Maa Manikeshwari University Enhances Botanical Learning with QR Codes

BHUBANESWAR:

Maa Manikeshwari University

, Bhawanipatna, has initiated a unique project to enhance the knowledge of students and visitors about the diverse flora within its campus. The university authorities have started attaching QR codes to the trees, allowing people to access detailed information about each plant by simply scanning the code with their smartphones.
The QR codes have been fixed on approximately 100 trees so far, and the university plans to expand this initiative to cover more trees in the near future.

Many of them are

medicinal plants

.
By scanning the QR code, users can obtain valuable insights about the plant, including its botanical name, family, Odia, Hindi, and English names, plant description, traditional value, and various benefits it offers, including medicinal uses.
“This innovative approach aims to educate people, particularly students, who may not be familiar with the different plant species found on campus. The first QR code was fixed on a Chandan (sandalwood) tree,” said Sanjay Kumar Satapathy, vice-chancellor of the university, on Sunday.

He said the university took this initiative in honor of Padma Shri awardee Patayat Sahu, who is a traditional healer and planted around 3000 medicinal plants in his backyard. “The university plans for a plantation of more than 500 saplings on July 26. It is in the process of becoming a green university,” he added.
The university has also established a herbarium with the support of the forest department to facilitate long-term study and preservation of plant samples. A herbarium is a collection of dried and pressed plant specimens that are carefully cataloged and stored for scientific research and reference purposes. The herbarium at the university will serve as a valuable resource for students, researchers, and botanists who wish to study the flora of the region, said the vice-chancellor.

He said the QR code initiative and the herbarium demonstrate the university’s commitment to promoting environmental awareness and encouraging students to appreciate the biodiversity surrounding them. By providing easy access to information about the trees on campus, the university hopes to foster a deeper understanding and respect for nature among its students and visitors, he added.
The use of QR codes is a simple yet effective way to bridge the gap between the physical world and the vast knowledge available in the digital realm. It allows students to learn at their own pace and explore the flora according to their interests, said Satapathy.