Dr M. Navas, Scientific Officer at the State Medicinal Plant Board in Kerala, holds a postgraduate Degree in Botany and a PhD in Medicinal Plants. Dr Navas has extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of medicinal plants, including their standardization, cultivation, propagation, processing, and sustainable utilization and its Traditional Knowledge. In his current role, Dr Navas works closely with various stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, and government officials, to promote the sustainable cultivation, Research and conservation of medicinal plants in Kerala.

Focused areas:

Dr Navas has a total of 25 years of research experience in the field of Plant Taxonomy and Herbarium Techniques, Plant Anatomy, Pharmacognosy (Raw Drug Standardisation), ethnobotany/Ethnomedicine, Participatory Conservation Programme of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Systematic Documentation of Indigenous / Traditional Knowledge related to Food and Medicine, Plant-based rural primary health care programme and Preparation of Database and resource mapping on Medicinal plants. During this period associated with 25 research projects, of which in 14 projects as Co-investigator including Assessment of Medicinal Plant Resources of Kerala, Coastal Ethnobotany of Kerala, Ethnomedicinal survey and Systematic Documentation of Traditional Knowledge among the Selected Tribes of Kerala etc. , Currently working on the project ‘Systematic Documentation of Traditional Knowledge (TK) Related To Plants Used For Food'.

Academics and profession:

• PhD in Botany on the topic “Anatomical and Histological Studies on the Genus Sida L. (Malvaceae) of Peninsular India with
  Special Focus on the Botanical Source of the Drug, Bala from JNTBGRI, Palode, University of Kerala (January 2015)
• M.Sc. in Botany, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil, M.S. University, Tirunelveli (April 2001)
• LL. B. from Govt. Law College Thiruvananthapuram, University of Kerala (Feb. 1999)

Recent positions:

• Senior Scientific Officer, State Medicinal Plants Board Kerala.
• Member, Advisory Committee, Departmental Research Wing, Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram (From 2022).
• Joint Secretary, Society of Ethnobotanists, Lucknow (Kerala Chapter) (From 2020).
• Associate Editor, Journal of Traditional Folk Practices, JNTBGRI, Palode Thiruvananthapuram; (From 2015).
• Assistant Editor, Journal of Traditional Folk Practices, KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram (2013-2015 ).
• Co-Investigator in "Ayush And Indigenous Medicine’ and Systematic documentation and Bio-prospecting of ethnomedically important medicinal plants on tribal/traditional knowledge through molecular pharmacological approach". https://kscste.kerala.gov.in/ayush_project/
• Actively involved in the establishment of two model nurseries at Achankovil and Kottor under World Bank Project on Pilot Participatory Programme on Consevation and Sustainable Utilization of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants; and a Medicinal Garden at Kallar, Vithura Gramapanchayath, Thiruvananthapuram District as part of implementation of Herbs for All and Health for All project.

Publications:

Published Books -6 , Chapters in the books- 4,
Research Papers – 27 - (4 international), communicated 1,
Pharmacopoeial monographs - 11 (published by Govt. of India),
Abstracts in proceedings- 48, Papers presented -29,
Popular articles - 3, Other publications – 7.
A detailed list of publications in pdf can be downloaded here.

Professional Affiliations:

• FNSE (Fellow of National Society of Ethnopharmacology, India, 2015)
• FIAT (Fellow of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy, 2018)
• FSASS (Fellow of Scholars Academic and Scientific Society (SAS Society), Assam, 2021)

Memberships in Academic/Scientific bodies:

1. Life Member, Scholars Academic and Scientific Society (SAS Society), Assam, 2021.
2. Life Member, Society of Ethnobotanists, Lucknow, 2020 and Joint Secretary (OS), Kerala Chapter.
3. Member, Sastrabharathi (A Professional Scientific Body for Research and Development, Kerala) 2018.
4. Life Member, National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS), Chennai (2016).
5. Life Member, Kerala Academy of Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram (2012).
6. Member, INCITE Science and Technology Consortium, Thiruvananthapuram.
7. Life Member, Indian Society for Ethnopharmacology, Thiruvananthapuram (2011).
8. Life Member, Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT), Kozhikkode (2008).
9. Member, OISCA International – Japan – Thiruvananthapuram chapter (2002).
10. Volunteer, Conservation of Nature Trust, Nagercoil (2001).

Awards/ Honours :

• Received Letter of Appreciation from Director Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur
  for the active involvement in the conduct of 31st Kerala Science Congress 29th in 2017.
• Best Paper Presentation Award during the UGC National Seminar on Flowering Plant Diversity and Reproductive Biology
  held at FMN College, Kollam on 07-08-2015
• T R Sahu Award (2011) of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT) for best paper in Medicinal Plant Systematics, 2011
  during the 21st Annual Conference and National Seminar held at IMMT Bhubaneswar from 2-4-December 2011.
• K.M. Sarasamma Endowment Prize (2001) from S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil for securing highest marks in M.Sc Botany Examination of
  M.S. University, Tirunelveli, held in April 2001.
• First prize in Quiz Competition for college students held at 7th Flower Show
  conducted by Kanyakumari Dist. Horticultural Society during 21st and 22nd January 2000.
• First prize in Enviro- Quiz conducted by Fraternity of Nature Loving Teachers Association
  held at Dooradarshan Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram in 1993.