Vacation Training Programme (VTP)

There will be one VTP for 3-4 weeks for the students who have appeared for class X examination. The vacation training programme is designed to train and enhance awareness in school children about the relevance of Bioresources, and the relationship between Bioresources and Biotechnology. The training programme will comprise of laboratory work, interactive lectures, individual projects, field visits etc.

The course curriculum and activities for Vacation Training Programme has been given below:

A. Introduction to biodiversity and bioresources

• Introduction to biodiversity and bioresources-their importance.
• Genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystems diversity.
• Distribution of terrestrial and aquatic bioresources, microbial bioresources.
• Value of bioresources – direct and indirect values, ethical values.
• Natural and wild resources-medicinal plants, economically/industrially useful palnts and animals, parasites & predators.
• Ecologically relevant resources-keystone species, pollinators, natural predators.
• Bioresources maintained by and in man made ecosystems.  Genetic resources, agrobiodiveristy.
• Ethinic knowledge bases, folklore knowledge bases.
• Threats to bioresources.
• Conservation and sustainable use of bio-resources.
• Intellectual property rights and bioresources.
• Biotechnology and bioresources-scope, limits & precautions.
• Emerging avenues and careers in the fields of biodiversity, bioresources and biotechnology.

B. Exploring the Environment and understanding local bioresources
Practical hands on activities would be carried on as visits to nearby areas forms and meetings with former community, documenting and studying local biodiversity, field visits to nature parks/wild life areas, visits to national laboratories and institutions. A detailed discussion on the first hand experience would be held after every visit/meetings as above.

C. Interactive Sessions
This will include group discussions and presentations by the participants on the topics of curriculum, painting/poster sessions on biodiversity and conservation issues, web page designing on bioresources; street plays on environmental causes, A.V. Film presentations and celebration of important events/days.

D. Individual Projects by the students/teachers
Specific projects would be assigned to each student and teacher on community participation for biodiversity conservation, herbarium preparation, tissue culture, DNA isolation etc. Each student/teacher will work on such project under the guidance of an expert for field studies, library research and data collection, analysis and impact assessment related to the project.

E. Wrap-up Session

• Experience sharing
• Power Point presentation by the students and teachers.
• Get together with eminent scientists.