V.O.Chidambara College Zoology Department

About Us

Welcome to the Zoology Department

The Department of Zoology is one of the conventional yet modernised departments of V.O. Chidambaram College and was established in 1957. This department is situated on an exceptionally intelligent and picturesque campus of historically important VOCC. We offer up-to-date and pertinent courses like B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil and Ph.D in Zoology with more emphasis on basics of biology as well as modern trends of Zoology. The department is recognised and is funded by FIST in 2003 & 2011. Department of Zoology takes pride in identifying itself as Pioneer in the frontier regions of life science and it has evolved as a full-fledged centre of teaching and research in Zoology. It has received funds from DST-Government of India under FIST programme. Students of this vibrant department can develop skills and knowledge which is core to scientific investigation, critical interpretation and analytical ability. All the staff members of this department are Ph.D holders and are capable of conducting individual independent research. In-house projects of PG students of Zoology are commendable. This department boasts of its accomplishment in producing university rank holders regularly.

Student Counsellors are phenomenol in their efforts to make students comfortable in stress free conditions. Students of both B.Sc. and M.Sc. courses are given soft sills training. Hands-on training, counselling, parent-teacher meeting are the hallmark of this department. In this modern era, department of Zoology ensures the usage of SMART board by staff as well as students. Now the department has 11 teaching staff, 3 non teaching staff and 200 students.

Prof. Pasupathy Iyer was the first Head of the department of Zoology. Later Mr. J. A. Daniel served from 1958 to 1986 as the head of the department and his period is presumed to be the Golden period. He established the museum, supposed to be one of the best museums in Peninsular India. It is being appreciated and visited by various sections of society even today. He published two text books to his credit. Mr. J. A.Daniel was also responsible for achieving 100% results in B.Sc. during most of his tenure as Head of this department. He was also responsible for producing a state first rank (Mr. Jones) during the period, when only Madras University was in existence. The exemplary work of Mr. J. A. Daniel enthused the management to start M.Sc. Zoology course in the year 1986.Later Mr. S. Duraisamy assumed the charge as HOD from 1986 and later he became the Principal from 1991 to 1997. Mr. Duraisamy was the Principal investigator of a project entitled “Comparative energetics of arthropods” sponsored by UGC, New Delhi. He published two text books.From 1991 to 1998 Dr. T.K. Renganathan Headed the Department. He published more than 35 research publications and nine textbooks. Two UGC minor research projects and one M.K. University individual Research projects were carried out by him. Dr. M.S.M. Sahubar Hussain served as HOD from 1998 to 2000. He published ten text books and eight research publications to his credit. Dr. Edwin retired in 2016. Now Dr. D. Radhika is the head of the department.There were major and minor research projects undertaken in this department. The completed projects are given below.

1951

PUC
1957

B.Sc. Zoology
1985

M.Sc. Zoology
1987

M.Phil
1994

Ph.D
2013

M.Sc. (CME)

Biochemical and physiological effects of pesticides in economically important anuren, Rana tigrine funded by UGC, New Delhi. The Principal investigator was Dr. K. Sampath, Reader.
Principal investigator in the project titled “Technology Development for Mass production on midgefly larvae to serve as a live feed to cultivable fin and shell fishes funded by ICAR(Indian Council for Agricultural Research) New Delhi. Dr.C.Veerabahu was the Pricipal Investigator. Duration of the project is 2 years. Total cost of the project is Rs. 3,31,760/-
Artificial feeds for Air-breathing fishes project sanctioned to Dr. K. Sampath by UGC, New Delhi. and Induce Spawning and Larvel roaring of peaniads prawns sanctioned to Dr. Sampath by CSIR, New Delhi.
Utilization of synthetic zeollite to reduce metal (copper) toxicity – An experimental study on catfish” funded by Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology. The Principal investigator was Dr.R. James, Lecturer (SG).
Hybridisation in penaeid prawn” by spermatophore transplantation, funded by Department of Bio-technology, Government of India, the Principal investigator was Dr. K. Sampath (Reader).
Evaluation of nematicidal property of some plant extracts and their effect on pathological metabolism of a host plant funded by UGC to Dr. M. Vaitheeswaran, Lecturer.

The faculty also subscribes to research journals to cater to the demands of the researchers. The teachers are well known for adopting time-tested teaching strategies and also they follow the latest techniques in practicals at U.G, P.G and M.Phil. level