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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences
| native_name =
| image_name = Logo of Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany.jpg
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| established = 1946
| closed =
| type = Registered Society
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| city = [[Lucknow]]
| state = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
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| country = [[India]]
| coor = {{Coord|26|52|03|N|80|56|20|E|}}
| campus = 53 University Road, Lucknow
| former_names = Institute of Palaeobotany, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
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| nickname = BSIP
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| website = {{URL|http://www.bsip.res.in|BSIP}}
| logo = Bust of Birbal Sahni (Birla Industrial & Technological Museum).jpg
| logo_size = 150px
| footnotes = Bust of Birbal Sahni at [[Birla Industrial & Technological Museum]]
}}
The '''Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences''' (formerly, '''Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany'''; BSIP)<ref>[http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Birbal+Sahni+Institute+of+Palaeobotany Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany - What does BSIP stand for? Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary]</ref> is an autonomous institute constituted under the [[Department of Science and Technology (India)|Department of Science and Technology]], [[Government of India]]. The Institute is located at [[Lucknow]],<ref>[http://www.distancesfrom.com/in/map-from-Lucknow-Junction-to-Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany-Lucknow/MapHistory/7455407.aspx Map from Lucknow Junction to Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany]</ref> [[Uttar Pradesh]], India and is a seat of higher learning in the field of [[plant fossil]] research.

== Profile ==
[[File:OrdFossilsMN.JPG|thumb|right|[[Brachiopods]] and [[bryozoans]] in an [[Ordovician]] limestone, southern Minnesota]]
[[File:Positions of ancient continents, 550 million years ago.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Reconstruction showing final stages of assembly of Gondwana, 550 Mya]]
[[File:Trilete spores.png|thumb|A late Silurian sporangium bearing trilete spores. Such spores are the earliest evidence of life on land.]]

The '''Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences''' was established in the year 1946, under the name, Institute of [[Palaeobotany]], a progression of the Palaeobotanical society formed by a group of botanists led by the renowned [[India]]n botanist, [[Birbal Sahni|Professor Birbal Sahni]],<ref>[http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/BSahni.htm Birbal Sahni] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101124440/http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/BSahni.htm |date=1 January 2016 }}</ref> known as the father of [[Dendrology]],<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBkr_9aktUo Birbal Sahni, father of the Dendrology - YouTube]</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://archive.today/20140626055259/http://www.sritweets.com/birbal-sahni-father-dendrology-birbal-sahni-extensive-research-paleobotany/ Birbal Sahni, father of the Dendrology| Birbal Sahni did extensive research in Paleobotany]</ref> who became its first Director.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.india-religion.net/ |title=India Religion Home Page |access-date=26 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022072850/http://www.india-religion.net/ |archive-date=22 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The initial office of the Institute was at the Department of [[Botany]], [[Lucknow University]]. The then government of the United Provinces gifted a bungalow sitting on 3.50 acres of land to the Institute in 1948, which till today remains its campus.<ref>[http://www.minglebox.com/college/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany-BSIP-Lucknow Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow - Admission, Courses, Fee, Contact Address | BSIP | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh - Minglebox]</ref>

[[Savitri Sahni]] took over the reins of the Institute on her husband's death in 1949 and the Institute moved into a new purpose-built building in 1953. The Institute, by that time, had already started to be known and, in 1951, [[UNESCO]] included it in their Technical Assistance Program. On 9 July 1969, the research activities were alienated from the society and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany was formed, in honor of the scientist,<ref name=autogenerated1 /> as an independent autonomous research organization funded by the Government of India.<ref>[http://www.fundoodata.com/companies-detail/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany-(BSIP)/61661.html Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany (BSIP) - Lucknow - Address Phone no Website Email Turnover - MD CEO HR CFO CIO]</ref>

BSIP works in close coordination with various organizations such as [[Geological Survey of India]], [[Physical Research Laboratory]], [[Oil and Natural Gas Commission]], [[Oil India Limited]], [[Coal India Limited]], Coal Mine Planning and Design Institute, [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]] Laboratory, [[Neyveli Lignite Corporation]], Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, [[Indian Institutes of Technology]], Institute Francais de Pondicherry, [[Botanical Survey of India]], [[Forest Research Institute (India)|Forest Research Institute]], Dehradun, [[Bhabha Atomic Research Center]], Laboratories under [[Department of Science and Technology (India)|Department of Science and Technology]], [[Archaeological Survey of India]], [[Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology]], different State and University Departments of Archaeology and Geology Departments of several Universities. The Institute has signed specific MOUs with Oil and natural Gas Corporation, Geological Survey of India (Coal Wing), Delta Studies Institute, [[Vishakhapattanam]] (for delta/basin modeling in relation to paramecia and hydrocarbon exploration) and [[National Institute of Oceanography, India|National Institute of Oceanography]], [[Goa]] (for Quaternary palaeoclimate of marine and coastal areas).

== Objectives ==
[[File:Dendrochronological drill hg.jpg|thumb|240px|Drill for dendrochronology sampling and growth ring counting]]
[[File:LvMS-Lvm.jpg|thumb|A volcanic [[lithic fragment (geology)|sand grain]] seen under the microscope, with plane-polarized light in the upper picture, and cross polarized light in the lower picture. Scale box is 0.25 mm.]]
[[File:Nummulitids.jpg|thumb|Fossil [[Nummulites|nummulitid]] foraminiferans showing microspheric and megalospheric individuals; [[Eocene]] of the [[United Arab Emirates]]; scale in mm.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}]]
The main objectives of the Institute are set as:<ref>[http://dst.gov.in/autonomous/bsip.htm Welcome to Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India ::] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717190506/http://dst.gov.in/autonomous/bsip.htm |date=17 July 2014 }}</ref>
* To develop palaeobotany in all its botanical and geological aspects.
* To constantly update data for interaction with allied disciplines.
* To co-ordinate with other palaeobotanical and geological research centres in the areas of mutual interest, such as diversification of early life, exploration of fossil fuels, vegetational dynamics, climatic modelling, conservation of forests.
* To disseminate palaeobotanical knowledge in universities, educational institutions and other organisations.

== Thrust areas ==
The Institute has identified the thrust areas of activities on:
* Pre-Cambrian [[Palaeobiology]]
* [[Gondwana]] Mesozoic Palaeofloristics<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022633/http://bomax.botany.pl/pubs/data/article_pdf?id=1952]</ref>
* Gondwana [[Palynology]]
* [[Cenozoic]] Palaeofloristics
* Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Palynology
* Marine [[Micropaleontology]]
* Organic [[Petrology]]
* Quaternary [[Paleoclimate]]
* [[Dendrochronology]]
* [[Paleoethnobotany]]
* [[Isotope]] and [[Geochemistry]]
* Arctic-Antarctic Research

==Departments==

===Museum===
BSIP nurses a museum,<ref>[http://museu.ms/museum/6436/birbal-sahni-institute-of-palaeobotany-museum Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany Museum | Museums]</ref> originally housing the fossil collections of Professor Sahni, but now holds later collections made by the scientists over the years. The collection includes [[holotype]] specimens, slides and figured specimens.
* Figured specimens : 6679
* Figured slides : 12740
* Slide negatives : 17504

The museum, with its foundation stone, laid by Birbal Sahni, composed of fossils of various geological ages embedded in a marble-cement block, displays the specimens based on their general and geological relevance. The museum also maintains a ''Geological Time Clock''.

===Knowledge Resource Centre===
The Institute library is an automated one with database services such as GEOREF, Web of Science, JCCC@INSTIRC and access to CSIR-DST consortium. It operates on a fully integrated multi-user LIBSYS 4 software package with addition of Web OPAC. The journals are made available online to the users.

===Herbarium===
The [[Herbarium]] functions with four different sections:
* General collection of dried plants mounted on herbarium sheets
* [[Xylarium]] - collection of woods and their thin sections
* Sporothek - collection of pollen and [[spore]] slides and polleniferous material
* Carpothek - collection of fruits, seeds

The fossil specimens such as leaves, cuticle, pollen, spores, fruits, seed and wood, numbering 51,472, are preserved according to their variation, local names, uses, distribution and ecology and include contributions from J. F. Duthie, R. R. Stewart, K. N. Kaul, Birbal Sahni, O. A. Hoeg and A. L. Takhtajan.

===Computer Centre===
BSIP is well equipped with an advanced computer network with [[LAN]], radio link facility from the Software Park of India, Lucknow and [[National Knowledge Network]] connection. The web site of the Institute is also maintained by the Computer Centre.

==Awards==
{{Paleontology}}
BSIP recognizes the achievements in the field of Palaeobotany by giving away many awards to the deserving scientists.

'''Professor T. M. Harris Medal''': Awarded to the best paper published on Palaeobotany in any recognized journal.

'''Dr. P. N. Srivastava Medal''': Awarded to the best research work done in the Institute.

'''Chandra Dutt Pant Memorial Medal''': Awarded to the best research work by a Scientist in Grade C.

'''Dr. Chunni Lal Khatiyal Medal''': Awarded to the best research work by a Scientist in Grade A.

'''Dr. Pratul Chandra Bhandari Medal''': Awarded to the best research work by a BISP scholar.

'''Iyengar-Sahni Medal''': Awarded to the best paper published in ''The Palaeobotanist''.

'''Dr. B. S. Venkatachala Memorial Medal''': Awarded to the best paper published in Palaeobotany.

'''Team Medal''': Awarded to the best team for collaborative efforts.

'''Diamond Jubilee Medal''': Awarded to the best research paper published by a scientist or a team.

'''Scientific Out Put Medal''': Awarded to the best research work by a scientist in Grades E, F or G.

In addition, BISP also recognizes in-house administrative achievements in the form of medals such as ''External Budgetary Resource Medal'', ''Efficient Administrative Staff Medal'' and ''BSIP Employee Medal''.

==The Palaeobotanist==
''The Palaeobotanist'' is a widely acknowledged journal in Palaeobotany, published by the Institute. BSIP published the first volume in 1952 as an annual publication. However, the frequency has been increased over the time and, since 1962, is released three times a year.<ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/title/palaeobotanist/oclc/1605086 The palaeobotanist. (Journal, magazine, 1952) [WorldCat.org]]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140717190506/http://dst.gov.in/autonomous/bsip.htm Reference] on the [[Department of Science and Technology (India)|Department of Science and Technology]] web site
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany-gets-new-director/articleshow/18176127.cms News report] in the [[Times of India]].
* [https://topcompanieslist.com/Tasgaon--city/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany-(BSIP).htm Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany Contact Details]
* [http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/104/06/0779.pdf Notification for recruitment]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151019120110/http://www.palaeobotany.org/page/pioneers/birbal-sahni/ Profile of Birbal Sahni on Paleobotany web site]
* [https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Birbal_Sahni_Institute_of_Palaeobotany List of Publications on Research gate]
* [http://www.palaeobotanicalsociety.org/cons.pdf Conference leaflet]
* [http://wikimapia.org/231972/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany on Wikimapia]
* [http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/829947?c=people List of Publications] on [[National Library of Australia]] site
* [http://www.university-directory.eu/India/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeobotany.html Reference on University Directory]

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| title = The Palaeobotanist
| author = Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany.
| publisher = Lucknow : Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
|oclc = 1605086| issn = 0031-0174
}}
* {{cite book |last= Vasishta|first= P C|title= Botany For Degree Gymnosperm |year= 2006|location= Lucknow|publisher= S Chand|isbn= 9788121926188}}

{{Higher education in India}}
{{Department of Science and Technology (India)}}
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[[Category:Paleontological institutions and organizations]]
[[Category:Paleontological research institutes]]
[[Category:Paleontology in India]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Lucknow]]
[[Category:Higher education in India]]
[[Category:Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1946]]

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 19:44, 13 August 2023