Assam down town University, through the Programme of Botany under the Faculty of Science, successfully commenced the first day of a Faculty Development Program (FDP) titled “Integrative Approach to Plant Taxonomy – Hands-on Training from Field Work to Modern Trends in Taxonomy.” 

The program began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Prof. (Dr.) N. C. Talukdar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of the university. The program opened with a warm welcome address by Dr. Suman Kumar Samanta, Associate Dean (Research), followed by an insightful inaugural speech from Prof. (Dr.) L. N. Kakati, Chairperson, Faculty of Science. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) N. C. Talukdar, further inspired the audience with his encouraging remarks on the importance of taxonomy in scientific research and biodiversity conservation.

The day’s keynote session was led by Dr. Souravjyoti Borah, Curator of the Department of Botany, Gauhati University, who delivered an enlightening lecture on Field and Herbarium Techniques. This was followed by an engaging hands-on training session on herbarium preparation methods, offering practical exposure to all participants.

The session concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Dr. Gunamoni Das, Assistant Professor, Programme of Botany, marking a successful beginning to this academic enrichment initiative.