RCHID
DYSSEY
RCHID
DYSSEYooC e n t u r i o n U n i v e r s i t y o f T e c h n o l o g y & M a n a g e m e n t ,
O D I S H A
Science, Care, and
Conservation at CUTM
DYSSEY
RCHID
DYSSEYooC e n t u r i o n U n i v e r s i t y o f T e c h n o l o g y & M a n a g e m e n t ,
O D I S H A
Science, Care, and
Conservation at CUTM
oScience, Care, and
Conservation at CUTMRCHID
DYSSEYTheCENTURION UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
ODISHA, INDIA
2026
Compiled and curated by:
Genetic Engineering and Genomics Lab,
Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences
Centurion University of Technology and Management
Odisha, India
Conservation at CUTMRCHID
DYSSEYTheCENTURION UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
ODISHA, INDIA
2026
Compiled and curated by:
Genetic Engineering and Genomics Lab,
Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences
Centurion University of Technology and Management
Odisha, India
Orchids embody patience, precision, and quiet resilience. These are qualities that have shaped every institution I
have had the privilege to build. From microscopic beginnings in a sterile culture flask to the full grandeur of bloom,
the orchid's journey is not unlike the journey of an idea, or of a student, or indeed of a university: fragile at first,
sustained by care, and brought to fruition only through sustained discipline and time.
When we envisioned Centurion University of Technology and Management, our purpose was to create a space where
rigorous science and lived experience could grow side by side, where a laboratory could be as much a classroom as any
lecture hall, and where learning could be measured not only in degrees conferred but in ecosystems restored and
communities strengthened. The Orchid Odyssey is a fitting expression of that philosophy. It captures how our
researchers in the Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences, have turned the delicate science of
micropropagation into a living demonstration of what disciplined inquiry can achieve — multiplying rare and
endangered species, safeguarding biodiversity, and, in the process, teaching our students that conservation is not an
abstraction but a daily practice of attention and care.
This achievement also speaks about something much larger that Centurion University has long stood for - the
conviction that knowledge finds its truest purpose when it is rooted in place, in the soil, forests, and biodiversity of
Odisha and the Eastern Ghats, and shared generously with the communities among whom it grows. Just as our efforts
in skill-based, rural-rooted education have sought to bring opportunity to those often overlooked, this orchid
conservation initiative seeks to protect species that might otherwise be lost to neglect and ecosystems destruction.
I commend the Genetic Engineering and Genomics Lab and everyone who has nurtured this work, page by page and
plant by plant. May this book remind every reader that beauty, science, and responsibility are never separate pursuits,
rather they flourish, as orchids do, together.
Message from President
Prof. Mukti Kanta Mishra
President
have had the privilege to build. From microscopic beginnings in a sterile culture flask to the full grandeur of bloom,
the orchid's journey is not unlike the journey of an idea, or of a student, or indeed of a university: fragile at first,
sustained by care, and brought to fruition only through sustained discipline and time.
When we envisioned Centurion University of Technology and Management, our purpose was to create a space where
rigorous science and lived experience could grow side by side, where a laboratory could be as much a classroom as any
lecture hall, and where learning could be measured not only in degrees conferred but in ecosystems restored and
communities strengthened. The Orchid Odyssey is a fitting expression of that philosophy. It captures how our
researchers in the Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences, have turned the delicate science of
micropropagation into a living demonstration of what disciplined inquiry can achieve — multiplying rare and
endangered species, safeguarding biodiversity, and, in the process, teaching our students that conservation is not an
abstraction but a daily practice of attention and care.
This achievement also speaks about something much larger that Centurion University has long stood for - the
conviction that knowledge finds its truest purpose when it is rooted in place, in the soil, forests, and biodiversity of
Odisha and the Eastern Ghats, and shared generously with the communities among whom it grows. Just as our efforts
in skill-based, rural-rooted education have sought to bring opportunity to those often overlooked, this orchid
conservation initiative seeks to protect species that might otherwise be lost to neglect and ecosystems destruction.
I commend the Genetic Engineering and Genomics Lab and everyone who has nurtured this work, page by page and
plant by plant. May this book remind every reader that beauty, science, and responsibility are never separate pursuits,
rather they flourish, as orchids do, together.
Message from President
Prof. Mukti Kanta Mishra
President
At Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM),
the cultivation of orchids represents more than horticultural practice.
Orchid cultivation and conservation contribute directly to biodiversity
conservation, livelihood generation, climate resilience, and sustainable
economic development, making them highly relevant to the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From carefully
controlled laboratory environments to thoughtfully managed
polyhouses, each stage of orchid cultivation at CUTM is shaped by
knowledge, care, and time.
Orchid Odyssey at CUTM captures this journey with quiet elegance.
Through vivid imagery and thoughtfully curated narratives, the book
traces the life of orchids from microscopic origins to full bloom, while
highlighting the integration of science, tradition, and environmental
responsibility. It showcases how classrooms can extend beyond walls,
how laboratories can nurture living collections, and how students and
researchers learn by observing nature’s rhythms firsthand.
This volume is also a reflection of CUTM’s broader vision to blend
academic rigor with practical engagement and to foster an appreciation
for biodiversity through responsible cultivation and conservation. This
coffee-table book documents the complete orchid cultivation journey
at CUTM, capturing the harmony between laboratory innovation,
greenhouse expertise, and sustainable horticultural practices. Through
striking visuals and thoughtfully curated narratives, it offers readers a
glimpse into how orchids are nurtured, conserved, and celebrated
within an academic ecosystem. More than a botanical showcase, this
book stands as a testament to experiential learning, conservation
responsibility, and the art of growing life with intention.
Prof. Supriya Pattanayak
Vice Chancellor
Message from Vice Chancellor
the cultivation of orchids represents more than horticultural practice.
Orchid cultivation and conservation contribute directly to biodiversity
conservation, livelihood generation, climate resilience, and sustainable
economic development, making them highly relevant to the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From carefully
controlled laboratory environments to thoughtfully managed
polyhouses, each stage of orchid cultivation at CUTM is shaped by
knowledge, care, and time.
Orchid Odyssey at CUTM captures this journey with quiet elegance.
Through vivid imagery and thoughtfully curated narratives, the book
traces the life of orchids from microscopic origins to full bloom, while
highlighting the integration of science, tradition, and environmental
responsibility. It showcases how classrooms can extend beyond walls,
how laboratories can nurture living collections, and how students and
researchers learn by observing nature’s rhythms firsthand.
This volume is also a reflection of CUTM’s broader vision to blend
academic rigor with practical engagement and to foster an appreciation
for biodiversity through responsible cultivation and conservation. This
coffee-table book documents the complete orchid cultivation journey
at CUTM, capturing the harmony between laboratory innovation,
greenhouse expertise, and sustainable horticultural practices. Through
striking visuals and thoughtfully curated narratives, it offers readers a
glimpse into how orchids are nurtured, conserved, and celebrated
within an academic ecosystem. More than a botanical showcase, this
book stands as a testament to experiential learning, conservation
responsibility, and the art of growing life with intention.
Prof. Supriya Pattanayak
Vice Chancellor
Message from Vice Chancellor