In November 2025 and January 2026, Dr. Amit Roy, Group Leader at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, and a leading scientist in forest molecular entomology, visited India to deliver multiple thought-provoking talks. As part of his participation in various academic forums, Dr. Roy shared his extensive research on tree-beetle interactions and forest pest management, focusing on cutting-edge molecular technologies. His visit served as an excellent platform for fruitful discussions and collaboration across different biological disciplines.
On his first stop, Dr Roy participated in the BIONEXT 2025 conference at Adamas University, Kolkata. The event, focused on “From Molecules to Industry: AI Driving Biological Sciences”, saw leading experts discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence in advancing biological sciences. Dr. Roy presented his work on forest molecular entomology and interacted with researchers, industry leaders, and innovators on AI's transformative impact on biological and forestry research. The conference was well attended by professionals from across the globe, fostering discussions on the future of biological sciences and their applications.
Dr Roy’s visit included a lecture at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. He delivered a presentation on dynamic interactions in forest ecosystems and the role of molecular research in pest management. VIT, renowned for its world-class research and academic excellence, provided a highly interactive environment for Dr. Roy’s talk. During his session, he engaged with students, faculty, and researchers on innovative approaches to integrating molecular biology with forest management. Dr Roy's lecture further emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing global challenges, such as sustainable pest control and forest ecosystem preservation. Dr Roy also participated in the Industry-Academia conclave at VIT as an international guest of Honour.
Dr Roy's last presentation took place at the APC College in Kolkata, where he shared insights into the complex interactions among beetles, fungi, and trees in forest ecosystems. His talk, entitled Beetles, Fungi, and Conifers: Multi-Omics Unravelling Dynamic Interactions Beneath the Bark, highlighted groundbreaking research that bridges molecular biology and forest pest management. This event was organised jointly by the Research & Development Cell and the Department of Microbiology, and was supported by the IQAC at APC College.
Dr Roy’s visit was a significant opportunity to engage in collaborative research and to build networks across academia and industry in India. The interactions initiated during his talks are expected to pave the way for future collaborative research projects focused on sustainable pest management solutions, bioinformatics, and AI-driven innovations in biological research.
His visits also included participation in various poster sessions and panel discussions, further solidifying the international exchange of ideas and reinforcing global collaboration in advancing biological and forestry sciences.
