Distinguished talk by Professor Raghavendra Gadgkar 

Chandigarh, February 28, 2024: To celebrate the National Science Day, Indian Science Congress Association (Chandigarh Chapter) in association with the Department of Zoology and Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh organized a distinguished talk by Professor Raghavendra Gadgkar, an eminent scientist at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. The title of talk was "What We Can Learn from Insect Societies". 

Professor Gadgakar is a recipient of ‘Bhatnagar Award’ in 1993 and ‘Cross of the Order of Merit’ by Germany in 2015. His research areas mainly focus on the evolution ofsocial behavior using eusocial insects like wasp (Ropalidia marginata). 

In his lecture, he highlighted his studies on insect societies and by giving several examples emphasized that we can discover several parallels with human societies to gain deeper appreciation for the diversity of the life on our planet. He stressed upon various studies wherein instances from the insect societies were used to develop a number of technologies and algorithms related to agriculture, communication, and robotics. He also explained the fundamental principles at work in insect societies involving cooperation, collective decision (democracy) and conflict resolution etc. 

Prof. R.C. Sobti, former Vice-chancellor, PU, Chandigarh and BBAU, Lucknow, Dr. Y. K. Rawal, Chairperson, Department of Zoology, Dr. Jagdish Rai, Chairperson, Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, dignitaries, faculty members and more than 100 students were present during occasion.