Nisarg Nature Club

A competition was organized on the usage of eco-friendly products in a form of rakhi making and Ganesh Idol making competition on 10th August 2022. A brochure and other details of the event were circulated amongst students and faculty members in prior. In total, 25 students participated in the Rakhi making competition and 5 students participated in Ganesh Idol making competition. The total duration given to all the participants was one hour within which they had to submit their products. To evaluate the competition, we had asked three distinguished faculties from the Department of Microbiology, Dr. Geeta Narayan, Dr. Selina Shah and Dr. Mrunalini Sambhare to judge both the events. After their critical assessment, we had come up with three winners in both the categories who will be awarded with the certificates. The objective of the event was to achieve more awareness through the “Go Green” products. Very good response was received from the participants.

An awareness drive on ozone day was organized on 16th October 2022 by Nisarg Nature club of Mithibai College. A brochure was circulated among different groups of students and faculties regarding the event on previous day for better participation. Student volunteers of Nature club prepared a power point presentation which included the points regarding prevention of ozone depletion. The presentation was shown to students of different classes including the faculties. The objective of the drive was to promote the importance of Ozone day, create awareness among people about the ozone layer, its importance and depletion. To make them understand the effects of ozone depletion. Search possible solutions for preservation or attain adequate measures to overcome this problem and promote day to day changes that could help save the environment.

Orientation programme for First Year student members of the ‘Nisarg Nature Club’ was conducted on 04/10/2022, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at Juhu Jagruti Hall, Mithibai College. There were 79 student members along with all the faculty members of the Nature club present for orientation programme. At the outset Mr. Bicheesh Balan welcomed the faculty members of nature club and students giving a brief idea about nature club and its commitments and how it has been working from the past 12 years towards making students of Mithibai College environmentally aware and environment friendly. He also mentioned about the Environmental science course being made mandatory for all undergraduate students by UGC, highlighting the need of the hour. Followed by that, every faculty member in-charge of each programme gave the student members a brief idea about the tentative programme dates and its objective with the help of power point presentation. The activities proposed for this academic year 22-23 are tree plantation, nature trails, bottle garden and terrarium workshop, photography competition, to name a few. Student members were encouraged to come forward and participate in large number in various activities to help us achieve a grand success in spreading environmental awareness. Outcome: Orientation program emphasized how every member could make a conscious effort to preserve mother earth. Students came forward with newer ideas about programmes and events to bring more awareness about environmental issues.

Nature Trail to Sanjay Gandhi National Park was conducted on On 8th October 2022 by Dr. Vaishnavi More, Dr. Meeta Mathur, Dr. Akanksha Rane. The prime objective was to sensitize the students towards nature and impart conservation planning. Going on a nature walk and deliberately noticing things encouraged students to observe with all their senses, and learn to focus their attention and take in the details of flora and fauna around them. It was a peaceful, reflective experience for the students. Especially with the younger crowd, learning really should start out with things in their immediate environment. The students learned and listed 35 plants in SGNP, enjoyed the serene nature and unwinded from the hustle and bustle of day to day life. The students also interacted with Ex-students of Botany working in SGNP- Ms. Sakshi, Mr. Naman & Ms. Masira.

With the objective of introducing the participants to fascinating forms of marine life, so that not only do they appreciate the wonders of nature but also will be motivated to contribute towards its conservation, the Nisarg Nature Club had organised a ‘Marine Walk’ at Juhu Koliwada, on Thursday, 24th November 2022 from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm. A total of 26 students from diverse subject backgrounds had participated in this program escorted by 2 staff members i.e. T. V. Bicheesh Balan from Dept. of Zoology and Ms. Taqdis Pawle from the Dept. of Mathematics. The group were given instructions in the UG lab of Mithibai college and it was decided to meet at a designated spot at Juhu Koliwada shore. Accordingly, the participants assembled there and the marine walk started around 4.30 pm with an introduction to marine life and their significance. With the receding tide, they walked in the seaward direction, observing the diverse forms of marine life, many of which greatly fascinated the participants. The important sightings included molluscans like Umbonium, Trochus, Turbo, Bivalves, Cowries etc. Egg masses of Squids, Spiral melongena, Nassarius etc were also seen. Soft coral sea fan belonging to the genus Pseudopterogorgia and hard coral like Cladangia exusta were also observed besides sponges, marine algae, crabs, Eels fishes etc. The program concluded around 6.00 pm with a group photo session. It was a fruitful experience for the participants.