The Department of Microbiology was the recently added one in Indira Gandhi College of Arts and Science, Kathirkamam, Pondicherry. This department was established in the year 2004, mainly to give a chance for the rural student communities to learn Microbiology. More than 90% of the students joining this Department belong to rural communities. It was mainly created to expose students to the subject of Microbiology and their applications to mankind. Currently, it is the only Department in the town of Pondicherry to offer a Bachelor’s degree course on Applied Microbiology, sponsored by the Pondicherry Society for Higher Education. The Bachelor’s degree programme offered here is affiliated to Pondicherry University. The programme has a strong base in Microbial Technology and the courses offered include Cell Biology, Fundamentals of Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genetic Engineering, Microbial Physiology, Biological Science, Biostatistics, Virology, Parasitology and Entomology, Bioprocess Technology, Food and Dairy Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Introduction to Bioinformatics, Genomics and Proteomics, Medical Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, Biological Databases and their Uses and Entrepreneurial Development, Biosafety, Bioethics and IPRs. The backbone of the department is the intellectual rigor provided by a strong team of faculty members and students coming from in and around Pondicherry.
| Faculty Name | Qualification | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. M. Lydia Rajakumari | M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., ICAR – NET | Assistant Professor and Head |
| Dr. V.S. Saravanan | M.Sc., Ph.D., CSIR – NET | Assistant Professor |
| Mr. D. Satish Kumar | M.Sc., M. Phil., (Ph.D) | Assistant Professor |
| Dr. M.Priya | M.Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D | Assistant Professor |
| Dr. A. Ilavarasi | M.Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D | Assistant Professor |
The infrastructure of the Department of Microbiology is well furnished. It has the following infrastructure facilities that facilitate the teaching and learning process. The Microbiology Laboratory contains the basic instruments required for the B.Sc. Applied Microbiology programme, it includes Safety Cabinet II, a fermentor of 5 litre capacity, autoclave, hot air oven, students monocular and binocular microscopes, a phase contrast microscope with micrography facility, Incubator cum shaker, electronic weighing balances, a fume exhaust hood, centrifuges, distillation unit, pH meter, calorimeter, electrophoretic apparatus, UV transilluminator, etc.,
A variety of teaching learning technique is employed to impart knowledge and skills to the students of Microbiology. For handling of theory classes and certain demonstrations, the Department is also equipped with a Sony LCD projector.
“Microblooms” – the Microbiology Association
“Microblooms” – the Microbiology Association for the students was first inaugurated in the year 2011. Under the banner, “Microblooms”, the department has been organizing a variety of programmes to encourage the students to showcase various facets and talents through several activities.
“Microblooms” organises guest lecture on regular basis by eminent persons who share their pragmatic thoughts with the Microbiology students. Some of the lectures include:
“Bacterial Zoonotic Diseases” by Dr. R. M. Pillai, M.V.Sc., Ph.D , Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pondicherry.
“Diagnostic Microbiological Laboratory Methods and Applications” by Mr. B. Radhakrishnan, Bacteriologist. Indira Gandhi Government General Hospitaland Post Graduate Institute, Pondicherry.
“Scope and Applications in Microbiology” by Mr.D.Srinivasan, R&D; Executive, Biotechnology, REFSYN Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. Pondicherry.
“Fish Diseases and Control Measures” by Dr. V. Muthuviveganandavel, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology.Bharathidasan Govt. College for Women.
“Common Ocular Infections” by Dr. T. Vijhaya Priya, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute.
The Department has also been conscious of the social responsibility and has taken necessary steps to conduct “Estimation of Haemoglobin” for the students and staffs of Indira Gandhi College of Arts and Science. After the estimation, students were recommended to eat healthy in order to stay healthy.
In addition to Guest lectures, Competitions like Quiz Competition, Dumb Charades Competition, Poster Presentation, Model Presentation are also conducted regularly.
Fresher’s party and Farewell party are conducted every year to bring cordial relationship among students. These activities are conducted to instigate the young minds to participate in every departmental activity.
In order to improve their knowledge bank, the students are encouraged to attend and participate in various National Level Seminars, Workshops and Competitions organised by various colleges in and around Pondicherry. Students have also won prizes in various competitions like Model presentation, Poster presentation, Quiz competition and Face Painting Competition.
The Department of Microbiology arranges Industrial and Institutional visits for the students at regular intervals. The aim of these visits is to give the students a first hand experience of the world beyond college. During vacation, the students attend training in hospitals in the Department of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Blood Bank and Haematology in batches.
Parent – Teacher meet is conducted at regular intervals. Parents are informed about the ward’s attendance, performance and behaviour in the class. The results of the semester exams are also discussed.
Remedial Teaching is provided to the weak students either before college hours or after college hours. Students are provided with extra coaching and study materials to cope up with the semester exams.
The alumni of the Department of Microbiology, Indira Gandhi College of Arts and Science occupy positions of great responsibility in different institutions. Many of them are working in pharmaceutical industries, some in hospitals and some are researchers in various R&D; labs.