Insects are an integral part of our ecosystem and the existence of life on this planet, but their numbers have declined significantly in recent years. This workshop focuses on insect identification, taxonomy, and thermal physiology, integrating theory with hands-on experience. Invited speakers and the workshop coordinators will cover various topics within the workshop theme, providing an excellent opportunity for students interested in insect taxonomy, thermal physiology, and conservation. For additional details, please refer to the flyer.
Imagine an insect free world! Honey, fruits and vegetables and several fabrics would disappear from your diet and lifestyle. Insects are major pollinators of crops. Yet current numbers ring a warning bell! Insect populations are declining globally. Are we rightly tackling the situation to conserve insects? Are we even aware of how many and how much insect populations have deteriorated in the past few years? The answer is ambiguous. We therefore would like to create awareness of insects, their role in the ecosystem and some real life stories promoting conservation efforts in this regard. We strongly encourage undergraduate and postgraduate college students to participate in this workshop where both lecture and practical's would be included.
Objectives
Knowing and understanding insects
Insect taxonomy and identification
Insect decline, causes, and consequences
Understanding insect physiology
Success stories: insects and humans in harmony
Charlie Outwaite on Understanding Global Changes in Insect Biodiversity
Harshad Mayekar on Decline of Insect
V. V. Ramamurthy on Taxonomy's Role in Managing Insect Diversity and Decline
Himender Bharti on Growth of Linnaean Thought, Impact of Common Descent and Current Understanding
Saroja M K on DNA Barcoding as a Powerful Tool for Insect Identification and Biodiversity Research
Priyadarshan Dharma Rajan on the Impact of Climate Change on Insects
Poorva Lalbhai on Bees as Pollinators and their Social Structures
Registration
Apply by November 16, 2024 at following email address: [email protected]
Email subject line: Insect Decline Workshop 2024
Please mention statement of interest (in 50 words) along with a cover letter countersigned by your Head of Department.
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | Room 107, University Centre
9:45 - 10:00 AM
Inaugural Session
Raghavan Rangarajan
Professor and Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Ahmedabad University
10:00 - 10:45 AM
Keynote Talk: Challenges in Placing Taxonomy on a Viable Platform and Manage Insect Diversity
V V Ramamurthy
Principal Scientist (Retired), Division of Entomology IARl
President, Entomological Society of India, IARI, New Delhi
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Tea Break
11:00 - 11:45 AM
Expert Talk: DNA Barcoding Approaches: To Enable Species Identification to Surveillance
Dr Saroja MK
Genotypic Technology, Bengaluru
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Demonstration: Bioinformatics Behind Species Identification
Saroja MK
Genotypic Technology, Bengaluru
12:30 - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Demonstration: Thermal Trait Measurements
Abhishek Nair and Avirup Chakraborty
Ahmedabad University
4:15 - 5:00 PM
Expert Talk: Understanding Global Changes in Insect Biodiversity: Current Knowledge, Gaps, and Opportunities for the Future
Dr Charlie Outhwaite
Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology
Zoological Survey of London
Friday, November 29, 2024 | Room 107, University Centre
9:45 - 10:30 AM
Expert Talk: Conserving the Less Charismatic: Strategies for Saving Insect Diversity for the Human Well-Being
Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan
Senior Fellow, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Expert Talk: Evolution or Plasticity: Is There a Choice?
Harshad Mayekar
Postdoctoral Fellow, Ahmedabad University
11:00 - 11:15 AM
Tea Break
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Expert Talk: The Growth of Linnaean Thought, Impact of Common Descent, and Current Understanding
Himender Bharti
Professor, Punjabi University
12:00 - 12:30 PM
Demonstration: Insect Taxonomy
Himender Bharti
12:30 - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
2:00 - 2:30 PM
Expert Talk: Bees in my Backyard
Poorva Lalbhai
Founder, Bees in my Backyard
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Demonstration: Interacting with a Bee Hive! Does Flower Impact Honey Taste?
Poorva Lalbhai