CHANDIGARH: The Platinum Jubilee of the Paleontological Society of India (PSI) was celebrated through a significant field program jointly organized by the Tethys Fossil Museum, Kasauli, and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali. The field excursion began in Chandigarh and concluded at the Tethys Fossil Museum near Subathu, Himachal Pradesh, highlighting the region’s rich geological and paleontological heritage.
The program witnessed the enthusiastic participation of six students—three each from Panjab University (PU) and IISER Mohali.
Led by Dr. Ritesh Arya, Guinness World Record holder and Founder of the Tethys Fossil Museum, the excursion resulted in a noteworthy discovery: the first report of silicified fossil wood from the Lower Siwalik sandstone beds near Tipra village, located along the Himachal–Haryana border. This discovery, made during a roadside quarry stop, underscores the paleobotanical significance of the region and enhances the expanding fossil collection of the Tethys Fossil Museum. Although the internal structure of the fossil wood is obscured due to silicification, collaborative research with the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) is planned to further investigate its scientific value.
To recognize the participants’ contributions, certificates of participation were awarded by Miss Riddhi Pal, CEO of the Subathu Cantonment Board, in a special appreciation ceremony held at the museum. A congratulatory message from Dr. Rajiv Nigam, President of the Paleontological Society of India, was shared with the participants. On behalf of PSI, he expressed gratitude to Dr. Ritesh Arya and Dr. Harsha Dhiman for successfully organizing the program. He also acknowledged the institutional support of Panjab University and IISER Mohali, and extended a warm invitation to all participants to join the final Platinum Jubilee celebrations to be held at NIO, Goa, in October.
This collaborative field program marks a meaningful step toward advancing paleontological research, strengthening academic partnerships, and promoting geoheritage awareness across India.