The Department has vibrant research activities. The individual laboratories are well equipped with the availability of instrumental facilities for practical classes and research work as well. Teachers of the Botany Department are actively engaged in their research work. Research activities have been supported by different funding agencies like UGC, Dept. of Science and Technology (DST), Government of West Bengal etc. About 50 research papers have already been published in National and International journals. Researches in the field of tissue cultures and Plant Biotechnology are being carried out for the rapid clonal propagation and in vitro conservation of different medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) like Ocimum, Cymbopogon etc. More than 9 protocols have been developed for their mass micropropagation for commercial exploitation. Attempts are also being made for screening an isolation of somaclonal variation of different MAPs. Bioactive principles and their antimicrobial effect of different MAPs have also been studied with respect to some selected phytopathogens.
Following resource survey and assessment, an extensive Medico-ethno botanical studies were undertaken recently on different tribal pockets in the district of North 24 Parganas to collect / document unknown and / or uncommon uses of plant resources by the tribesand rural people. Traditional data were collected, in order to make documentation of the MAPs, through Kavirajas, Ojhas and Local Specialists of different ethnic groups of tribal areas.
Regular participation in the National and International as well as State and Regional Conferences by the Departmental Teachers is the rule rather than exception. Apart from teaching and conducting educational trips, teachers are actively participating both in National and International Seminars and Workshops to upgrade and refurbish their knowledge and skill base.
On April 15, 2011, one of the senior most faculty members of the department Dr. Haradhan Saha presented his research paper in the International Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants held in the University of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. He also Chaired one technical session of the Conference and paid visit to the advanced research laboratory (Institute of Pharmacognosy and Botany) to share and interact knowledge with Prof. Ch. Franz, Vienna, Austria on 20th April, 2011 which brought laurels for the Department.
The Department of Botany played key-role , in association with the other Departments of Biological Sciences , in organising a 3-day National level conference on Biodiversity Threats Conservation through traditional and biotechnological approaches sponsored by UGC, CSIR, NABARD and DST, Govt. of West Bengal during 4-6 February,2012. More than 300 participants including distinguished Scientists, Professors, Research Scholars, NGO, Students (both UG PG) actively and fruitfully attended the conference.
Very recently the Department of Botany also organised a one-day seminar on Advances in Enzyme Technology and its Prosect on February 12, 2014. The speaker was Prof. Doukani Koula, Professor of Nature Life Sciences, Ibn- Khaldoun University, Tiaret, Algeria.