Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) hosted Dr Urmil Bansal, a distinguished wheat molecular geneticist from the University of Sydney, Australia for an academic visit to the School of Agricultural Biotechnology (SAB) from November 24 to December 8, 2025. The visit was organized under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
During her visit, Dr Bansal delivered lectures on gene characterization, gene mapping, and cloning, while also addressing the challenges associated with achieving durable disease resistance in wheat. Her interactive sessions encouraged discussions on emerging trends in wheat genomics, offering valuable perspectives to both students and faculty. In addition to lectures, Dr Bansal conducted demonstrations on advanced mapping software and engaged closely with wheat scientists from various PAU departments.
The PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal stated that visits from eminent scientists like Dr Bansal enhanced the university’s international visibility and equipped the students and the faculty with critical skills and global perspectives.
Dr MIS Gill, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, and Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, under whose guidance the project was conceptualized, commended the department for strengthening PAU’s global scientific engagement.
Dr Satinder Kaur, Principal Investigator (PI) of the SPARC project, emphasized that the initiative aimed to enhance academic and research partnerships between India and Australia by facilitating direct engagement with global experts.
Dr Parveen Chhuneja, National Professor and Co-PI of the project, highlighted that the visit would deepen institutional collaborations and open avenues for joint research initiatives.
Dr Yogesh Vikal, Director of SAB, oversaw visit’s logistics and noted that such international exchanges significantly enriched the academic environment by providing high-quality learning opportunities.