University of Jammu students gain experiential learning during two-day Environmental Sciences field visit to Amritsar

JAMMU: The Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, successfully organized a two-day educational field trip for the students of M.Sc. 1st and 3rd Semesters. The tour aimed to provide experiential learning and practical exposure to the students in the domains of landscape ecology, environmental and cultural heritage, and conservation education.

The students embarked on their journey from the University of Jammu to Attari-Wagah Border, exploring the landscape ecology of the Punjab Plains enroute, with special emphasis on modern agricultural transformation and its ecological implications. The journey provided an excellent opportunity for students to observe and analyse the agrarian ecosystems of Punjab, including insights into prevailing cropping patterns, irrigation practices, and harvesting techniques.

Discussions during field observations focused on the ecological consequences of intensive agriculture, land-use changes, and the importance of sustainable farming approaches. In the evening, the students attended the Retreat Ceremony at the Attari-Wagah Border, an inspiring display of national pride and Indo-Pak border security coordination.

During the subsequent day, students visited the Golden Temple, Amritsar, where they experienced the religious and cultural heritage of Punjab and later explored the Golden Temple Museum to understand its historical and spiritual significance. The group then visited Jallianwala Bagh, revisiting the tragic yet inspiring chapter of India’s freedom struggle.

The day continued with a rigorous academic visit to the Botanical Garden of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, where students studied the plant diversity and ecological layout of the vast garden. This was followed by an interactive session at the Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, GNDU, where the students visited various research and instrumentation laboratories and engaged in academic discussions with professors and research scholars, gaining valuable insights into current research trends and environmental challenges.

The educational trip was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Deepika Slathia, Head of the Department, with Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Associate Professor, serving as the teacher-in-charge. The students were also accompanied and mentored throughout the trip by other faculty members of the department viz., Prof. Piyush Malaviya, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Dr. Anshu Gupta, and Dr. Suresh Kumar.

The tour proved to be a highly enriching academic experience, combining environmental learning with cultural and historical exposure, thereby strengthening the students’ understanding of the interconnections between ecology, heritage, and sustainable development.