Herbarium digitisation facility at Jammu varsity

University of Jammu (JU) Vice-Chancellor Umesh Rai inaugurated a new “Scanning and Photographic Facility for Herbarium Digitisation” at the Department of Botany on Friday. This facility, part of a virtual herbarium initiative, is aimed at enhancing the preservation and accessibility of botanical resources.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by key university officials, including Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Dean of Life Sciences, Prof Meena Sharma, Dean of Planning and Development, Prof Anju Bhasin, Dean of Academic Affairs and Sciences, and Prof Susheel Verma, Head of the Department of Botany. During the event, Prof Rai highlighted the significance of digitising botanical resources, emphasising that this advancement will elevate the University of Jammu’s standing on a global scale.

He noted that the virtual herbarium represents a major step forward in preserving and sharing plant knowledge, particularly following the earlier digitisation of campus flora through QR codes. Prof Rai formally inaugurated the digital herbarium, exploring its comprehensive database of plant names and families.

In addition to the herbarium facility, the university also recently concluded the ‘International Conference on Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Reproduction: Exploring New Frontiers.’ Organised by the Department of Zoology in collaboration with the Indian Society for Comparative Endocrinology (ISCE), the conference attracted approximately 150 researchers from India and abroad. The event was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on October 22.

At the valedictory function, Prof Rai expressed satisfaction with the successful organisation of the four-day conference, which facilitated significant scientific discussions and collaborations among participants.

Virtual facility

• Vice-Chancellor Umesh Rai highlighted the significance of digitising botanical resources, emphasising that this advancement will elevate the university’s standing on a global scale
• He noted that the virtual herbarium represents a major step forward in preserving and sharing plant knowledge