About the Department

The Zoology department of Cotton College was started in May, 1942 by introducing the subject in I. Sc. Classes. B.Sc. Zoology was introduced as pass course in 1947 and got the affiliation from Gauhati University from 1948 onwards. B.Sc. (Hons.) Zoology was introduced in 1953. M.Sc Zoology started in 1974 with two special papers- Entomology and Fish and Fishery Biology. Later on, Ecology and Environmental Biology was introduced as a special paper in M.Sc. in the year 1993 and Cell and Molecular Biology in 2016. The department is also awarded with FIST (DST) and a computer lab was established. Now the department functions under Cotton University after the upgradation of Cotton College to Cotton University. Presently the department has 36 PhD. Scholars and 30 Research Scholars have been awarded the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology under the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Establishment of Centre for Biodiversity Research

The Centre for Biodiversity Research (CBR) was established in 2026 under the Department of Zoology, Cotton University, with the objective of promoting research, documentation and conservation of biodiversity, particularly in Northeast India. The Centre focuses on interdisciplinary research integrating taxonomy, ecology, molecular biology, bioinformatics and geospatial approaches for biodiversity assessment and conservation.

The Centre has an MoU with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, facilitating collaborative research, faunal documentation, taxonomic studies, field surveys and capacity building. CBR also promotes student training, field-based learning and research collaborations in biodiversity and conservation science.

 

Students' Achievement :

Violina Molia, UG 7th Semester, Department of Zoology, Cotton University, has represented the University at national and international Taekwondo events and achieved notable sporting success.

• Silver Medal – 12th Speed Power International Taekwondo Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2025.
• Silver Medal – 8th Heroes International Taekwondo Championship, Bangkok, 2024.
• Gold Medal – All Kamrup District Taekwondo Championship, Guwahati, 2025.
• Bronze Medal – Khelo India–ASHMITA Taekwondo League (Regional), Jorhat, 2025.
• Participated in Khelo India–ASHMITA Women's Taekwondo League (Zonal), Arunachal Pradesh, 2024, and All India Inter-University Games, 2024.
• Served as Assistant Coach, Cotton University Team, at the 9th Heroes International Taekwondo Championship, Thailand, 2026.

Her achievements reflect her dedication, sporting excellence and commitment to representing the University at national and international levels.

 

Devika Sarma, PG 3rd Semester, Department of Zoology, Cotton University, has distinguished herself in triathlon at state, national and international levels.

• Gold Medal – All Assam Triathlon Championship, Golaghat, 2024.
• Represented India – Asia Triathlon Championships, Saudi Arabia, 2024.
• Represented Assam – National Games, Uttarakhand, 2025.
• Bronze Medal – All Assam Triathlon Championship, 2025.
• Gold Medal – National Age Group Triathlon Championship, Pune, 2026.
• Selected to represent India – Asian Age Group Triathlon Championship, Jordan, 2026.

Her achievements reflect her sporting excellence, dedication and commitment, bringing recognition to the Department and Cotton University at national and international levels.

 

NEP Implementation in the Department

The Department of Zoology is committed to implementing the vision of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 through a learner-centric, multidisciplinary, skill-oriented and research-driven approach to education.

Key departmental initiatives include:

• Interdisciplinary learning and opportunities to explore subjects beyond the core discipline.
• Experiential and field-based learning through practical classes, field visits, biodiversity studies and ecological surveys.
• Research-oriented learning through student projects, dissertations, seminars, workshops and research activities.
• Skill development in laboratory techniques, field methods, scientific data analysis, scientific writing and presentation.
• Internships and project-based learning to provide exposure to academic, research and professional environments.
• ICT-enabled teaching through digital resources, online learning materials and technology-supported classroom activities.
• Innovative pedagogy and continuous assessment through presentations, discussions, assignments, practical work and project-based evaluation.
• Research, innovation and collaboration through faculty–student research, scientific publications and academic collaborations.
• Environmental and community outreach through biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness and extension activities.

Through these initiatives, the Department strives to develop scientifically informed, skilled, innovative and socially and environmentally responsible graduates, in keeping with the objectives of NEP 2020.

Future Action Plan and Research Vision

The Department of Zoology envisions developing into a leading centre of teaching, research, innovation and biodiversity studies in the region. The future action plan will focus on strengthening research capacity, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing emerging challenges in biological and environmental sciences.

The major priorities include:

• Strengthening research in emerging areas of biodiversity, ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, entomology, wildlife biology, molecular biology and climate-change studies.
• Promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative research with national and international universities, research institutions, government agencies and conservation organizations.
• Expanding externally funded research projects through competitive proposals to national and international funding agencies.
• Strengthening the Centre for Biodiversity Research as a platform for biodiversity documentation, ecological assessment, conservation research and capacity building.
• Developing advanced research facilities and laboratories with modern instruments, digital resources and specialized research infrastructure.
• Promoting student participation in research through undergraduate projects, postgraduate dissertations, internships, field studies and PhD programmes.
• Increasing high-quality research publications, books, book chapters, patents and other research outputs in nationally and internationally recognized platforms.
• Building research networks and institutional collaborations through MoUs, joint projects, exchange programmes, seminars and international academic partnerships.
• Developing long-term biodiversity databases and research repositories to support scientific research, conservation planning and evidence-based environmental management.
• Promoting research with societal relevance, particularly in biodiversity conservation, environmental pollution, ecosystem health, sustainable use of biological resources and community-based conservation.
• Organizing regular scientific programmes, including conferences, workshops, training programmes, lecture series and research methodology programmes.
• Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship by translating research findings into practical applications, technologies and community-oriented solutions.

The Department aims to create a dynamic research ecosystem that integrates teaching, field-based investigation, laboratory research, innovation and community engagement. Through these initiatives, the Department seeks to enhance its research visibility, develop meaningful national and international collaborations, attract competitive research funding and contribute substantially to the understanding and conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural resources.