Department of Zoology

The first Science Department of this prestigious university was instituted by the senate in the year 1925. The department was started in the year 1927 in a single room in the "Marine villa", with Sir K. Ramunni Menon, M. A. (Cantab), I.E.S; as Honorary Director with one research student. When Sir K. Ramunni Menon became Vice-Chancellor of University of Madras in 1929, Prof. R. Gopala Iyer, M. A., L. T., M. Sc., was appointed as full time Director. The Department was subsequently moved to a spacious building, the "Madras Aquarium & Lumbdi Gardens" at Royapettah. In 1932, the Department was shifted to its own building at Chepauk, presently housing Department of French and Engineering wing of University of Madras.

Courses Offered :

=> M.Sc. Zoology
=> M.Phil in Zoology
=> P.G. Diploma in Immunotechnology
=> P.G. Diploma in Stem Cell Biology & Tissue Engineering

Research :

=> Being ideally placed for marine research, the Department has been researching on various aspects of Marine Biology with special reference to.
=> Biology of coastal marine organisms.
=> Productivity of sea through planktonic studies including the one and the only "planktonic calendar' for the Madras coast.
=> Physiology & Pathology of marine organisms with special reference to reproduction growth, moulting, nutrition and immunobiology of marine and brackish water organisms.
=> Ecology of coastal environment.
=> The Biology of marine bio-fouling organisms.
=> Entomology: Insect Pest Management - Natural Biopolymers with Potential Biomedical Applications
Herbal Sciences: Anti-atherosclerotic, Anti- cancer, Anti- Cataractogenic and pesticidal herbal compounds and products.

Other Research Facilities :

=> Tissue Culture Facility COSIST - UGC
=> Live Feed Culture Facility DOD - Govt. of India
=> Insectarium UPE / HSP - UGC
=> Computation & Internet facility DST - FIST - Govt. of India
=> EMCB - ENVIS Centre DOEN & F - Govt. of India
=> Circulating Sea Water Systems UGC - X Plan Grant
=> Animal House Non-Plan grant