Debre Tabor University Biology Department

Debre Tabor University Biology Department – Check Below:

BACKGROUND OF THE DEPARTMENT

The science of biology deals with the systematized acquisition of knowledge on living things, the basic aspects of their environments and the use of such knowledge to benefit mankind in its applied aspects. Biological issues are at the heart of the daily life and survival of humans irrespective of differences in culture, geographical location, wealth and levels of advancement. Biological principles are practiced ranging from primitive societies that use crude ways of getting food and other survival requirements from the immediate environmnet through hunting and gathering to the most advanced societies that use cutting edge technologies to solve problems that challenge the survival and wellbeing of mankind. Research in climate change, biofuel production, rapid propagation of crops, gene therapy and cloning are examples of the latter category.
The relevance and importance of biolgical teaching and research to Ethiopia is thus apparent. As a developing nation aspiring to achieve overall advancement, the country has the option to combine both low and high level knowledge in biology to benefit its society particularly in the areas of food security, health, environmental protection and climate change. The country promotes the science of biology through advanced level university study and research towards fulfilling the country’s needs for high-level qualified biologists.
The department of Biology is one of the Departments in the faculty of Natural and Computational Science, Debre Tabor University.
It was first launched as a full-fledged Department of Biology in 2004E.C to offer a three-year B.Sc. program in Biology. In 2005 E.C, new modular approach has been established and the implementation began this year. About 43 students (18 males and 25 females) and 49 students (19 males and 30 females) were graduated in 2006 E.C and 2007 E.C, respectively from Biology Department. Currently the department is giving training in two programs: Regular and summer for a total of 167 students (77 males and 90 females) in three batches and for 136 students (94 males and 44 females) in two batches respectively.
2.Debre Tabor University Biology Department Research Thematic Areas

Basic science research
Public health (disease causes, prevention and control)
Science and industry
Industrial application of microorganisms (food, beverage, antibiotics, etc)
Biodiversity conservation and management (soil, water, forest, wildlife; plants, animals, microbes; etc.)
Fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic resources and wetlands
Environmental studies & protection (degradation, sustainability, pollution, climate change, etc.)
Promotion of improved technologies for the use of natural resources
Food security, water and sanitation
Ecologically and economically important plants
Herbal and cultural medicine
Alternative energy sources (biogas, fuel cells, etc.)
Applications of biotechnology and molecular biology
Technology adoption, adaptation and transfer
Ecotourism (nature-based tourism)
Extraction of bioactive ingredients
Pest management and control
Sport science and society (human health, sport tourism, cultural & modern sports, etc.)
Green campus/university (the need to introduce green campus/university)

3. RESEARCH TITLES UNDERTAKEN BY BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT STAFFS

Floristic composition, structure and ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of Alem Saga forest, South Gondar, Ethiopia by Endale Adamu, Dilnesa Gashaye and Bula Kere
Evaluation of larvacidal activity of some medicinal plant extracts against anopheles mosquito in invitro, south Gondar, northwestern Ethiopia by Tadele Alemayehu, Wondimu Ersino and Hirpasa Teressa.
Assessment on abundance and feeding analysis of rodents around the area of recently extinct Ethiopian wolf, Canis simiensis, on Guna Mountain, South Gondar, Ethiopia by Hirpasa Teressa, Wondimu Ersino and Tadele Alemayehu.

4. COMMUNITY SERVICE UNDERTAKEN BY BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT STAFF

Introducing PHET’S web based interactive simulation for preparatory and high school science teachers by Endale Adamu in collaboration with mathematics, chemistry and physics staffs.
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Addisu Mengist, Head Department of Chemistry
The department of chemistry is one of the Departments in the faculty of Natural and Computational Science, Debre Tabor University. It was first launched as a full-fledged Department of chemistry in 2004E.C to offer a three-year B.Sc. program in chemistry. In 2005 E.C new modular approach has been established and the implementation began this year by having 54 students. Currently the department gives training in two programs, in the regular program in three batches (Female (84) and male (165) with a total of (249)) and in summer program in two batches ((Female (21) and male (94) with a total of 115)) students. This is the turning point in the history of the Department and a significant step towards fulfilling the country’s needs for high-level qualified chemists. Chemistry, being the oldest multidimensional discipline and the center of many interdisciplinary subjects, has the repute and distinction of being the backbone of both the scientific knowledge and experimental ventures, since antiquity. At the present, the Department runs three years Bachelor of Science programs in four major areas of chemistry. These are Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry and Physical chemistry.
In addition, the department is offering applied courses such as Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, and Environmental Chemistry. The department of Chemistry under the faculty of Natural and computational Science has been imparting subject related knowledge and practical training not only to the students of three years graduate program but also to the students of many other disciplines and programs such as Biology, Animal Science, Chemical Engineering, Medical Laboratory etc. and the disciplines work in close relations to each other.