Department of GEOLOGY Science College, Patna
The Geology Department of Science Colelge is one of the youngest departments in the FAculty of Science. It was established in 1946.with the establishment of a chair called "Tata Professor of Geology" by Messrs Tata & Sons Ltd. on the occasion of the Silver Jubliee celebrations of Patna University in November, 1944. Geology teaching was started with a view to preparing trained personnel for exploring and exploting the vast mineral resources of the state.Since then the department has made significant contributionsin the field of earth sciences and produced eminent geoscientiists to man various organizations and institutions engaged in promotion of teaching, reserch and exploration activities in India and abroad.
While the PG Department of Geology was started in July 1946 with Sir Lan Iyer as its head, the Undergraduate teaching in the subject was started in July 1949 under the headship of Late Dr. Raghujee Verma. Dr. S. C. Chatterjee was appointed next Tata Professor of Geology in February 1952. The notable products of the early phase include the former chief secretary of Govt. of Bihar Mr. B. P. verma, former geological adviser of the state Dr. S. N. P. Srivastava, the chairman cum Head of the Deptt. of Geology (Punjab University) Prof. A. K. Prasad, Prof. P. K. Ghosh(Marshall University, West Virginia) and Prof. A. K. Sinha (Virginia Polytechnic and State University).
Teh next phase of development of the department marks a meteoric rise of this departmet to international level which solely goes to the credit of Prof. R. C. Sinha (1963-1986), who build up a modern laboratory for chemical analysis of rocks and minerals. He kept the doors of reserach open to all and created an atmophere that trancends the ancient traditions of living together in harmony. The department earned a name in the field of geochemistry and scholors from different organizations and universities flocked here to get trained in geochemical reserach. Prof. Sinha established the Geochemical Society of India in 1965 and started publicaiton of a journal with over 500 subscribers across the country. The department was aptly called a "Mecca of Geochemistry" and Prof. Sinha a "Father of India Geochemistry".
The later part of resrach acitivity was spearheaded by Prof. N. C. Ghosh, Prof. A. P. mall, Prof. R. A. mahto and others. Several national and internationconferences on different aspects of earth science were ogranised by the department during the period. While Prof. N. C. Ghose was awarded "National Mineral Award" in 1992, Prof. B. K. Mishra was given "ISCLO Award" in geohydrology in 1987. The UGC recognized the department for "Special Asistance Programme" under the leadership of Prof. R. A. mahto. In recent years, however, the focus of reserach has shifted from geochemistry to hydrogeology. A two-day national conference on planning and development of groundwater resources in India was orgnized by the department in December 1999. Dr. Kriteshwar Prasad is currently working on the ecoloby of river Ganga.
The department continues to surge ahead with the expansion of teaching and reserach activities in tune with the changing time, catering to the socio-economic and academic needs of the state.
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