Dr DR Bhardwaj has assumed charge as the Dean Students’ Welfare at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni. With over 37 years of experience in teaching, research, administration and extension, he is a specialist in silviculture and agroforestry. He has previously served as Professor and Head of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, and also as university librarian, where he worked to strengthen the digitisation of library services.
He has managed 19 externally funded projects focused on Himalayan agroforestry and bamboo-based systems suited to Himachal Pradesh’s agro-climatic conditions. Dr Bhardwaj has also served on the VP Mohan Committee constituted by the Supreme Court of India on silvicultural felling and has been an executive member of the National Bamboo Mission, Himachal Pradesh.
In another development, Dr Satish Sharma has joined as the university librarian. He earlier served as Head of the Department of Plant Pathology. With over 30 years of experience in academics, research and extension at institutions including Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, he is a noted fruit pathologist specialising in the diagnosis and management of apple diseases and bacterial blight of pomegranate.
Additionally, Dr Anil Handa has assumed charge as Head of the Department of Plant Pathology. A specialist in molecular plant virology, he has nearly 30 years of experience in teaching, research and extension. He has served as a visiting professor at Mendel University, Czech Republic, and the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. Dr Handa has handled over 25 externally funded research projects supported by various agencies such as the UK Government and the World Bank, among others. He has also served as Joint Director (Training) and Professor (Academic) at the College of Horticulture.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajeshwar Singh Chandel congratulated the three scientists on their new responsibilities and expressed confidence that their experience would further strengthen the university’s academic, research and student welfare activities.
