At AbasahebGarware College's biodiversity department, a masters in science in biodiversity is a unique course, the only one of its kind at SavitribaiPhule Pune University.

It is a two-year full-time innovative course that has been running since a decade. Teaching from the perspective of environment, diversity, human need and conservation methods is provided in one place and in one curriculum.

Head of the department of biodiversity AnkurPatwardhan said the course layout allows students to work on the field along with laboratory research. "This amalgamation of field and lab work is organized in this two-year course of MSc. The curriculum builds a specific phase for studying plant, animal and microbial diversity along with evolution and the balanced relationship between the components, learning about them directly from various subjects in the field of ecology, molecular diversity and natural product chemistry."

The MSc course is an accredited 'credit system' that covers environmental awareness and laws, environment and media, environment impact assessment (EIA), environmental pollution and climate change, as well as the use of GIS remote sensing and wildlife photography for the study of biodiversity taught by the experts in the respective fields. Students have the liberty of choosing the topic of their interest for the dissertation.

The department of biodiversity is a recognized PhD centre with potential research is carried on topics like nature conservation, medicinal plants, and molecular diversity and bio-prospecting.

Career prospects

Students can work in different fields and can find a place in recognized institutes like Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, among others.

The masters' course is similar to the syllabus of competitive exams like National Eligibility Test (Life Science). It helps understand nature and the human interaction.

"Some have opted for state and national civil services examinations to serve in the forest services. There are opportunities to work in plant tissue culture and related businesses. Eco-tourism can also be looked upon as a business prospect creating an independent business space. Biodiversity assessment and landscaping are the next upcoming sectors which have several opportunities to work in," said Patwardhan.

Last year an 'ISO14001 -- Environment Management System, an internal auditor course was organised by the biodiversity department which has importance in the industrial sector. Learning of new technologies like geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing are used to map each element in nature.