West Bengal State University is organizing
“Value-based approaches towards algae and their native ecosystems-a seminar-cum training workshop”
during 17-18th February, 2026, partly funded by the “Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)”, Govt. of India as a Scientific Social Responsibility Policy of ANRF (erstwhile SERB)
Why algal research is gaining more momentum at present day?
Algae, a major inhabitant of aquatic ecosystems and wetlands of earth, are not only invaluable to mankind for their economic importance, known since ages, as they are major producers of many valuable bio-based products, but also, they can serve as major biological indicators for their native ecosystems, aiding in ecological health monitoring. Values of algae under these two major themes are becoming more and more significant under this climate change era. On one hand, the contemporary research on yield of value-based carbon-capture-utilization products from algae can bring impetus to the "Panchamrit" policies as described by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's five-point climate action plan at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. On the other hand, state-of-the art research and training on algal entity involving ecological health monitoring/acting as climate vulnerability indicators, spanning their native ecosystems, could send on-time signals to the scientific community and policy makers about the rapid but cryptic climate change effects.
The major activities to be covered in this seminar cum training workshop are:
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Present-day research on value-based products/carbon-capture-utilization products from algae in India by distinguished experts
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Modern research in India on algae as ecological health monitors and climate vulnerability indicators for native ecosystems by eminent researchers
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State-of-the-art algal cultivation methods to increase the yield of value-based products by distinguished practitioners, industry, start-up scientists
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Training on Technical knowhows followed in above research arena by Early Career Scientists
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Presentations by young researchers to showcase their relevant research
This workshop aims to bring the eminent algal researchers on a same platform to discuss, share and train young researchers about the state-of-the-art technology adopted towards developing value-added products from algae, mass cultivation methods for extraction and isolation of the products, enhance the endeavours in connecting algal research to bioenergy yield and carbon-capture-utilization process, deepen understanding of algae as contributor in sensing surrounding ecosystem vulnerability, using algal members for native ecosystem health monitoring and their ecological significance. Participants will engage with experts while exploring the value-based of algal research and its ecological contexts.
Our experts of the workshop:
Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, University of Delhi
Prof. Ruma Pal, University of Calcutta
Prof. Shashi Kumar, ICGEB, New Delhi
Prof. Vaibhav V. Goud, IIT Guwahati
Prof. Ramkrishna Sen, IIT Kharagpur
Prof. Punyasloke Bhadury, IISER Kolkata
Dr. Karthick Balasubramanian, Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune
Dr. Neera Sen Sarkar, University of Kalyani
Dr. Manikandan B, CSIR-NIO, Goa
Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri, CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar
Dr. Subir Kumar Mandal, CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar
Dr. V. Veeragurunathan, CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar
Prof. Archana Tiwari, Amity University, Noida
Dr. Akanksha Agarwal, AgroMorph Technosolutions Private Limited, Mumbai
Dr. Anwesha Ghosh, IISER Kolkata
Dr. Chandan Mukherjee, Galgotias University, Greater Noida
Dr. Sandip Kumar Basak, Sarat Centenary College, Hooghly, WB
Dr. Krishna Ray, West Bengal State University
Thank You!
Please check the Events page at West Bengal State University Website at this link
We appreciate the wide participation and support from students, researchers, faculties which helps us make this seminar possible. Their commitment to ecological education is invaluable.
Agenda
Day 1
17th February, 2026
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Keynote address: Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Department of Botany, University of Delhi
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First Technical Session: Algal bioproducts, bioenergy and role in carbon capture utilization
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Second Technical Session: Mass Cultivation of algae, seaweeds, biomass utilization
Day 2
18th February, 2026
Third Technical Session:
Algal role in native ecosystem health monitoring, biological indicators of climate vulnerability in associated niches
Fourth Technical Session:
Algae-based Industry, Start-ups, Innovations
Fifth and last Technical Session:
Presentations by participating Early Career Researchers & relevant research training, guidance by young scientists
Who can apply
1. All Bachelor’s and Master’s students interested in the relevant research
2. All Ph.D. researchers interested in the relevant research
3. Any faculty or Researcher interested in similar field
Registration fee:
INR 3000/- for all
Venue: West Bengal State University, Kolkata
Get in Touch
With
Dr. Krishna Ray
Emails:
kray91@gmail.com
krishna@wbsu.ac.in
Please send your application email with your area of research interest and the following application format filled latest within 10th of February, 2026 to Dr Krishna Ray (krishna@wbsu.ac.in; kray91@gmail.com).
Ask for receipt of email to make sure that we have found it in our inbox and follow it up, if needed.
Seminar cum training workshop Application Format
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Applicant’s Name and Title
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Gender (only for statistical purposes. This will not affect choice of participants)
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Position
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Institution
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Postal Address
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E-mail
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Phone Number
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Brief relevant areas of research
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Expected professional impact of your participation
Please indicate how you will disseminate the outcomes of the workshop (in one or two sentences).