The Indian Fern Society in collaboration with Mansarovar Global University, Bhopal, proposes to have its 17th symposium, Nov. 25-27, 2022. The brochure of the symposium can be obtained from Prof. S.P.Khullar (sp.khullar@gmail.com).

An International Symposium
The 16th Symposium of the Indian Fern Society
“Research in Pteridology- Priorities and Challenges”
was held at Calicut University, Calicut from March 22-24, 2022.
A three day International symposium was organized at Calicut University, Calicut. one hundred researchers on Pteridophytes from India and abroad participated. The Presidential address was by Prof. V. Irudayaraj. He spoke upon “Research in Pteridology”. The Keynote address “Life with a passion for ferns” was presented by Prof.S.P.Khullar . A Memorial Lecture “ Remembering Professor B.K.Nayar was presented by Prof. P.V.Madhusoodanan.
Foreiogn lectures were by: (1). Prof. Klaus Mehltreter (Mexico) on ‘A Panorama of fern-insect interactions’; (2). Prof. H. Schneider (Yunnan) on “Evolution of fern genomes”; (3) Dr. S. Fawcett ICalifornia) spoke on “ A Taxonomic revision of the fern family Thelypteridaceae based on morphological and a 600-taxon phylogenetic dataset”; Ptof. R.H.G. Ranil (Sri Lanka) on “Conservation of fern flora: Challenges and Strategies:
Amongst the Invited lectures; Prof. H.K.Goswami on “Long term studies on variations within a population of a genus and search for chromosomal and biological explanations leads to fundamental discoveries. 1. Isoetes pantii genome has revealed evolutionary strategies” .
\Prof. Punetha delivered on “{ On the phyllorhize theory as expounded by Prof. Nayar: evidence from agamosporous ferns. Prof. P.L.Uniyal “ Perspectives in the study of Pteridophytes. Dr. B.S.Kholia “Phytogeography of Indian Pteridophytes”; Dr. A. Benniamin “ Intraspecific variation of Pteridophytes from the Western Ghats”; Prof. N. Goswami “Ferrns for all: A multilingual prototypic application for Botanical knowledge dissemination; Prof. Smitha Hegde “I.F.Y-floral meristem gene in non-flowering and flowering plants”.
The Gold Medal Award Lecture was “A comparative statistical evaluation on ethnobotanical uses of pteridophytes in Rarh region of West Bengal.
Future Scientist Award Section had 11 speakers. The Oral presentations were in six sections:
Section 1 was Systematics, Anatomy and Palynology (10 abstracts; Section 2 Phytogeography, Distribution and Endemism (8 abstracts); Section 3 Biotechnology, Bioprospecting and Bioactivity (3 abstracts); Section 4Physiology and Ecology (4 abstracts) Section 5 Cytology and Molecular studies (3 abstracts; Section 67 Ethnobotany and Pharmacognosy (1) and For Poster presentations (20) abstracts.
In the General Body meeting Awards of the Society were announced.
HONORARY FELLOWS:
PROF. (Dr.) M.K. JAYARAJ, V.C. Calicut University
Dr. JUSTIN MOHAN, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, Chenai
HONORARY MEMBERS
Dr. ARINDAM BHATTACHARYA
Prof. P. PATHAK, Chandigarh
FELLOWS
Prof. JOS T. PUTHER
Prof. SMITHA HEGDE
Dr. SATISH PATIL
LIFE TIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD
PROF. MUKESH SETH, (Posthumously)
GOLD MEDAL
Dr. SOMA SUKUL
Dr. JESU BALAN
Dr. BHAGAT SINGH
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Dr. RAJU ANTONY
Mrs. UTSHA GHOSAL
Dr. K.P.RAJESH
Dr. NANDITA PAL
Miss SONE JOSHI
Mr. SUNIL JOSHI
Mr. SAFEER AHMED
The Executive Council and the Editorial Board members for 2022 were announced. The Society expressed its thanks for donations from: 1. Prof. V. Irudayaraj, Tirunelveli Rs 10,000/- + Rs 2300/- = Rs12,300/- 2. Dr. Satish Patil, Kolhapur, Rs 5000/- 3. Prof. S.P.Khullar Rs 3000/-
4. DR. B.S.Kholia, Dehra Dun Rs 10,000/-