversity of Anaphalis species of Idukki district, Kerala” 6-8 November 2019 Department of Botany, University of Calicut.
International conference on “sustainable utilisation of Bioresources” Oral presentation on “Taxonomy and distribution of Solanaceae in Idukki district,
Kerala”10–15 January 2022 Department of Botany, University of Kerala.
Annual Conference of Researchers - 2024 Oral presentation on “Asyneuma cupulare, a new species of Campanulaceae from southern Western Ghats, India and lectotypification of Campanula fulgens”6 January 2024 St. Thomas’ College (Autonomous), Thrissur
National Conference on “Research as a Catalyst for National Development”Oral presentation on “ Typification of 3 gamopetalous species from Idukki district, Kerala as part of floristic documentation” 1 March 2024 St. Thomas’ College (Autonomous), Thrissur.
Service activities:
Worked as Project Fellow in KSCSTE-SRS project entitled “Angiosperm diversity of Idukki district, Kerala” (Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala) from 08.12.2016 till 31.03.2021.
Worked as Editorial Assistant of “RHEEDEA” The Journal of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy, from 18.04.2018 till 30.06.2022.
Currently working as Section Editor of “Trends in Horticulture” (ISSN 2578-1812).

Papers Published:

Notes on taxonomic Identity and typification of Fagraea coromandelina (Gentianaceae). Divya K. Venugopal, Dani Francis, Vishnu Mohan & Santhosh Nampy. Phytotaxa 360 (3): 292-295, 2018.
New record of Iochroma arborescens (Solanaceae) for India, a potential invasive plant from America with notes on its typification. Santhosh Nampy, Divya K. Venugopal, Dani Francis & Vishnu Mohan. Rheedea 29(3): 222– 226, 2019.
A new species of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India. D.Francis, V.Mohan, D.K.Venugopal & S.Nampy. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 77(2):281-290, 2020.
Two new scapigerous species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from southern Western Ghats, India. Mohan Vishnu, Divya K. Venugopal, Dani Francis & Santhosh Nampy. Taiwania 65(2):187‒194, 2020.
Asyneuma cupulare, a new species of Campanulaceae from southern Western Ghats, India and lectotypification of Campanula fulgens (Asyneuma fulgens). Divya K. Venugopal, Santhosh Nampy, Vishnu Mohan and Dani Francis. Nordic Journal of Botany 39(1):1‒7, 2021.
Burmannia munnarensis (Burmanniaceae) a new species and rediscovery of B. indica after 110 years from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Dani francis, Vishnu Mohan, Divya K. Venugopal & Santhosh Nampy. Phytotaxa 507(1): 105– 112, 2021.
Impatiens rakthakesara (Balsaminaceae), a new species from southern Western Ghats, India. Vishnu Mohan, Dani Francis, Santhosh Nampy & Divya K. Venugopal. Brittonia 73(3):316–322, 2021.
A new species of Parasopubia (Orobanchaceae) from the southern Western Ghats, India. Divya Korappara Venugopal, Santhosh Nampy, Ayilliath Kuttiyeri Pradeep, Dani Francis, Vishnu Mohan & Syam Radh Sasi. Anales del Jardin Botanico de Madrid 78(1): e106, 2021.

Awards Received:

Received best paper award for “Anew species of Parasopubia H. –P. Hofm. & Eb.Fisch. (Orobanchaceae) from Idukki district, Kerala, India” on National seminar conducted at University of Calicut in the topic “Plant Sciences: Current Challenges & Perspectives” (February 28, March 1, 2, 2019).
Received third prize for best paper presentation for “Asyneuma cupulare, a new species of Campanulaceae from southern Western Ghats, India and lectotypification of Campanula fulgens” on Annual Conference of Researchers – 2024 conducted at St. Thomas’ College (Autonomous), Thrissur (6 January 2024).

Invited talks:

Divya K. Venugopal (2022) delivered a talk on “Botanical Literature and New Species Discoveries” and served as a Trainer in the National level Hands-on training in Plant identification and Taxonomic Keys, organized by Department of Botany, St. Thomas College, Thrissur, on 26 November 2022.
DivyaK. Venugopal(2023) delivered a talk on “Identification of Plants” in the State level Workshop for Digital Flora and QR coding of Trees in School and College Campuses of Thrissur district, organized by Department of Botany, St. Thomas College, Thrissur, and Kerala State Biodiversity Boards from 22 February 2023 to 23 February 2023.
Divya K. Venugopal (2023) delivered a talk on “Identification of Common Plants” in the State level Workshop for Digital Flora, QR coding and mapping of Trees in School and College Campuses, organized by Department of Botany, St. Thomas College, Thrissur, and Kerala State Biodiversity Boards from 06 October 2023 to 07 October 2023.

Pass Percentage

	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2022-2023
B Sc Botany	70.83	75.5	100	100	94	97
M Sc Botany	100	100	100	100	100	100

Academic Achievements

B.Sc Botany 2022 - 2023- Topper of the year	M Sc Botany 2022 - 2023- Toppers of the year

Meenakshi K R	ShihanaThasni T

Student Achievements

	Divya Varghese (2022) JRF
	Anjana Unni, Haripriya T S and Parvathy M R qualified GATE.
	C.A Akhila won first place in Flora Photography Competition 2023 organised by PG and Research Department of Botany, in association with Institutions Innovation Council, NGM College, Pollachi on 28^th February 2023.
	Chaithra P S (S4, PG Botany) placed at ESAF as Executive trainee-Grade B1
	Gayathri Haridas (S4, PG Botany) placed at : District Suchitwa Mission as Resource person ICICI Prudential as Financial Advisor LEEA Institutions as Communicative English trainer