More than 200 scientists attended the seminar. Twenty scientists from the fields of soil sciences, agronomy, pathology, entomology, molecular biology, biotechnology, plant breeding and nanotechnology attended the two-week training course on High Resolution Imaging.

Course Coordinator Dr VR Parshad said that expert lectures and hand-on experience on sample preparation and use of advanced imaging techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy besides conventional technique using phase contrast/ bright & dark field microscopy were held.

Participants were provided with an opportunity to process and image their own research materials.

Dr Parshad said that eminent scientists in the field of nano-science including Dr P S Datta, Project Director, NRL, Delhi; Dr I D Garg, Head, Plant Protection, CPRI, Shimla; Dr N D Kang, Head, Betty Cowen Research and Innovation Center, CMC, Ludhiana, Dr B K Kanungo, Dean, R & D, SLIET, Longowal and Senior Scientists from PAU including Dr Mrs R K Parshad, Dr V K Gupta, Dr V K Dilawari, Dr V K Kaul, Dr R C Setia, Dr S S Gosal, Dr S S Mukhopadhyay, Dr Ravinder Kaur, Dr Abhishek Sharma, Dr Neena Singla and Dr Anu Kalia took part in the deliberations.

Dr G S Chahal, Dean of College of Agriculture, PAU, was the chief guest at the concluding function. He gave certificates to the participants. He added that the strengthening of the Nanoscience lab at PAU is a beginning, and it would be further developed for making imaging techniques an integral part of agricultural research.

From amongst the participant trainees, Dr Subramanaiam of TNAU, Coimbatore expressed that the training was amongst the best programmes. He congratulated PAU in taking a lead in establishing latest infrastructure in HRI, a perfect blend of theory and practicals, without any undue crowding of its components. He also expressed the need for involvement of industry, for full optimal utilization of potentials of EM lab.