In view of the internationally recognized high quality of research and teaching, the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has established a “Centre for Training Teachers in using Drosophila melanogaster for Biology Laboratories under Star College Scheme of DBT” at the Cytogenetics Laboratory of the Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, with Prof. S. C. Lakhotia (Distinguished Professor) as Principal Investigator, and Dr. Richa Arya (Assistant Professor) and Dr. Bama Charan Mandal (Assistant Professor) as Co-Investigators. The DBT will provide a little more than Rs. 2 crores over the next five years to support the Centre’s activities. 

The Centre will 

1) Train teachers, preferably those from the DBT ‘Star’ Colleges, in using Drosophila for classroom learning through hands-on training workshops and provide them long-term support, 

2) Train young researchers in advanced fly techniques to improve their potential as future researchers and teachers, 

3) Prepare well-illustrated and self-explanatory laboratory manuals supported with videos on
fly techniques for UG-, PG and research students, and 

4) Provide a common meeting ground for researchers and undergraduate teachers. 

The other members of the Cytogenetics Laboratory of the Department of Zoology and other Drosophila researchers at the Banaras Hindu University will also be involved in the training and other activities of the Centre. During the next five years, this Centre plans to organize 15 training workshops, with 15 participating teachers in each, and train many young researchers in advanced techniques using the Drosophila model. The training of trainers is expected to significantly enhance the laboratory experience of under- and post-graduate students in life sciences across the country.