Krishnagar Women’s College

About the Department

A Brief Introduction

The Department of Chemistry at Krishnagar Women's College has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1965, initially offering Under Graduate general level courses. In 2010, the department embarked on a new journey with the introduction of its Honors course, featuring an extended fee structure to cater to aspiring students. Transitioning towards modern pedagogical practices, the college embraced the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) in 2018, replacing the old annual examination system. Notably, since the academic year 2023-24, the department has adopted the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), implementing a 4-year Under Graduate course - B.Sc. (Major), aligning with contemporary educational reforms and ensuring holistic academic development. In this system, alongside Chemistry, students have the opportunity to delve into related disciplines such as Physics and Mathematics, complemented by compulsory subjects like Bengali or English. Furthermore, Environmental Studies is integrated into the curriculum, enriching students' understanding of interdisciplinary concepts.A brief overview of the teaching and non-teaching staff in the department is presented below:

Involvement in Research Activities:

Faculty members of the Chemistry Department have been actively engaged in research, contributing to various peer-reviewed journals and consistently enhancing their academic expertise through high-quality publications. One of the recent highlights includes a pioneering review paper published in Materials Today Chemistry (Impact Factor: 6.7), titled "Green Biomass-Derived Porous Carbon Materials for Electrical Double-Layer Capacitors (EDLCs)," showcasing innovative work in the field of sustainable materials for energy storage applications.

Additionally, Smt. Nabanita De contributed a significant paper titled "Nano Urea and Its Superiority Over Urea as Fertilizer Elaborating Some Applications - An Overview," published in the International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology (Impact Factor: 8.451). This paper explores the advantages of nano urea over conventional urea as a more efficient fertilizer, offering valuable insights into its potential applications in agriculture.

Beyond publishing, faculty members have actively participated in a range of national and international seminars, conferences, and workshops, continually advancing their research knowledge and fostering collaborations within the global scientific community.

Infrastructure of Department:

In addition to the assigned classroom, the department presently possesses three laboratories: an Organic Lab measuring 8.84 meters by 6.43 meters, an Inorganic Lab measuring 9.45 meters by 5.79 meters, and a Physical Lab measuring 5.79 meters by 2.44 meters. Additionally, there's a Store cum Balance Room measuring 4.57 meters by 4.26 meters. Unfortunately, insufficient space in the laboratories hampers our ability to maintain instruments in proper order. The chemistry laboratory has been upgraded with state-of-the-art infrastructure in alignment with the new education policy (NEP 2020). Additionally, the classroom in B-Block has been enhanced with the installation of a power point projector. The Departmental staff room is furnished with three Desktops equipped with internet access. In the near future, there are plans in place to renovate the chemistry staff room.

Financial Assistance Received by the Students:

At Krishnagar Women's College, particularly in the Chemistry Department, many students benefit from government-sponsored financial assistance programs like the Kanyashree Scholarship and the Vivekananda Scholarship. These initiatives aim to support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by providing stipends and covering educational expenses. The Kanyashree Scholarship focuses on empowering female students by reducing dropout rates, while the Vivekananda Scholarship offers aid to students from marginalized communities, helping them pursue higher education. These financial aids ensure that students can continue their studies without financial strain, fostering a more inclusive academic environment and enabling them to achieve their academic and career goals.

National Seminar Organised by the Department:

The Department of Chemistry successfully organized a UGC-sponsored two-day National Seminar in collaboration with the University of Kalyani on 28^th and 29^th September 2013. The seminar featured various sessions focusing on the latest advancements in the field of Chemistry, with experts from across the country sharing their insights and research findings. The event provided an excellent platform for students, faculty, and researchers to engage in meaningful discussions and exchange ideas.

Teaching Methods Adopted to Improve Student Learning:

• Demonstrations using models and experiments to facilitate practical understanding.
• A combination of blackboard and ICT-enabled teaching methods.
• Hands-on experience with Chem-Draw software and internet resources.
• Digital classes conducted via WebEx, Google Meet, and Google Classroom since April 2020 due to the pandemic.
• Regular sessions with subject experts and eminent professors from various institutions and universities to update students on the latest developments in the field.
• Classroom seminars where students actively participate in presenting topics.
• A well-equipped library with a diverse collection of books for both students and faculty.
• The "Science Academies' Lecture Workshop" held at Krishnagar Government College in January 2019, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table. The workshop focused on advanced chemistry topics, with students from the Department of Chemistry, Krishnagar Women's College, participating and winning the "Best Poster" prize (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.Certificate of Participation and Best Poster Award in the Science Academies' Lecture Workshop

(i) Active student participation in national and regional seminars, workshops, quiz contests, and webinars organized by the college and other institutions(Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Prizes and awards received by our students

Participation in Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR) and Extension Activities:

• (a) Involvement of students in blood donation camp.
• (b) Active participation for various environmental issues.
• (c) Students occasionally participate in the national and college level webinar,workshop, quizcontest.
• (d) Students perform their field study on Environmental Studies (ENVS) as a part of their course curriculum.
• (e) Students actively participate in educational tours each year. In 2022, they visited the Department of Chemistry, KU, followed by a tour to the Rural Water Supply plant in Krishnagar. In 2023, they visited Emcee Pharma at Kalyani Industrial Estate, and in 2024, they explored Science City, Kolkata, gaining practical exposure to various scientific phenomena relevant to their studies (Fig. 3).

Fig.3.Educational tour to (a) University of Kalyani in 2022, (b-c) Rural Water Supply (RSW) Plant, Krishnagar in 2022, (d-e) Emcee Pharma at Kalyani Industrial Estate in 2023, West Bengal, and (f) Science City, Kolkata in 2024

As a part of the syllabus in theory to show few instruments to the students like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy (Fig 4).

Fig.4. Students are in UV/Visible Spectroscopy Laboratory

(f) Every year the students organize Departmental Fresher’s Welcome Ceremony, celebrate Teachers’ Day (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.Departmental Fresher’s Welcome Ceremony

(g) The students publish their wall magazine in every year

(h) The Department of Chemistry observes the National Science Day in commemoration of Dr. C V Raman (Fig. 6).

Fig.6. National Science Day Celebration

(i) The students of end semester students participate in the student seminar in every year (Fig. 7).

Fig.7. Student Seminar

Strengths:

• Students who are regular, attentive, and disciplined contribute to making classroom teaching enjoyable for teachers and effective for learners
• The faculty-to-student ratio is favorable, ensuring that there are enough teachers to provide individual attention and support to students
• The department is well-equipped, with modern laboratory facilities and instruments
• Both teaching and non-teaching staff are committed to the department, with teachers actively encouraging students to participate in co-curricular activities for their overall development
• Mentor-mentee relationship is very strong

Weaknesses:

• Absence of permanentlaboratory attendant to assist with day-to-day operations and ensure safety
• Limited scope for hiring experts or professionals to keep students updated with the latest developments in the field of chemistry
• Shortage of classrooms limits the ability to effectively schedule and conduct theory classes for all students

OPPORTUNITIES:

• The district being large having huge rural population the department has a capability to attract many meritorious students from the district as well as from its neighboring areas.
• Offers opportunities to students to undertake to practical training in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries in neighboring districts of Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata.
• Career counseling to enable students to pursue future course of studies.

CHALLENGES:

• To make the study of core subjects in science attractive by ensuring public and private investment.
• To take steps to expand research works in Universities and colleges by appropriate authorities.
• To percolate research works at the ground level for the benefit of the masses.
• To disseminate information of the advances of the R&D works.