Faculty development program on Intellectual Property Rights

On 19th Nov 2024, an FDP in association with Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) – Dept. of Atomic Energy was conducted and Ms. Bhargavi, Researcher, Trustee at Environment support group, India, delivered on ‘Intellectual Property Rights’ emphasized the role of IPR and earning credit and protection for the discovery and innovative idea made through IPR. She introduced the basics of IPR and highlighted the issue of biopiracy- the exploitation of biological resources or traditional knowledge without proper authorization or benefit-sharing. For instance, she explained how India has faced biopiracy of neem, basmati rice, and turmeric by foreign entities. She also discussed genetically modified crops like Bt cotton and Bt brinjal, emphasizing more on the ethical, biodiversity, and patenting concerns associated with them. Ms. Bhargavi stressed the need for stronger laws, ethical practices, and sustainable development to combat biopiracy, protect

India’s biodiversity, and respect indigenous knowledge. This fight underscores the global need to safeguard cultural and natural heritage.