about

Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

Jhansi is a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Balwant Nagar was the old name of Jhansi. It lies in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj River, in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi district and Jhansi division. Also called the Gateway to Bundelkhand, Jhansi is situated near and around the rivers Pahuj and Betwa at an average elevation of 285 m (935 ft). It is about 420 kilometres (261 mi) from national capital New Delhi and 315 kilometres (196 mi) from state capital Lucknow. Jhansi is known for Rani Laxmi Bai and also for Tulsi cultivation.

About Bundelkhand University, Jhansi

This seat of higher learning came into existence on August 26, 1975, vide Government of Uttar Pradesh Notification No. 10/15-60/74 under the provision of the U.P. Universities Act. However, though belonging to the younger generation of the Indian Universities, the Bundelkhand University has fast transformed into a University of excellence offering opportunities to the aspiring youths to pursue higher education, applied research and Professional training according to their aptitude and potential.

About the Conference

Microbes occupy every sphere of planet earth including living and non-living entities. Microbes play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the planet's ecosystems by involving themselves in various biogeochemical cycles. One of the key involvements is in carbon cycling via both the uptake and release of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and the breakdown of organic matter, which releases carbon back into the atmosphere. This cycling of carbon is important in regulating the Earth's climate and preventing the buildup of greenhouse gases that can lead to global warming and climate change.Also, microbes are key players of biological systems such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, human and animal health. Soil microbes help to create and maintain healthy soil, which is essential for plant growth and agriculture. They do this by breaking down organic matter, releasing nutrients, and promoting the formation of soil aggregates that improve water retention and aeration. Similarly, many microbes are beneficial to humans, helping to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, supporting the immune system, and producing vitamins and other essential nutrients. Some microbes are also used as probiotics, to help treat or prevent diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gastrointestinal disorders. On the other side, microbes cause diseases that create epidemics and pandemics which induce economic downturn and st socio-cultural changes, human migration. The 21 century is proof to the mighty world of microbes' impact on ecosystems and mankind to maintain planet health. Also, microbes have several industrial applications in the production of antibiotics, enzymes, and other bioactive compounds. They can be used to break down organic waste in sewage treatment plants, to produce biofuels and other renewable energy sources, and in the production of food and beverages such as cheese, yogurt, and beer. However, there are several industrial constraints and policy regulations limiting the horizon of bio product development, marketing and commercialization which must come to limelight to make sustainable living opportunities. With this idea, to understand the present focus research frontiers in medical, veterinary and agricultural microbiology, to create a platform for sharing the knowledge and to enhance the interaction among the network of microbiologists and industrial stakeholders around the globe this conference has been brought and the output would form a strong foundation in addressing the issues of make develop a strategy for well-being.

Mission

To impart quality vocational and scientific education through basic and applied research, to improve the quality and value of human irrespective of gender, caste, nationality and religion.

History

All India Coordinated Research Project on Agroforestry. The National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF), as a unit of ICAR was established on 8 May 1988 and it is renamed as Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI) on 1 December 2014.

About ICAR - Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi

ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute (ICAR-CAFRI) (https://cafri.icar.gov.in/), formerly the National Research Centre for Agroforestry, is a multidisciplinary premier research institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with a major focus on integrating trees, crops and livestock on the same farmland. The Institute is at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (25.50 N 78.50 E), India and has a total area of 254.859 acre (214.079 research farm and 40.78 office & residential area). CAFRI is the only dedicated research institute of the country working on key research areas of agroforestry with 31 scientists, 16 technical, and 12 administrative and 8 skilled supporting staff as its sanctioned cadre strength. CAFRI has developed robust agroforestry models and package of practices for different agro climatic conditions covering small and marginal farmers, and provides technical backstopping to the states and stakeholders.

Department of Microbiology

Department of Microbiology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (UP) came into existence in 1999 under the School of Life Sciences. The department of Microbiology has excellent infrastructure and facilities to take on an average 25 students for M. Sc. 60 students in B.Sc.(Honours) program and 8 students for Ph. D. program every year. The Department is now well established, with six faculty members currently.Every faculty member has a well-equipped laboratory with the necessary instruments to carry out research. The mandates of the department are to undertake detailed post-graduate level teaching, enable students for national/international competitive examinations e.g. CSIR-UGC-NET and ICMR fellowship; GATE Exam etc. Many students of department of Microbiology have qualified CSIR-UGC NET, ASRB-NET and GATE examinations. Microbiology has signed MoU with various International and National research institutions for collaborative research, faculty exchange and M. Sc. Dissertations. The students of the Microbiology Department are a vibrant group, enthusiastically organizing and participating in various activities of the Department. Department of Microbiology has signed MoU with various International and National research institutions for collaborative research, faculty exchange and M. Sc. dissertations/thesis.

Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI)

The Association of Microbiologists of India established in 1938 is one of the oldest and reputed scientific organizations of the country. Since its inception, it has contributed significantly towards development of microbiology, particularly in areas of research and teaching in country. At present, there are more than 5152 life and annual members and about 450 corporate members of the Association. The Association holds a National convention annually at one of the well established centers of microbiology in the country. The association also publishes a quarterly journal, "Indian Journal of Microbiology" for the last 60 years . By publishing peer reviewed original research findings and research reviews from researchers in India and abroad, Indian Journal of Microbiology has attained a respectable status among National and International scientific research periodicals in the world.

1st Vision

The University aims to become a world-class institution by tapping human potential to lead the country in changing national, regional and global scenario.

2nd Vision

To improve the quality of life of rural people by integrating perennial crops in agricultural landscape for harnessing social, economic and environmental benefits..

Message

Prof. Mukesh Pandey

Vice Chancellor

Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.) India

This is a moment of immense pride for us to welcome you to Jhansi (U P) for the 64 International Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) which takes place between 1-3 December, 2023. The conference is jointly organized by the Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U P) in association with ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), Jhansi. The main theme of the conference is 'Microbes for Life -Lifestyle for the Environment: A strategy for well-being”. The event is taking place in hybrid mode which can be attended through online virtual platform and in person at Gandhi Auditorium, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U P), India.

Microbes and their activities have a large and unexpectedly profound impact on human health and well-being, as well as the functioning of the entire biological world and the planet's atmosphere.Microorganisms serve as an affirmative role in making humans' life much better and easier by maintaining numerous natural as well as man-made singularities in the environment.

The life support system of the biosphere is made up of microbial resources that work along with the Sun. There are many misconceptions about microbes, and they can be dangerous if they aren't swiftly dispelled by the general public. There are a lot of microbes that have no effect on our life, but there are also a lot of useful microbes and a few that are hazardous. It's the pathogens who get the most attention and are the most well-known. Though we need to depict microbes as our buddies, they may also assist us solve key challenges like enhancing food production and the beneficial aspects to society. This necessitates their inclusion in day-to-day decisions as well as those made at all levels of community, national, and global health. Microbiology literacy, on the other hand, is poor among the general public and decision-makers, in contrast to other areas with a broad impact on society, like as health, economics, and transportation, which are well-understood.

As seen with the ongoing pandemic, infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microbes continue to plague humanity. Those living in countries with limited resources and limited access to medical care suffer the most from neglected tropical diseases like malaria and Ebola. On the other hand, a third of the drugs we use, including numerous antibiotics factories for new drugs made by recombinant DNA technology and the source of proteins used in vaccines and numerous therapies. Gut microbes are key components of health as they assist in food digestion and are even responsible for the production of some of the vitamins that are essential for our health.

The AMI-2023 International Conference will provide a common forum to discuss, deliberate and formulate recommendation about future thrust areas to research on various aspects related to agriculture and environment bioenergy, from food and dairy to veterinary microbiology, from microbial diagnostics to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics will together constitute this mega event for human welfare. The scientific discussions on microbial processes and technologies are envisaged to provide potential solutions to the global challenges related to environment and health. It will be a great opportunity to Microbiology and Life Sciences students to interact with some renowned scientists from different parts of the world. The conference will invite several renowned speakers across the globe and we hope you all find the event to be both educational and entertaining.

We hope that you'll relish the feast of ideas the conference, and stay connected with us.

Dr. A. Arunachalam

Director

ICAR - Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi

Planet earth is teeming with an incredible diversity of microscopic life forms, which include bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and other tiny organisms. Despite their small size, microbes play a crucial role in shaping the planet's ecosystems and sustaining life in various ways. Their importance spans across ecological, environmental, medical and even industrial aspects. However, the ecosystems throughout are under severe degradation due to anthropogenic activities and the microbial diversity is gradually diminishing on various landscapes. One must realize adopting an environmentally-friendly lifestyle involves conscious choices to reduce waste and energy consumption, prioritize sustainable products, and support conservation efforts. By practicing the "3 R's" (reduce, reuse, recycle), conserving energy and water, choosing sustainable foods, minimizing single-use plastics, using biofuels for transportation, and advocating for environmentally-conscious policies. Every individual can significantly contribute to a healthier planet, preserve natural resources, and mitigate the impact of climate change while fostering a deeper connection with nature. For instance,' Agroforestry' plays a vital role in addressing multifaceted challenges faced by modern agriculture and the environment. From an ecological standpoint, its ability to promote biodiversity, enhance soil health, mitigate climate change, diversify income, and strengthen rural communities underscores its significance. As the world strives for sustainable and resilient food systems, agroforestry stands as a powerful and adaptable solution that aligns with both ecological integrity and economic prosperity. I would highlight, on this occasion that India is the first country in the world to adopt an agroforestry policy in 2014. The policy was created to counteract limited agricultural productivity due to consistent decreases in the landholdings of farmers, which has been caused by rapid growth of population and agricultural activity dependent on seasonal rainfall. At present, most of the industrial wood requirements are met through agro/farm forestry rather conventional forests. This reduces the burden on countries green economy.

Hence this is high time to adopt sustainable, environmentally sound strategies to promote the overall wellbeing. This will be possible only when we follow the current trends in research, reorient policy and framework, creating platforms for scientific and industrial networking. I am sure, this conference would facilitate discussion on major aspects of microbiology in the sectors of agriculture, medical, veterinary and industry for the LiFE (Lifestyle For the Environment). Also, it is anticipated that this platform could help in knowledge sharing among academia, scientists and industries.