Good Practices

Consultancy

Dr. Rajendra Shinde (Director, Blatter Herbarium, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai) through Blatter Herbarium, generated revenue year wise as given below. The work included herbarium visits and plant authentication work.

Year 2018-19

INR 29845.00

Year 2017-18

INR 42600.00

Year 2016-17

INR 37175.00

Year 2015-16

INR 16480.00

Year 2014-15

INR 40310.00

Faculty Resource Persons

2018-19

  • Mr. Kevin D'Cruz served as a resource person for the one-day faculty training programme on "Effective teaching and learning through Moodle" for faculty of Nagrik Shikshan Sanstha's College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, on 28 August 2018.

  • Mr. Kevin D'Cruz served as a resource person for a one-day faculty training programme on "Digital education through Google Classroom" for faculty of Science Department, Mutangan (NGO), on 28 February 2019, and also Mr. Kevin D'Cruz served as a resource person for faculty of Jai Hind College, Mumbai, on 15 March 2019.

  • Dr. Manek Mistry helped the department in most of the botanical field study tours by acting as a resource person in the field. He showed many plants to students and explained their peculiar characteristics and importance.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde visited Hislop College, Nagpur, as a resource person for their seminar on 'Autonomy' on 21 January 2019. He delivered a talk on 'Autonomy: Challenges and Solutions'.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was also invited to conduct an Academic Audit of Venkateshwara College, New Delhi – the Audit ended on 25 October 2018.


2017-18

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was visiting Faculty at Dapoli Urban Bank's Arts and Science College, Dapoli for MSc in Taxonomy.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde took MSc Lectures at the University of Mumbai (Mithibai College), Mumbai from September 2017 to March 2018.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde Visiting Faculty for the Biodiversity Course BIO5.03 at Center for Excellence in Basic Biology, - DAE-MU, Mumbai University.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde took MSc Taxonomy lectures at Pancham Khemraj Mahavidyalaya, Sawantwadi.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde gave a talk on "Scope of Botany and importance of taxonomy" at Gurunanak Khalsa College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Matunga on 7 August 2017

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde gave a talk on "Importance of Taxonomy concerning Research, Industries and other allied areas" at Bhaskar Waman Thakur College of Science (VIVA College) Virar on 21 August 2017.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde delivered a talk on "the Concept and importance of Biodiversity in Forests", at Workshop on Community forest rights organized by Kashtkari Sangathana, at Dahanu on 26 September 2017.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was a resource person at Manghanmal Udharam College of Commerce, Pimpri, Pune for State-level one-day seminar on "Smart Cities: Strategies, Opportunities and Challenges for sustainable Environment". He delivered a talk on – "Biodiversity in Smart Cities" on 10 January 2018.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was resource Person for DBT to speak to a gathering of Principals from Bihar and Jharkhand about DBT Star College Scheme and its benefits – Case Study of St Xavier's College Mumbai'. This was at Patna Women's College for a DBT Sponsored Workshop on 25 January 2018.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde at Lala Lajpat Rai College as a Resource Person at National Seminar on Biodiversity Management Concerns and Challenges delivered a talk on "Agricultural Biodiversity– Use it or lose it" on 17 February 2018.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was a resource person at Ruparel College for a workshop on Autonomy on 3 March 2018.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was a resource person for Autonomy Seminar at Jai Hind College- on Assessment, Evaluation & Exam Norms under Autonomy 20 March 2018.


2016-17

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde Visiting Faculty at Dapoli Urban Bank's Arts and Science College, Dapoli for MSc in Taxonomy from February to March 2017

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde MSc Lectures at the University of Mumbai (Mithibai College), Mumbai from February to March 2017

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde Visiting Faculty for the Biodiversity Course BIO5.03 at Center for Excellence in Basic Biology, - DAE-MU, Mumbai University.

  • Mr. Kevin D'cruz was a Resource Person at One-Day State Level Workshop on "ICT and Innovative Teaching Techniques" at NSS College of Commerce and Economics, Tardeo, Mumbai in February 2017.


2015-16

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was the resource person for 2015-16 Fulbright- Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar on 12/03/2016 and he presented on "Role of Government - planning and funding issues, research and industrial tie-ups".

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde Visiting Faculty at Dapoli Urban Bank's Arts and Science College, Dapoli for MSc in Taxonomy in September 2015 to March 2016

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde MSc Lectures at the University of Mumbai (Mithibai College), Mumbai from September 2015 to March 2016

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde Visiting Faculty for the Biodiversity Course BIO5.03 at Center for Excellence in Basic Biology, DAE-MU, Mumbai University in August – November 2015.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde was also a visiting faculty for B.Voc and lectured on Biodiversity in Travel and Tourism, and Databases in Biodiversity for Web designing.

Field/Industry Visits

2019-20

  • The students of SYBSc were taken to BPT Garden, Colaba in the morning to study the vegetation growing there on 17 January 2020 by Dr. Rajdeo Singh.

  • A field trip of MSc II and TYBSc was taken to Matheran, Neral by train on 11 January 2020 by Dr. Rajdeo Singh and Mr. Alok Gude.

  • The students of FYBSc and MSc-I were taken to Veer Jijamata Udyan. Byculla to see the different varieties of plant species growing there on 13 and 14 January 2020 by Dr. Rajdeo Singh and Mr. Alok Gude. It was also a place to see many animals and birds.

  • Dr. Vijaya Lobo took MSc-II students to see the working of mineral water distillation plant at a factory called Ashok Stove Pvt. Ltd. TTC Industrial area, MIDC Turbhe, Navi Mumbai on 30 November 2019. Mr Bhavesh Barchha, the owner of the factory and other three staff, accompanied our students and showed and explained the setup, process, handling and working of machines in the factory. This visit enriched the students.

  • The MSc I students went to Khandala, Pune for botanical field study tour from 27 to 29 August 2019. Dr. Rajdeo Singh and Mr. Alok Gude accompanied them. The places visited were Bhoma hill, old St. Xavier’s Villa, Kune plateau and the area beside the St. Mary’s Villa where the students were staying.

  • Another field visit was organized for MSc I & II students from 1 to 4 March 2020 to Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh by train. Dr. Rajdeo Singh, Dr. Vijaya Lobo, Dr. Manek Mistry and Mr. Uddhav Patole accompanied the group and the vegetation of places near Duchess Falls, Bison Lodge, Pandav caves, Jata Shankar temple, Dhupgar, Handikho, and Pachmarhi lake was studied.

  • The MSc- II students were taken to Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli by Mr. Alok Gude and Dr. Manek Mistry from 21 to 23 August 2019 to study the diseases of plants. In between the group also visited a Sacred Groove to study the different plants and their conservation.


2018-19

  • As a part of the curriculum, the Department organized various field trips: The TY.BSc students went for a field visit to Khandala, from 27 to 29 July 2018. They were accompanied by Prof. Kevin DCruz, Dr. Vijaya Lobo, Dr. Manek Mistry and Mr. Uddhav Patole. Permission for visiting TATA POWER Forbes, Kandala was in place and Mr. Gangdhar, Manager, TATA POWER from Lonavala Branch, guided all students and teachers around the 103-year-old unit which provides clean hydroelectricity to Mumbai.

  • The MSc I & II students went to Khandala for botanical field study tour from 27 to 29 August 2019. Dr. Rajdeo Singh, Dr. Manek Mistry, Ms. Varsha Giri, Mr. Uddhav Patole and Mr. Alok Gude accompanied them.

  • Another field visit was organized for MSc I & II students from 18 to 22 January 2019 to Birmani village, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and nearby forest areas. Dr. Rajdeo Singh (BNHS Scientist) and Dr. Manek Mistry (Retd Staff) were the resource persons. They were also accompanied by Mr. Uddhav Patole and Mr. Alok Gude. Exams were held every night after dinner on what was studied during the day time. The marks were given for the CIA.

  • The MSc- II students were also taken to Rice Research Station, Karjat, by Mr. Alok Gude on 18 August 2018 to study the rice cultivation methods and diseases of plants. The MSc students also visited Gorai on 9 March 2019 to study the mangrove flora. Dr. Rajdeo Singh explained the peculiarities of plants found there.


2017-18

  • Dr. Manek Mistry and Dr. Rajendra Shinde took students of TYBSc to Khandala, Pune from 28 to 31 July 2017 for a botanical field excursion.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde took local excursions for SYBSc students to BPT Garden, Colaba for the study of seasonal flora on 12 January 2018.

  • Dr. Rajendra Shinde took local excursions for SYBSc students to Hanging Garden and Kamla Nehru Park, Mumbai for the study of seasonal flora on 16 February 2018.

  • Dr. Manek Mistry conducted short field visits every week in and around the college campus to familiarize the Flora to FYBSc and SYBA Garden Art students.


2016-17

  • Dr. R.D. Shinde took students of MSc-II to Plant Quarantine Centre and Patent Office to explain them the Plant Quarantine procedure and Patent filing procedure.

  • Dr. R.D. Shinde took local excursions for TYBSc students to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali and to BPT Garden, Colaba for the study of seasonal flora during January 2016.

  • Dr. Vijaya Lobo along with Mr. Rajdeo Singh conducted a botanical excursion to Phansad Wildlife sanctuary, Murd, Raigad from 19 to 21 January 2016 for the M.Sc. Botany students.

  • Dr. Manek Mistry conducted short field visits every week in and around the college campus to familiarize the Flora to FYBSc and SYBA Garden Art students.


2015-16

  • Dr. Mrs. U.C. Bapat and Dr. Manek Mistry took students of MSc-II for a visit at Pune Agriculture University on 11 February 2016.

  • Dr. Manek Mistry and Mr. Alok Gude conducted a field visit of MSc-II students at Dapoli, Konkan Krishi Vidhyapeeth for the studies on Plant Pathology and Horticulture from 31 July to 2 August 2015. Mr. Rajdeo Singh also accompanied the students and showed many plants in medicinal plants garden and spice garden located in the University.

  • Dr. R.D. Shinde took students of MSc-II to Plant Quarantine Centre and Patent Office to explain them the Plant Quarantine procedure and Patent filing procedure.

  • Dr. R.D. Shinde took local excursions for TYBSc students to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali for the study of seasonal flora during January 2015. He also took Nature trail for Friends of Trees at Jijamata Udyan on 28/02/2016.

Student Internships

2019-20

Ms. Ayesha Shaikh, Ms. Aishwarya Salunke and Mr. Prathamesh Kesarkar (MSc-I Botany) successfully completed internship at CRESLA Pvt Ltd, Mumbai from 7 December 2019 to 29 February 2020. Their work included (a) assembling, commissioning and testing of hydroponic system for cultivation of plants; (b) cultivating, monitoring and optimizing the growth of microgreens in hydroponic system under different environmental conditions like grow lights, growing medium, fertilizer mix, and watering system; (c) cultivating, monitoring and optimizing the growth of mushrooms in hydroponic system. They were given certificate of completion and appreciation.

Ms. Zeenal Lobo (TYBSc) did internship as ‘Cluster Manager’ in Procter & Gamble for 3 months from 15th October 2018 to 30 December 2018. Her role was to recruit 20 males and 20 females as interns to work for social media, which she did through ‘Chatterbox Technologies’.

Ms. Jewel Carvalho (TYBSc) did internship as Biology teacher at Mira road, Mumbai.

Ms. Mayuri Chavan (TYBSc) did internship on ‘Relationship between average length and sex of Blacktip shark, Graceful shark, Spottail shark’, at Sassoon Dock, Mumbai


2018-2019

Ms. Trupti Tiwari and Mr. Pranay Juwatkar (MSc-II Botany) successfully completed internship at CRESLA Pvt Ltd, Mumbai from 7 August 2018 to 18 March 2019. Their work included (a) assembling, commissioning and testing of hydroponic system for cultivation of plants; (b) cultivating, monitoring and optimizing the growth of microgreens in hydroponic system under different environmental conditions like grow lights, growing medium, fertilizer mix, and watering system; (c) cultivating, monitoring and optimizing the growth of mushrooms in hydroponic system. They were given certificate of completion and appreciation.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with various Institutions and Organisations

  • The Natural History Museum (N.H.M.), London and the Blatter Herbarium, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai, signed an MoU on 17 July 2017 for research collaborations between the two institutions.

  • G.M.M. Women’s College, Bhiwandi and St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai signed an MoU on 8 February 2018 for mutual collaborations in research, teachers training, usage of infrastructure and facilities like Blatter Herbarium.

  • Rajarshi Shahu Mahavidyalaya (Autonomous), Latur & St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai signed an MoU on 24 February 2018 for faculty and student exchanges, sharing and mobilisation of resources, infrastructure, and utilisation of resources from the departments, especially from Botany Department.

  • Department of Botany, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai signed an MoU with Satish Pradhan Dnyansadhana College, Thane on 17 May 2018 for collaboration between the Botany departments of both institutions. Blatter Herbarium will help Dnyansadhana College for Biodiversity Audit of their premises. The Botany Department of St Xavier’s College, under the guidance of Dr. Shinde, conducted a Biodiversity Audit (Tree Census) of the S.P.D. College in May 2018. Along with the students of S.P.D., MSc students of S.X.C. conducted the tree census and analysed the data collected by them. The official report was submitted to the Head of the Botany Department of S.P.D. College on 19.05.2018. The techniques of Tree census and Tree identification were taught to U.G. students of S.P.D. by MSc Students of S.X.C.

  • Centre for Environmental Research and Education, Mumbai an N.G.O. signed an MoU 2018 for one year, and then to be continued, for carrying out work of plant species identification, geotagging, and analysis.