EK Janaki Ammal National Award on Taxonomy for the year 2020

EK Janaki Ammal National Award on Taxonomy for the year 2020

About EK Janaki Ammal National Award on Taxonomy for the year 2020

The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change invites applications from Taxonomists with outstanding contribution for conferring Three Awards, one each in the field of Plant Taxonomy, Animal Taxonomy and Microbial Taxonomy for the year 2020.

Biological diversity refers to the variability in the living organisms and the ecosystems of which they form part. Preservation of biological diversity is vital for maintaining ecological balance and for evolutionary processes. It has direct bearing on food security, agriculture, medicine, industry etc. The advances in biotechnology and development of products based on the use of biological resources are increasingly becoming motivating factor for greater use of biological resources.

Taxonomy is the science of identification, classification and naming of living organisms. Taxonomic work involves study of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationship of organisms which is essential for applied biological sciences, such as medicine, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Development of biotechnologies and their industrial applications depend heavily on taxonomy. Current requirements of taxonomic work and available expertise and studies indicate urgent need for encouraging excellence and for motivating experts to work in hitherto neglected groups of organisms e.g. microbes, lower groups of plants, animals etc. The challenge is quite serious, as while the existing expertise is ageing and retiring, not many young scholars are opting for studies in taxonomy.

In order to encourage work of excellence in taxonomy and also to encourage young students and scholars to work in this field of science, this award, named after the late Prof. E.K. Janaki Ammal was instituted in the year 1999. Late Prof. Janaki Ammal did taxonomic work of outstanding merit and excellence, particularly in the area of cytotaxonomy and has been a source of inspiration to many young scientists.

Initially there was one Award on Taxonomy covering all the three fields viz Botany, Zoology and study of Micro-organisms. It has now been decided to enlarge the scope of the Award and increase the number of Awards to three, one each for excellence in Plant, Animal and Microbial Taxonomy.

The three Awards will be known as ‘E.K. Janaki Ammal National Award on Plant Taxonomy’, ‘E.K. Janaki Ammal National Award on Animal Taxonomy’ and ‘E.K. Janaki Ammal National Award on Microbial Taxonomy’.

Last date of receiving nominations: (31st July 2021)

For more details and PROFORMA FOR NOMINATION refer the Information Document

Details of the Award are available on the Websites of BSI, BSI- ENVIS and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, New Delhi, as follows.

http://bsi.gov.in
http://www.bsienvis.nic.in
http://www.envfor.nic.in

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