Oz wheat scientist visits PAU, interacts with youths

Dr Harbans Bariana, a distinguished wheat scientist from Western Sydney University, Australia (formerly at the University of Sydney), recently visited the School of Agricultural Biotechnology (SAB) at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). His visit, which took place from 7 March to 4 April, was part of the “Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC),” an initiative by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

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Dr Satinder Kaur, Principal Investigator of the SPARC project, explained the initiative aimed to foster stronger academic and research ties between India and Australia through collaborations with international experts in various fields.

During his stay, Dr Bariana delivered a series of lectures on host-pathogen interactions and rust resistance in wheat. His engaging discussions with students and faculty provided valuable insights into cutting-edge research in the field. Dr Bariana also met with wheat scientists from various PAU departments and conducted field visits to wheat-growing regions, promoting scientific exchange and contributing to advancements in disease resistance strategies in wheat.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, emphasised the importance of international collaborations, noting visits from esteemed scientists like Dr Bariana not only expanded PAU’s global research footprint but also provided faculty and students with invaluable international exposure.

Dr Parveen Chhuneja, Director of the GS Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology and Co-PI of the SPARC project, highlighted the visit would strengthen the ties between Indian and Australian research institutions and pave the way for future collaborative projects.

Dr Yogesh Vikal, Director of SAB, who managed the logistics of the visit, remarked such initiatives were beneficial for both students and faculty, offering high-quality knowledge exchange in scientific fields.

Dr MIS Gill, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, and Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, both commended the department for its proactive efforts in enhancing international research collaborations.

In addition to his academic work, Dr Bariana, along with Dr Ikwinder Singh Gill and Dr Swaran Singh Sidhu from the University of Sydney, visited the Students’ Home at PAU. Dr Nirmal Singh Jaura, Director of Students’ Welfare, welcomed the visiting scientists and praised their significant contributions to their respective fields. “Their visit has been a morale booster for the students,” Dr Jaura remarked.