‘Research and collaboration fosters innovation'
Mangaluru: The department of chemistry and the Central Research Facility (CRF) at NITK Surathkal will hold a five-day National Symposium on Advances in Functional Materials for Energy and Catalytic Applications (AFMECA). It was inaugurated on Wednesday.In his inaugural address, Ajay Mehta, vice-president of Shell India, stressed the critical role of research and collaboration in fostering innovation. Highlighting challenges such as CO₂ conversion, industry electrification, and electric vehicle penetration, he emphasised the importance of forums like AFMECA in uniting experts to address pressing global issues. "This symposium is a vital platform for fostering new ideas and advancing research," Mehta remarked, advocating for collective efforts to develop impactful solutions through shared knowledge and technology.Kannan Srinivasan, director of CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, in his address, lauded the symposium's theme and its focus on engaging young researchers. He highlighted the potential of youth to shape the future through advancements in science, technology, and collaboration. Noting the complexity of modern challenges, he stressed the necessity of disruptive thinking and unconventional perspectives in driving innovation. He emphasised the transformative potential of functional materials, catalysis, and molecular innovations, urging attendees to apply these technologies to solve real-world problems. Uday Bhat, dean of research and consultancy at NITK Surathkal, presided over the event.The symposium features 13 expert lectures by distinguished academicians and scientists from institutions including IIT Hyderabad, IIT Dharwad, IIT Ropar, NIT Calicut, IISER Tirupati, CSIR-CSMCRI, CSIR Karaikudi, VIT Vellore, and JNCASR Bengaluru, alongside five lectures delivered by experts from NITK Surathkal. Additionally, industry professionals will discuss advancements in energy transition, catalysis, and materials design, emphasising India's role in integrating scientific innovation with environmental and economic sustainability.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
Over 20 lakh from tribal areas screened for sickle cell anaemia in past 8 years: CSIR DG
The genetic disorder affects red blood cells, making them sickle-shaped, instead of the usual round one. Common symptoms include acute painful episodes, blocking of blood vessels and possible organ damage. Introduced in the Union Budget 2023 and launched in July the same year, the 'National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission' is aimed at eliminating the blood disease from the country by the end of 2047. New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) More than 20 lakh people from tribal areas have been screened since we started the sickle cell anaemia project eight years back, said CSIR's Director General Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, terming it among the institute's more successful missions. Speaking to PTI Videos, Kalaiselvi, who is also the Secretary of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said, 'While the country started talking about sickle cell anaemia only three years back, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) started addressing sickle cell anaemia eight years back, thanks to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, who gave the funding for the first five to six years.' 'It is actually one of our very visionary, successful missions, I would say,' she said. Kalaiselvi made history when she was appointed the first woman chief of CSIR — the country's largest research and development organisation, with 37 national laboratories and over 3,400 scientists. She explained that the sickle cell anaemia mission was divided into three parts, first being the screening and surveillance done by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. 'If you just see the screening and surveillance, it is a great success story for our team, headed by Dr Giriraj Chandak (at CCMB), which went to Raipur, Bilaspur and other places,' Kalaiselvi said, adding that 20 lakh people have been screened so far. 'They interacted with the tribal communities and provided counselling pre and post-marriage, before and during pregnancy, and also after child birth,' she explained. 'The second part looked at drugs and medicines that could be utilised for sickle cell anaemia. This was headed by the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology,' Kalaiselvi added. The third part, involving genome sequencing and editing, was headed by the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, the 58-year-old said. Kalaiselvi said, 'Now, after five to six years, we realised the great potential of coming up with a sickle cell anaemia detection kit, developed by (Chandak's) group.' Explaining the working of the kit, she said, 'Using one drop of dried blood, you can easily understand if you have a threat of developing sickle cell anaemia… if you are a carrier or patient… or what is the severity of the condition.' 'It is going to cost even less than Rs 100, and you need not depend upon sophisticated instruments from now onwards,' she added. Born in February, 1967, in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district, Kalaiselvi graduated with a Bachelors in Chemistry from Government Arts College in Tirunelveli. She obtained a Post Graduate Degree in Chemistry from Coimbatore's Government Arts College and completed her PhD at Annamalai University, Chidambaram. Kalaiselvi also talked about introducing lithium and sodium ion batteries in the consumer market. 'Thanks to the Government of India, with the 'Production Linked Incentive' (PLI) scheme, we have established a full-fledged facility in Chennai wherein one can produce 1,000 cylindrical lithium ion cells,' the director general said. The PLI scheme is among the Central government's efforts directed at positioning the country as a global manufacturing hub through innovation, efficiency and competitiveness. Kalaiselvi also said that lithium resources have been identified in India, at least in four places, even as she desisted from naming them. PTI DR KRS KRS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
NITK Surathkal Vs IIIT Pune: Which engineering institute is better in CSE?
The JoSAA Round 2 seat allotment results for JEE Advanced 2025 counselling have been announced. While top-ranking candidates may have secured seats in the IITs, many students who did not make it past the cut-offs still have the opportunity to join some of India's premier engineering institutions such as the 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and 47 Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) participating in JoSAA this year. Among the most sought-after courses in these institutions is Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). Here's a look at two such options, namely, NIT Karnataka (Surathkal) and IIIT Pune, across key academic and career-related parameters. READ | NIT Trichy Vs IIIT Hyderabad NIT Karnataka, also known as NITK Surathkal, was established in 1960 as Karnataka Regional Engineering College and was granted NIT status in 2002. The institute is located in Mangaluru, Karnataka, and has a 296-acre campus near the Arabian Sea. Over the decades, it has built a solid reputation in various engineering disciplines, particularly in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering. In contrast, IIIT Pune was established in 2016 under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. It is currently operating from a transit campus within Pune city, while its permanent campus is under development at Nanoli Tarf Chakan, on the outskirts of Pune. Being a newer institute, IIIT Pune was launched with an emphasis on Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and related emerging fields. According to the NIRF 2024 rankings, NITK Surathkal is ranked 12th in the Engineering category. It also features within the top 55 institutions across all categories, reflecting its standing in academics, research, and employability outcomes. On the other hand, IIIT Pune did not rank in the NIRF 2024 categories of overall and engineering. For the 2023–24 academic year, NITK Surathkal's Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) branch reported a highest package of Rs 55 lakh per annum and an average package of Rs 23.24 lakh per annum. The on-campus placement rate for BTech CSE was 83.59%. Major recruiters included Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, and Adobe, among others. At IIIT Pune, the highest package for the 2020–2024 CSE batch was Rs 43 lakh per annum, with an average package of Rs 13.6 lakh per annum. Recruiters for this batch included Oracle, Persistent Systems, and Elastic Run. The official placement cell reports 100 per cent placement for eligible students in earlier batches, but the exact placement percentage for 2023–24 has not been reported. NITK Surathkal offers a wide range of academic programs beyond the undergraduate level. These include MTech degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and other engineering disciplines. The institute also offers MBA and MCA programmes and has active PhD programs across its departments, contributing to its research ecosystem. IIIT Pune currently offers undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE). At the postgraduate level, it has introduced MTech programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AI and IoT) starting from the 2019–20 academic session. It also offers PhD programmes in selected specialisations within computer science and engineering. At the same time, IIIT Pune has extended the registration deadline for the Post Graduate Admissions in Master of Technology (Without Scholarship) – July 2025 session. The new date is July 5. Applicants are advised to complete their submissions before the extended deadline.
United News of India
2 days ago
- United News of India
India ranks 6th largest producer of chemicals, contributing 7pc to GDP
Thiruvananthapuram, June 27 (UNI) India ranks as the sixth-largest chemical producer globally, with the sector contributing 7pc to the national GDP. Highlighting the global relevance of organic and materials chemistry, Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director of CSIR-NIIST, emphasised the need for climate-smart, low-carbon chemistries and the integration of technologies like AI and automation to accelerate innovation in the sector. He said this while inaugurating the National Conference on Advances in Organic and Materials Chemistry (AOMC-2025), organised by the institute's Chemical Sciences and Technology Division (CSTD), which is part of the Golden Jubilee Conclave Series commemorating 50 years of scientific excellence. The two-day conference aims to bring together leading scientists, industry experts, academicians, and young researchers to discuss recent advancements and emerging trends in the fields of organic and materials chemistry. Reflecting on the evolution of India's research ecosystem, Prof. T. K. Chakraborty, Professor at IISc Bangalore and former Director of CSIR-CDRI, encouraged the younger generation to leverage the tools and infrastructure available today. Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana, Director, RGCB, called for broader inclusivity in research employment, while Prof. Jiju P. Alex, Member, Kerala State Planning Board, spoke on Kerala's strategic plans to transform Thiruvananthapuram into a knowledge-driven research hub. A special felicitation was conferred upon Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana for his outstanding contributions to science. UNI DS ARN
