Prof. Balakrishna Gowda
Expert
Served at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore from 1977 onwards in various capacities involving in Teaching, Research and Extension activities.
Teaching: served in various capacities in teaching botany, Systematics, developmental biology, ecology and environment.
Established the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science at University of Agriculture Science, Bangalore.
Research: served in various capacities involving in programs of conservation of medicinal plants, conservation of ecosystems, established conservation centers both in-situ and ex-situ centers across southern India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu with focus on medicinal plants and Rare, endangered and threatened plant) from 1977 to 2000.
Associated with rehabilitation work at mined area at Kudremukh Iron ore company 1990-1998
Established 30 in-situ conservation centers across the three states covering all habitat and vegetations types.1992-1995
Worked with Karnataka forest Department, Bangalore in establishing chain of herbal gardens across the state, Studies on establishing Kuvempu biodiversity reserve at Kuppalli, Shimoga district for Karnataka Forest Department, Bangalore
during 1998
Associated with Karnataka Forest Department and developed Karnataka Biodiversity Information System (RS&GIS based) during 2000
Served as a major partner in developing RS & GIS based vegetation maps for western ghats of Karnataka and Niligiri district of Tamil Nadu as well as Little Andaman Islands of Andaman and Nicobar region with ISRO-NRSA Hyderabad and IRS, Dehradun.1999-2002
Established first Biofuel Park for the country at Hassan with the support of Government of Karnataka
Drafted the Biofuel Policy of Karnataka during 2006-2007, which eventually adopted by the state and in force, also became the base for the National Biofuel policy.
Worked with United nations organization (ICRAF-World Agroforestry center) in expanding the biofuel program to Africa, South America, Nepal and South east Asia-Indonesia)
Member of Steering Committee on Biofuels for ICRAF.
Extension:
Established a strong farmer-Institutional relationship during conservation activities and biofuels program development, participated in over 3000 training programs, formation of farmers associations (472), developing smokeless villages using conventional gobar gas units in 7 villages of Hassan district.
Participated in more than 28 radio talks and about 15 door darshan programs for dissemination of knowledge on medicinal plants, biofuels, biofuel value chain and conservation activities.
Profession:
University Professor and held following positions
Dean, College of Agriculture, Hassan, UAS, Bangalore December 2015 -2017
Professor and Coordinator, Head Biofuel Park 9th February, 2007- 2017
Professor, Forestry and Environmental Science February, 2003 – 2017
Professor and Head, Department of FES, Division of Horticulture, UAS, Bangalore July 2004 to October 2004
Associate Professor and Head of FES department January 200 to 2003
Project coordinator, Conservation of Medicinal plants in South India, DANIDA Program April 1993 to March 1995
Faculty, Department of Botany, UAS, Bangalore (Instructor, Assistant Professor) January 1981 to March, 1999
UGC Fellow, Department of Botany, UAS, Bangalore November 1977 to January1981
Outstanding Recognitions and Awards (International / national/ State/ Institutional)
a. Invited by ENI Awards, -2014, Sweden- presentation of the work published by us on design and development of Polypropylene based trans-esterification unit
b. Recognized by IFAD/ICRAF as a Star partner in taking Karnataka Biofuel Model to the tropical world.
c. Training group leader - Kirk house trust -UK
d. Development of Biofuel Plantations and Biofuel Park 2006-07
e. Best Poster Award- Leslie Coleman Memorial national Symposium 2008
f. DST-FIST Certificate of Merit 2006 – 28 lakh
g. Best Stall award Mysore Dasara exhibition- 2010
h. Expert Lecture Award- 2011
i. Certificate of merit for achievement in research and development, UAS 2003
j. Certificate of merit for achievement in research and development, UAS 2005.
k. Certificate of merit for achievement in research and development, UAS 2006.
l. Best Stall Award – 2011 – Rashtriya Krishi Mela
m. Obtained the best institution State award from Karnataka state Pollution Control Board during 2012 for promotion of green energy in UAS campuses and development of models
Work experience:
Total Years of Experience: 40 years;
Worked as a teaching faculty of Department of Forestry and environment Science (started as Department o f Botany during 1977 and Department of Forestry and Environmental Science in 1998)
Experience of working on the statutory authorities Systems:
1. Worked as Project Coordinator in Ministry of Environment and Forest supported DANIDA project on Medicinal plants conservation in? South India with NGO organization FRLHT Headed by Mr. Sam Pitroda and Governing council headed by Sri. T.N.Seshan, IAS during 1993-95
2. Established chain of conservation centers in Karnataka called as Medicinal plants conservation areas – 13 areas in the state during 1990- 1996.
3. Established chain of herb gardens in the state with Karnataka State Forest Department
4. RS and GIS based vegetation map developed for Karnataka and part of Tamil Nadu with NRSA-ISRO and IRS Dehradun.
5. Developed Karnataka Biodiversity Information System (KBIS) 2000
6. Expert committee member of the Indian Patents office from 2004 till date on the Geographic indications Registry.
7. Presented Eleven cases of Horticulture and Agriculture importance crops got the Geographical Indications registry.
8. Member, Task force on Biofuels, Government of Karnataka from 2008-2010.
9. Member - Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board, Govt. of Karnataka from 2010 to 2013.
10. Member, Committee on Agro- biodiversity with Karnataka State Biodiversity Board 2012 onwards.
11. Expert member on the review Committee on Biofuels for Govt. of Orissa
12. Member- Task force on “Development of DUS descriptors” - Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, govt. of India -2014 onwards
Details of Experience working with international bodies or international exposure through participation in workshop, seminars or conference held outside the country
Sl. No. Name of International Body Nature of Experience Period
1 Twente University,
Netherlands
Research on biofuels & new research program for WOTRO Funding August 2009
2 Barthel and Barthel- German Homeopathy, Munich, Germany Research collaboration on introduction of new plants to Homeopathy system August, 2009
3 Florida International University, Miami, USA Major collaboration program on USDA research funding for students March-April, 2011
4. UNFCC Meeting on Climate Change, BONN, Germany Invitation to participate in the delegation from ICRAF/India June 2013
5. ICRAF, Nairobi (UN organization) Science Week at ICRAF as invited speaker on Biofuel models from India September 2013
6 ICRAF, Nariobi(UN Organization) Steering committee meeting for Biofuels program of IFAD-ICRAF September 2014
7 Bioenergy center, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, BRAZIL Steering committee meeting for Biofuels program of IFAD-ICRAF September 2015
PUBLICATIONS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMME
Research Paper in National/international Journal 64
Research reports/ Technical Documents 11
Workshop / Seminar / Symposia Proceedings 39
Popular Articles 09
Extension Bulletin 10
Books 07
Training Manuals 6
Radio/TV Talks 43
Skills:
Botanist with experience in identification of plants, their ecology and conservation aspects in assessing the importance of the species of value and for ecosystem stability
Vegetation studies and analysis for analyzing the importance of ecosystems and its components
Conservation strategies – restoration of species, ecological adaptation of species etc. Based on the developmental behaviors)
Education and Training:
B.Sc. 1974 Bangalore University, Bangalore
M.Sc. Botany 1977 Central College, Bangalore University, Bangalore
Ph.D. Botany 1996 Gulbarga University, Gulbarga
Advanced Training in Molecular Biology 2004-2006 Kirk House Trust, UK /UAS, Bangalore
Hobbies:
Reading, Photography, Trekking, tracing the history of the region and relating to the environment with focus on vegetation. Developing appropriate tools for farmers value addition.