UK scientists deliver talks at AMU

Aligarh: Research Scientists from Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde (UoS), Glasgow, UK, Dr Colin Cunningham and Dr Tatyana Peshkur delivered talks at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) under the Indo-UK International Collaborative Project, DST-UKIERI. Dr Colin spoke on ‘Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils: Could Using Organic Nutrients Increase Risks of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria?’ and Dr Tatyana discussed ‘AMU-UoS Collaboration Project’.

Dr Colin pointed out that soil remediation process is one of the most expensive treatment methods and explained ‘biostimulation’, in which organic and inorganic components are introduced to enhance indigenous microbial growth.

Talking on industrial activity near water courses, Dr Colin said that heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have enriched the sediments of the Clyde river in Glasgow and also the soil around its estuary.

Dr Tatyana Peshkur presented an overview of the ‘AMU-UoS Collaboration Project’ and emphasised on the importance of the exchange of students and faculty members between the two universities.

“The India-UK project aims to develop strategies for monitoring and preventing the spreading of contaminants and to understand how bacteria respond to pollution,” she added.

Prof Abdul Malik, Department of Agricultural Microbiology delivered the welcome address.