Bikaner Interdisciplinary Research Consortium (BIRC)

Objectives of the Practice: In 2005 a new concept of Interdisciplinary research has been started in the Govt Dungar college Bikaner in terms of BIRC. Motives of the BIRC
  1. To develop a Centre for excellence in the field of research and development  and to provide a common platform to scientists and academicians from different branches of science and technology
  2. To develop interdisciplinary scientific approach in order to solve the problem.
  3. To investigate the potential utilization of desert land and resources for the sustainable development
  4. To motivate students for the development of interdisciplinary approach and attitude towards the solution of problems of the present era
  5. To develop novel and exotic composites and Green technologies which are need of the present society.
  6. To inculcate the spirit and culture of research amongst faculty and students.
  7. To enhance interaction and cooperation between researchers for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work. 
  8. To forge academic and research collaborations with national and international universities, government agencies and industries.
  9. To establish links with various R&D organizations and funding agencies for sponsored and contract research. 
  10. To take up problems faced by local industry and provide solutions to them.
 The Context
It is believed that modern days research can not be of high quality until unless it is a combined effort from different disciplines where a specialized researchers can not only provide his/her expertise to solve the problem but can also peep into other areas with a new and different dimension to address the issue.  The BIRC comprises of faculty members from various departments of the institute provides this opportunity  and a forum for interdisciplinary research and or interfaculty research and discussions. It also helps to organize research promotion events like conferences, seminars, workshops, invited lectures, webinars etc.  which can motivate young students and faculty members for doctoral and post doctoral research further also encourage students and faculty to undertake research projects in thrust areas in science and technology with funding from various national and international agencies. 
 
The Practice
To fulfill above motives, a novel concept designed by founder members and applied first time in the institution of Rajasthan, they have identified their major areas of research. Initially researchers from three departments i.e. Physics, Chemistry and Botany were involved later on Researchers from Geology and Zoology have also started working.
The work process is being performed as –
  1. Identification of the Problem
  2. Finding possibility of interdisciplinary research if required
  3. Project designing
  4. Implementation at pilot scale
  5. Initially following three projects were started (a) Green composites (b) Nanocomposites
 Beneficiaries
  1. Students of PG, Research scholars
  2. Faculty
  3. Institution
  4. Society / environment
Present work with Topics

S.N.

Names

Field

1

Dr. N. Bhojak & Dr. R. Mangal  

Green Composites and nanotechnology

2

Dr. A.K. Sharma, Dr. Partap Singh, Dr. M.C. Mali, Dr. Anil Arora & Dr. Sumanlata Tripathi

Biodiversity and sustainable development

3

Dr. R. Mangal, Dr. G.P. Singh, Dr. Smita Sharma, Dr. S.K. Verma and Dr. Uma Rathore

Experimental designing for Learning by Doing demonstrations

4

Dr. Shishir Sharma, Dr. B.L. Sharma, Dr. H.S. Bhandari and Dr. N. Bhojak

Ceramic Technology and use of ceramic waste

 

5

Dr. Meera Srivastava, Dr. Deepti Srivastava and Dr. N. Bhojak

Green extractions and their applications as pesticidial formulations

 

 

Evidence of Success

 Achievements

  1. Motivated students and young faculty members to present interdisciplinary research during conferences, seminars, workshops etc. More than twenty students presented their research work during conferences and few of them have been awarded.
  2. Industrial collaboration has not only enriched knowledge but has also opened job avenues for students.
  3. Green composites and learning by doing presented during Edufest-Jaipur in 2017 it was well appreciated by Honorable Central Minister Shri Prakash Javedekar and Honorable Minister Higher education Mrs Kiran Maheswari
  4. Green composites and learning by doing presented during Suraj Mela at Bikaner and awarded as First prize
  5. Green composites has been demonstrated as a research papers by students who has been awarded best poster award during National conferences.

 
 

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Initially it was difficult to involve people from different disciplines at college level hence it was started with a very small group from three departments. Later all science department become the part of it and now social science departments and even languages have also initiated to work on this model.

Future work

 

  1. Preparation of Biocomposites and Green Ceramics
  2. Identification of Desert flora and fauna for sustainable development of Biodiversity.
  3. Development of Green chemical Biotechnology
  4. Preparation of magnetically induced silica based nanocomposites from the desert soil/sand.
  5. Utilization of ceramic waste for water purification
  6. Development of Herbal formulations for paste control