Industrial Visit to Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), DRDO, Chandigarh

On 9th February 2024, a group of 27 students of M.Sc. Biotechnology, 2nd semester accompanied by faculty members Dr. Mohinder Pal and Dr. Preeti, visited the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), DRDO, Chandigarh. During their visit, they were informed about the various research facilities and activities by the scientific staff of DIHAR. A senior Scientist at DIHAR coordinated the visit for students and gave an outline of research activities including the work on cold arid agro-animal technologies, screening and identifying the medicinal and aromatic plants to exploit them for use for defence purposes, and also on greenhouse technologies for high altitude and cold desert areas.

The students also visited the various lab facilities, including the tissue culture lab, molecular biology lab, biochemistry lab, food and nutraceuticals lab, and soil analysis facility. Here students got the opportunity to see hi-end instruments like HPLC, Rotavapor, Lypholizer, RT-PCR, Electrophoresis, Blotting facility, 2-D Gel electrophoresis system, Gel Doc system, Fluorescence Microscope, Flame photometer, AAS and BIOLOG microbial identification system, etc. The students also got the opportunity to engage with research scholars and scientists working in different domains, including the Institute Director, gaining insight into the practical application of their scientific knowledge.

Overall, the visit left the students feeling content and motivated to pursue their future goals, as they gained a deeper understanding of the potential impact of their field of study.