Weekly Webinar series with a focus on COVID -19
Date : 16th May 2020

DBT-IBSD and Society for Ethnopharmacology (SFE) launches Weekly Webinar series with a focus on COVID -19

This unprecedented situation has forced us to see the world from a completely novel perspective where staying home, social distancing and digital collaborations are the new normal. During this Covid-19 pandemic, Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), India is determined to contribute to the society through integrated and synergistic approach by leveraging the digital platform.

DBT-IBSD, India thrives to achieve its objectives through multidisciplinary research approach for promotion and development of bio resources including natural flora and fauna, ethnopharmacology, traditional medicine and natural products.

Society for Ethnopharmacology (SFE)-India is committed to globalization of local knowledge and localization of global technology in the research and development of ethnopharmacology and ethnomedicine.

IBSD and SFE-India has come together to launch a weekly webinar series with the leadership of Prof Pulok K Mukherjee, Director of the IBSD, a institute under Department of Biotechnology, Government of India at Imphal, Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya. He is also the President of the International society for ethno pharmacology (ISE), Switzerland and Secretary of the Society for Ethno pharmacology, India.

The focal theme of the webinar is on Reimagine Ethno pharmacology, which is being attended by over 1000 participants from all over the world.

The first webinar was held on May 09, 2020, from 6.00 PM to 7:30 PM. Here a stellar line-up of speakers presented wide ranging perspectives on the pandemic. While Dr JLN Sastry, CEO, National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt of India spoke on the “Role of AYUSH in Covid-19”, Dr. Marco Leonti, Professor, Università di Cagliari, Cagliari (CA), Italy talked about “the Social Impact of Covid-19: A European perspective”.

The 2nd webinar, on May 16, 2020, Dr R.K. Ranjan, Hon’ble Member of Parliament representing the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency spoke on the “intervention of Science and technology to enhance the bio economy of North East India” while Dr Debprasad Chattopadhyay, Director, ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine (ICMR-NITM) spoke on the “Covid-19 pandemic: battle between primitive virus Vs most evolved Homo sapiens”. Eminent personalities around the world will highlights on several aspects on the use of traditional medicine, ethno medicines, Medicinal plants and modern medicine in all aspects.

These webinars are being hosted Prof. Pulok K. Mukherjee, Director, DBT-IBSD, who in turn has emphasised on the importance to reimagine ethnopharmacology (Ethnopharmacology is a related study of ethnic groups and their use of plant compounds. It is linked to medicinal plant use and ethnobotany, as this is a source of lead compounds for drug discovery).

More interestingly, while the number of cases all over India have crossed 90,000, the entire North eastern region of India has only lesser than 300 cases across all the 8 NE States, which could be attributed to the high biodiversity and the practise of consumption of local plants in their daily diets, which have potential anti-viral and immune boosting properties.

This weekly webinar series on “Reimagine Ethnopharmacology” will bring together leaders, policymakers in the common forum, every Saturday, starting at 6-8pm to adjust with the time zone of maximum numbers of countries of the world. There is no registration fee and it is complementary for all who need to join through the specific link.

Further details on the webinar schedule and speakers for the upcoming webinars can be found at ww.ibsd.gov.in

(Akbar Mazid)
Senior Administrative Officer
Institute Of Bioresources & Sustainable Development (IBSD)
Department Of Biotechnology, Government Of India
Takyelpat, Imphal – 795001, Manipur (India)