Prakriti Gyan Dham: CSIR-NBRI Opens Eco-Educational Hub in Lucknow

The CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) has opened a new eco-educational hub in Lucknow, bringing scientific research, botanical heritage, biodiversity conservation and experiential learning together under one platform. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated Prakriti Gyan Dham to the nation at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre in Banthra, Lucknow.

Described as a first-of-its-kind facility, the hub has been designed to take scientific knowledge beyond laboratories and conventional institutional campuses. Its objective is to create a more accessible environment where students, researchers, educators, nature enthusiasts and members of the public can engage directly with plant science, environmental conservation and India’s botanical heritage.

The initiative also reflects a broader effort to connect scientific institutions with society by demonstrating how research can contribute to education, environmental awareness, livelihoods and sustainable development.

Bringing Science Closer to Society

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised the need for scientific institutions to make their technologies, innovations and achievements more accessible to farmers, entrepreneurs, students, industry and the wider public.

He also called for greater use of digital and social media platforms to communicate scientific developments and showcase technologies that could create livelihood opportunities. Greater coordination among government departments, ministries and scientific institutions was also highlighted as a way of increasing the social impact of research.

Prakriti Gyan Dham has been conceived around this principle of accessibility. Rather than presenting botanical knowledge only through conventional displays, the facility uses living collections, heritage trails, digital interpretation and interactive experiences to make learning more engaging.

A Living Repository of Botanical Heritage

One of the central features of the hub is its role as a living repository of India’s botanical and cultural heritage. Visitors can explore plant diversity while learning about conservation, ecological regions, and the practical applications of plant science.

A major attraction is the PAaVan Path, or Plants and Associated Vegetations for Appreciating Nature. The interpretive heritage trail features curated plant collections representing different ecological regions and vegetation types.

The Indian Heritage Garden adds a historical dimension to the experience. It contains trees propagated from locations associated with India’s cultural and freedom history, including:

• The Bawan Imli Tamarind Tree from Fatehpur, associated with the sacrifice of 52 freedom fighters
• The Mother Dussehri Mango Tree from Lucknow
• The Patalpuri Banyan of Prayagraj
• A mango tree planted by Mahatma Gandhi at Bhitiharwa in Champaran
• Descendants of trees associated with the Dandi March route in Gujarat

QR-enabled audio systems allow visitors to access botanical, historical and cultural information about these heritage trees using smartphones.

Learning About Threatened and Indigenous Plants

The facility also places strong emphasis on biodiversity conservation. The Vibhav Enclave showcases rare and endangered plants while highlighting concerns surrounding biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, climate change and the conservation of plant genetic resources.

Another section, the Bhairav Enclave, features officially designated State Plants from different states and Union Territories. The display explores their ecological, cultural and symbolic significance, allowing visitors to understand how plants are connected with both natural ecosystems and regional identities.

The hub also houses a Bamboosteum featuring 43 indigenous and exotic bamboo species. The collection demonstrates the wider potential of bamboo as a renewable bioresource, including its applications in ecological restoration, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, traditional crafts, green infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods.

From Plant Science to Practical Innovation

Prakriti Gyan Dham is not limited to environmental education. The inauguration also highlighted CSIR-NBRI’s efforts to transfer scientific research into products and technologies that can be used by industry and communities.

An herbal formulation for male reproductive health, developed in collaboration with Himalaya, was launched during the event. Four plant-based technologies were also transferred to the Kudumbashree State Poverty Eradication Mission in Kerala. These included Herbal Anti-Dandruff Hair Care Oil, Frotus: Lotus-inspired Perfume, Frotus: Rudra Perfume and Herbal Nano Serum.

The transfers are intended to support women-led entrepreneurship and livelihood generation through science-based products.

CSIR-NBRI also transferred its Design and Development of a Low-Cost Photobioreactor technology to Lucknow-based Witwake Solutions Pvt. Ltd., strengthening the connection between scientific research and industrial application.

Experiential Learning Beyond the Classroom

The educational potential of the new hub is particularly significant for students. Instead of learning about biodiversity, conservation and plant science solely through textbooks, learners can observe living collections and interact with interpretive resources.

For educators, the facility can provide opportunities to connect classroom concepts with real-world examples. Topics such as ecology, climate change, biodiversity, sustainable development and plant biology can be explored through direct observation and guided experiences.

This approach reflects the growing importance of experiential learning in contemporary education, where students are encouraged to understand concepts through observation, exploration and practical engagement.

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Connecting Education, Science and Sustainability

The launch of Prakriti Gyan Dham also demonstrates how scientific institutions can contribute to environmental education while preserving cultural knowledge. By combining botanical collections with heritage information and digital tools, the hub creates an environment where science is presented alongside history, culture and sustainability.

The facility is expected to serve students, researchers, educators and the general public, strengthening public engagement with scientific knowledge.

For EducationToday, the initiative offers an important example of how learning spaces can evolve beyond traditional classrooms and laboratories. A facility that allows learners to experience biodiversity first-hand can encourage greater environmental awareness while helping young people recognise the relationship between scientific knowledge, conservation and everyday life.

A Model for Public Engagement with Science

Prakriti Gyan Dham represents an effort to make India’s botanical wealth more visible, accessible and meaningful to a wider audience. Its combination of heritage gardens, threatened plant collections, bamboo resources, digital interpretation and technology-oriented initiatives gives the facility an educational purpose that extends beyond a conventional botanical display.

The initiative also reinforces the idea that scientific research becomes more valuable when its findings can reach communities, students, entrepreneurs and industries.

As environmental challenges become increasingly complex, spaces that connect scientific understanding with practical conservation and sustainable livelihoods can play an important role in building informed communities. Prakriti Gyan Dham seeks to create precisely such a connection, bringing India’s botanical heritage and contemporary plant science together in an accessible educational setting.