Central University of Punjab organized celebrated International Fossil Day 2021

Bathinda, October 21, 2021: Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) under the patronage of Vice Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari organized a special lecture on “Microfossil groups: their utilities in geological studies” to celebrate the International Fossil Day, 2021. The Department of Geology, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Central University of Punjab and Paleontological Society of India (PSI), Lucknow jointly organized the event.  The distinguished resource person was Prof. P. K. Kathal, Department of Applied Geology, Director Institute of Distance Education, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar, MP. 
In the special lecture, Prof. P. K. Kathal highlighted the major applications of microfossils in the field of oil exploration, paleoclimate, paleo-environment, ocean evolution, sequence stratigraphy and forensic studies. He narrated about the role of microfossils in various ongoing Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP), etc.  For students, resource person explained the different groups of microfossils, their habitats, characteristics and applications in geological studies. Furthermore, the interrelationship of climate change with the palynological records was discussed.
Program started with welcome address by Dr. Jitendra Kumar Pattanaik, Head, Department of Geology. Dr. V. P. Mishra, Secretary, PSI, and former DDG, GSI, briefed about the International Fossil Day celebration. In his speech, he emphasized on preservation and protection of fossil sites in India for future generations. Dr. K. Milankumar Sharma, introduced the distinguished resource person and Dr. K. Krishnakanta Singh, Department of Geology proposed the formal vote of thanks. Several faculty members, research scholars and students of CUPB and other institutions across the country attended the virtual meet.