Indian Botanical Society

Indian Botanical Society
Name	Indian Botanical Society
Abbreviation	IBS
Formation	1910
Founder	Sir George King
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Kolkata
Location	India
Region served	India
Language	English
Leader title	President

Indian Botanical Society The Indian Botanical Society is a learned society established in 1910 to promote the study of Botany across the Indian subcontinent, with historical roots in colonial-era institutions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Calcutta scientific circles, and professional networks linking London and Kolkata. The Society has interacted with major scientific bodies including the Indian Science Congress Association, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and universities such as University of Calcutta and Banaras Hindu University. Its activities have influenced botanical research at institutions like the Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah and collaborations with international organizations including the Royal Society, Smithsonian Institution, and Botanical Society of America.

History

The Society was founded in 1910 by leading figures connected to the Indian Museum, Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, and civil service botanists who had affiliations with Kew Gardens and the Imperial Forest Service. Early members included botanists trained at Cambridge University, Oxford University, and medical schools such as Netley Hospital alumni who served in colonial botanical surveys tied to the East India Company legacy. Throughout the 20th century the Society engaged with institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and regional universities such as Panjab University and Andhra University. Post-independence, the Society broadened contacts with organizations including the University Grants Commission, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and international programs run by the Food and Agriculture Organization and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Objectives and Activities

The Society's objectives include the advancement of systematic botany, plant physiology, and applied plant sciences through liaison with entities such as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for radiation-biology studies, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research for biophysical approaches, and agricultural stations like Cochin Research Station. Activities encompass promoting research at centers like Jawaharlal Nehru University, fostering herbarium development at facilities including the Kew Herbarium network and the Central National Herbarium, and supporting field surveys with agencies like the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and regional botanical gardens such as Lal Bagh and Sanjay Gandhi National Park conservation units. The Society also interacts with environmental bodies including Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and non-governmental organizations like World Wide Fund for Nature in India.

Publications

The Society publishes a peer-reviewed journal which disseminates studies on taxonomy, phytochemistry, and ecology, drawing submissions from researchers at Indian Institute of Science, University of Madras, Pondicherry University, and international contributors from University of Oxford, Harvard University, and University of Tokyo. Monographs and proceedings have included floristic accounts linked to surveys by the Botanical Survey of India, checklists comparable to those of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and special issues in collaboration with publishers associated with Cambridge University Press and Springer Nature. The Society's bulletin and newsletter reach members at institutions such as Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, and regional colleges affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Conferences and Meetings

The Society organizes annual meetings, symposia, and sectional conferences often hosted by universities including University of Calcutta, Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, and research institutes such as Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune. These gatherings have featured keynote lectures by scholars from Royal Society, National Academy of Sciences, USA, and participants from botanical congresses like the International Botanical Congress. The Society has convened thematic workshops on topics relevant to agencies such as the World Health Organization for medicinal-plant research, and has held joint meetings with societies like the Mycological Society of India and the Indian Society of Plant Physiology.

Membership and Organizational Structure

Membership comprises academics, researchers, curators, and students affiliated with institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IISc Bangalore, Aligarh Muslim University, and botanical gardens like Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden. The governance includes an elected President, Secretary, and Executive Council with representation from regional centers including Assam Agricultural University, North Eastern Hill University, and University of Madras. The Society maintains liaison committees with national bodies such as the Indian Council of Medical Research and international partners including the International Association for Plant Taxonomy.

Research Contributions and Collaborations

Research promoted by the Society spans taxonomy, ethnobotany, plant biotechnology, and conservation biology, with contributory work from laboratories at Central Drug Research Institute, National Botanical Research Institute, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and field programs coordinated with Wildlife Institute of India. Collaborative projects have linked to international programs at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Missouri Botanical Garden, Botanic Garden Meise, and university centers such as University of California, Berkeley. The Society has supported floras and checklists for regions like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Western Ghats, Eastern Himalaya, and cooperative conservation initiatives with bodies such as Convention on Biological Diversity signatories.

Awards and Recognitions

The Society confers medals and awards recognizing contributions to plant sciences, honoring researchers associated with institutions like Indian Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, University of Calcutta, and national laboratories such as CSIR. Recipients have included botanists who later received national honors such as the Padma Shri and fellowships from academies including the Indian National Science Academy and the National Academy of Sciences, India. The Society's awards have been presented at convocation events held jointly with universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University and research councils such as the Department of Biotechnology.

Category:Scientific societies based in India