International Conference

on PLANT RESILIENCE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: FROM MOLECULES TO ECOSYSTEMS
7 to 8th September 2026

International Conference on PLANT RESILIENCE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: FROM MOLECULES TO ECOSYSTEMS ## Selected full-length papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in a special issue of Vegetos, published by Springer Nature, subject to the journal’s standard peer-review process, editorial approval, and author guidelines.
About

About Conference

The International Conference on Plant Resilience in a Changing Climate: From Molecules to Ecosystems brings together scientists, faculty, research scholars, and students to explore how plants adapt and survive under increasing climatic stress. The conference addresses plant stress tolerance from molecular, physiological, biochemical, and ecological perspectives, highlighting advances in cold tolerance, climate-resilient crop improvement, and modern biotechnological interventions. It offers a vital platform for scientific exchange on sustainable agriculture, food security, and the conservation of plant resources, while fostering collaboration between international and national researchers. The conference will also provide young researchers a valuable opportunity to present their work through flash talks and posters and connect with the wider scientific community.

Selected full-length papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in a special issue of Vegetos, published by Springer Nature, subject to the journal’s standard peer-review process, editorial approval, and author guidelines.

University

The University of Kashmir is situated at Hazratbal in Srinagar. It is flanked by the world-famous Dal Lake on its eastern side and Nigeen Lake on the western side. The Main Campus of the University is spread over an area of 247 acres of land, which is divided into three campuses – Hazratbal, Naseem Bagh and Mirza Bagh (the latter serving for residential purposes). There are additional campuses: Zakura, North (Delina), South (Fatehgarh) and Kupwara. Over the years, the University has marched towards excellence in academics, research and public outreach. It has been re-accredited as Grade-A++ by the National Assessment & Accreditation Council (NAAC) of India in the year 2025.


PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH LAB (DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY)

The Plant Molecular Biology Research Lab studies how plants adapt to environmental stress, with a focus on cold tolerance, climate resilience, and Himalayan crop systems — particularly the physiological, biochemical, and molecular basis of stress resilience in maize. Working across systems such as maize, Brassica, tomato, Trifolium, and Himalayan plants, we investigate stress tolerance, flowering regulation, and plant–microbe interactions using integrated approaches spanning physiological screening, gene expression analysis, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics. International collaborations — including SPARC Indo–US work on stress-responsive proteins in maize and an Indo-German project on jasmonic acid signaling in tomato flowering — extend this interdisciplinary approach, alongside national partnerships with institutes such as NIPGR, Delhi University, ICGEB, NISER, ICAR-Almora, and IIMR Ludhiana. As a Kashmir-based lab, our goal is to generate research that supports climate-resilient agriculture in mountain ecosystems while training the next generation of plant biologists.
About SPARC

The SPARC fellowship is an Indian Ministry of Education initiative that funds joint two-year research projects between top-100 NIRF-ranked Indian institutions and elite global universities (top 500 QS-ranked). Rather than offering standalone individual grants, it acts as an institutional mobility program that finances international travel and academic exchanges. This allows foreign faculty to teach at Indian campuses and enables Indian PhD students or post-docs to conduct hands-on research in advanced laboratories overseas. Bilateral research teams must apply collaboratively through the official portal, with the ultimate goal of producing joint publications, patents, and translatable technologies



About the Organizer

Dr. Riffat John is Associate Professor at the Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. She holds a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi and has over two decades of research experience in plant stress biology, with a special focus on cold tolerance and climate resilience in Himalayan crop systems. She is an INSA Women Associate Fellow, SERB–POWER Fellow, and member of the National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) and has held visiting scientist positions at institutions in China and Hungary. Dr. John leads several national and international collaborative projects, including a SPARC Indo–US initiative with Pennsylvania State University on climate-resilient maize and an Indo-German collaboration with the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry on stress signaling in tomato. A recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, she is committed to advancing plant stress biology research and mentoring the next generation of scientists in the Himalayan region.

18

Expert Speaker

300

Seats Available

08

Sponsors

04

Sessions

New People, New Perspectives

The conference brings together researchers, students, early-career scientists, and industry professionals to to build new scientific connections. By bringing together diverse expertise and fresh ideas, it fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative research in plant resilience science.

01

About Speakers

Leading national and international experts will advance scientific exchange, collaborations, and research funding opportunities in plant resilience and climate-smart agriculture.

02

New People

The conference unites researchers, students, early-career scientists, and industry professionals to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific connections.

03

Global Event

A global platform uniting minds, ideas, and innovation from around the world. Together, shaping solutions for a smarter, sustainable, and connected future.

04

Get Inspired

Get inspired: Engage with eminent scientists, exchange ideas, showcase your research, and explore collaborations, fellowships, and funding opportunities

05

Networking Session

Networking sessions foster scientific collaboration, mentorship, fellowships, funding opportunities, and lasting partnerships, empowering students and researchers for success.

06

Kashmir Vibes

Experience Kashmir's breathtaking beauty, rich heritage, warm hospitality, vibrant culture, and inspiring scientific collaboration that fosters lasting global connections.

Speakers / Guests

The conference will feature distinguished international and national scientists with expertise spanning plant resilience, stress biology, molecular and structural biology, genomics, biotechnology, crop improvement and climate-adaptive agriculture. Their participation will make this meeting a high-value platform for scientific exchange, advanced learning, networking and future collaborations. The programme will also include expert talks on research funding opportunities, enabling young researchers and faculty to gain valuable insights into competitive grants, collaborative projects and emerging funding avenues in contemporary plant science.

Team

Prof. Surinder

Penn State University, USA
Team

Prof. Hemant P. Yennawar

Huck Institute of Life Science, USA
Team

Dr. Neela Yennawar

Penn State University, USA
Team

Dr. Andrija Finka

University of Zadar, Croatia
Team

Prof. Sudhir. K. Sopory

ICGEB, New Delhi
Team

Prof. Ashwani Pareek

NABI, Mohali
Team

Prof. Shekhar C. Mande

INSA, President
Team

Prof. V. Chinnusamy

ICAR, New Delhi
Team

Dr. Monika Agarwal

ANRF, New Delhi
Team

Prof. G. Roymahapatra

HIT, West Bengal
Team

Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee

IIT, Kharagpur
Team

Prof. Prachi Agarwal

BIRAC
Team

Prof. Manoj Prasad

NIPGR
Team

Prof. Sudesh K. Yadav

IHBT, Palampur
Team

Prof. Jyotsina Majumdar

IIT, Kharagpur
Team

Prof. Shiv Prasad

NCBS, Bengaluru
Team

Prof. Neeti Sanan Mishra

ICGEB, New Delhi

Registration Details

Registration/Abstract (Flash talks & Poster presentation)
Registration/abstract submission start date : 08-07-2026
Registration/submission of abstract deadline : 31-07-2026

Scholars

(Post-Doc / Ph.D.)
Rs 1000

  • All Sessions
  • Refreshments
  • Lunch
  • Conference Bag
  • Certificate
Register

Academicians

(Faculty / Scientists)
Rs 1500

  • All Sessions
  • Refreshments
  • Lunch
  • Conference Bag
  • Certificate
Register

Students

(UG / PG)
Rs 500

  • All Sessions
  • Refreshments
  • Lunch
  • Conference Bag
  • Certificate
Register

Industry

Persons
Rs 3000

  • All Sessions
  • Refreshments
  • Lunch
  • Conference Bag
  • Certificate
Register


Accommodation

Accommodation will be available for conference participants on prior request.:
Accommodation will be provided at University Guest house/ International Youth Hostel Zakura Campus/ NIT Srinagar to limited participants on first cum first serve upon request/preference during registration form submission as per rates mentioned below:
Faculty @ ₹1500
scholarls @ ₹1000
Students@ ₹500. during the conference days(6-8). However, participants can also work at their own level for accommodation at Hotels/Houseboats that may require advanced booking in view of tourist rush in September with tentative rates mentioned below: Economy Hotels: ₹ 1,500-25,00/person/night
Deluxe 3-star Hotels/Houseboat: ₹3,000-5,000/person/night
For further details contact: Rayees Ahmad Rather (+91 6006390073 /Jasia +91 9149462067)/Dr.Umer +91 8899637360

Event Sponsors

We are grateful to the following organizations / Sponsors for supporting this conference:

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Client
Client
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Client

Chief Patron

Prof. Nilofer Khan
Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir



Co-Patrons

Prof. S. Pirzada, Dean Academics, University of Kashmir

Prof. B. A. Ganai, Dean Research, University of Kashmir

Prof. Naseer Iqbal, Registrar, University of Kashmir

Prof. Fayaz Ahmad Dean School of Biological Sciences, UoK



Convenor

Prof. Aijaz Ahmad Wani, UoK



Organiser

Dr. Riffat John, Department of Botany, UoK



Co-Organiser

Dr. Krishan Kumar, ICAR- Indian Institute of Maize Research PAU Campus, Ludhiana, Punjab



Executive Organisig Committee

Prof. Zahoor A. Kaloo

Prof. Abdul Hamid Wani

Prof. Manzoor A. Shah

Prof. Seema Singh

Prof. M. Yaqub Bhat

Prof. Anzar A. Khuroo

Dr. Irfan Rashid

Dr. Latief Ahmad Peer

Dr. Mohammad Arif Zargar

Mr. Akhtar H. Malik



Organizing Team

Dr. Umer Majeed Wani

Dr. Neelofar Jan.

Dr. Asif Amin

Ms. Jasie Hamid.

Mr. Rayees A. Rather

Mr. Sakib Hassan

Mr. Danish Mohammad

Mr. Mohd. Arshad

Ms. Shabana Hassan

Mr. Rohid Rashid

Ms. Farah Sheikh



National Advisory Committee

Prof. S.K. Sopory

Prof. Giridhar Pandey, Delhi

Prof. Shakeel A Ramshoo

Prof. Ehtishamul Haq

Prof. Fouzia Rashid

Dr. Rajesh Khulbe, Almora

Dr. Mudasir Andrabi, Srinagar

Dr. Nasheeman Ashraf, Srinagar

Dr. Amjad M. Hussaini

Prof. Abid Hamid Dar

Dr. Vijay Kumar

Dr. Altaf A. Bhat

Dr. M. Muthamilarasan, Hyderabad



Get In Touch

  • Email address

    plantresilience@uok.edu.in

  • Phone No.

    6006390073, 8899637360, 9149462067

  • Location

    University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006



  • Organiser

    Dr. Riffat John (+91 9419412340)

  • Co-organiser

    Dr. Krishan Kumar ( +91 1612440048)

  • Travel and Accommodation

    6006390073

  • Conference Schedule / Updates

    8899637360