The Department of Botany was established in the year 1972 under Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam. In 1981, a three-year undergraduate course in Botany (Model 1) started with an annual intake of 24 students. The curriculum is as per the CBCSS scheme implemented at M.G. University Kottayam. Zoology & Chemistry are complementary subjects. The elective paper for the sixth semester is Agribusiness. The department offers “Agri-based Microenterprises” as the Open Course for students from other departments. Department also offers an add-on course in Phyto entrepreneurship for students of B.Sc. Botany and B.Sc. Zoology.
The Department has excellent infrastructure facilities with well-equipped smart classrooms and lab facilities. Students will get classes in hybrid mode - offline and online (through GCK LMS). Students can complement their studies through various lab experiments in well-equipped labs of the department. The department is having a B.Sc. Lab, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics lab and Research lab. They are equipped with modern instruments. The research lab comprises a Tissue culture Lab and a Modernized Microbiology Lab.
The department provides an ideal platform for students to achieve their dreams. The faculty members of the department act as mentors for students, and individual mentoring sessions for students are arranged periodically. To pursue their dreams in higher studies, coaching classes for competitive exams like JAM, CUET, P.G entrance exams of various universities etc., are arranged by the department’s faculty members. From a career point of view, coaching classes for UPSC and PSC exams are also arranged.
As a life science department, the students and faculty members of the department are actively involved in organizing various activities, seminars, workshops, awareness programmes etc., related to life science for students and the public. Through these activities, students get an opportunity to interact with eminent personalities in the field of life science. The department maintains a Herbal Garden with around 150 medicinal plants to conserve rare medicinal plants. In addition, a well-maintained Botanical Garden and Museum are associated with the department.
Infrastructure facilities
- ICT-enabled classrooms
- Well-furnished B.Sc. Lab
- Modernized Research lab with Tissue Culture and Microbiology Labs.
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics lab.
- Well maintained Herbal Garden and Botanical Garden
Instrumentation facility
- Gel electrophoresis
- UV – transilluminator.
- UV – Visible spectrophotometer
- Deep freezer
- Orbital shaking incubator
- Rota evaporator
- Cooling centrifuge
- Laminar flow cabinets
- Autoclaves
- Stereo zoom microscope with the inbuilt camera (Leica)
- Camera for microscopic imaging (Mag Cam)
- Double distillation unit
- Bacteriological incubator
- Oven
- Electronic weighing balance (Shimadzu and Radwag)
Coaching for competitive exams
- JAM, CUET and P. G entrance exams of various universities
- UPSC and P.S.C exams
Co-curricular activities
- National seminars/ workshops/invited talks
- Botany association activities
- Outreach programmes and extension activities
Employment/Career Opportunities for candidates with B.Sc. Botany Degree
- M.Sc. Botany/ Plant Sciences/ Microbiology/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry/ Environment sciences/ Life science/ Marine Biology programmes in various universities.
- Field officer in various government and private sectors, including rubber board, spices board, tea plantations etc.
- PSC/UPSC examinations for the appointment of the services in the state/country.