Integration of Science, Engineering and Technology is the key to sustainable development
The 12th edition of the widely popular University Distinguished Lecture Series delved into the pertinent relationship between Science, Engineering and Technology. During the distinguished lecture, “Science-Engineering-Technology Synergy for Sustainable Growth”, Prof Indranil Manna well explained the correlation between the streams and how scientists, engineers and industry experts should work together for maximum societal benefits. Prof Indranil Manna, a JC Bose fellow of DST, is currently the Vice-Chancellor of BIT Mesra. The event took place on September 24, 2021, in virtual mode.
In his address, Prof Indranil Manna asserted that India is no longer a poor country but a mighty economic power with a 3 trillion dollar economy. “We are considered as one of the strongest nations of the world today, not because of the population or because of the youth living in the country, but we are the ones who could send mission to mars at the cheapest cost, and also successfully identified the existence of water on the surface of the moon. Further, we are one of the very few nuclear harnessing nations of the world,” said Prof Manna.
Science began its journey in order to find out the truths of nature. “Why?”- this question is the driving force behind Science. Though Science unravels nature and truth primarily through curiosity or need inspired acts, and the occasional outcome is significant earth-breaking discoveries, sometimes it needs technology to prove it. On the other hand, Engineering deals with “How?” and for Technology, the question is “What?”. Engineering produces certain products and devices by specific designs and inventions. However, what is absolutely essential for the society is Technology, knowledge through the path of knowing ‘why’ and ‘how’ to know ‘what’ sells. Thus, Prof Manna prescribes SET, a conjugation of Science+Engineering+Technology, as the way forward for maximum societal benefits.
Prof Manna explained that innovation means new ideas, creative thoughts, new imaginations in the form of a device or method. It is incremental, cross-disciplinary, directed and translational. Innovation matures itself via Engineering or Technological interventions. Further, sustainability is a composite concept that means the ability to maintain the desired rate or level, avoiding depletion of resources, energy or disturbing the related ecosystem.
Engineering and Technology are the key factors to sustainability. Engineers are not technicians meant only for routine production, maintenance or testing. Instead, Engineering applies the principles of science and logic to develop viable solutions to societal aspirations and challenges. The core of engineering lies in the translation, fundamental concepts to design, develop, fabricate, exploit, analyse, model, stimulate and predict,” Prof Manna elaborated.
Government of India’s Technology Vision-2035 focuses on developing the quality of life of each Indian. Science is pursuing the truth relentlessly regardless of its necessity or immediate scope of application. It provides clues, if not answers and extends as far as imagination goes. Engineering is all about enabling and providing solutions borrowing from the fundamentals of science. Technology is the last mile for societal benefit, based on scientific discovery and engineering inventions and innovations.
India is a great innovator and showcasing continuous gradual progress in it. In the Global Innovation Index (GII), India ranks 48 (2020), making it into the top 50 for the first time. Prof Manna believes that India has enough talent and potential to make it into the top 10. “Let us ensure that Science-Engineering-Technology in India complement each other and flourish together so that our society soon achieves the desired culture, growth and prosperity,” Prof Manna Concluded.
In his welcome address, Prof D Narayana Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, SRM University-AP, said that the development and use of Science & Technology are critical for the achievement and sustenance of various sectors. The importance of Science and Technology to modern society and the role of the technologically educated population in promoting social and environmental developments have long been recognised. Science and technology are considered the most effective means to enhance the growth and socio-economic developments of nations. Moreover, the universalism of science and the globalisation of technological production and trade offer unprecedented opportunities for focused cooperation for scientists, engineers and the institutions that employ them to further progress in sustainable development. Even, National Education Policy-2020 advocated multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research for sustainable development.
In his concluding remarks, Prof V S Rao, Vice-chancellor, SRM University-AP, congratulated Prof Indranil Manna on delivering such a motivating lecture. He further honoured him by presenting a memento.
- Published in News, Research Events, Research News, University Distinguished Lecture
Kalobaran Maiti to talk on “Selective Electron Excitations in Iron-based Superconductors”
In the 4th chapter of the “Eminent Guest Lecture Series: An Odyssey of Physics”, the Department of Physics welcomes Dr Kalobaran Maiti to deliver the keynote address. Winner of the “Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology” in the category of Physical Sciences in 2010, Dr Kalobaran Maiti is an exemplary researcher. We are honoured to host him at SRM University-AP for his talk on “Selective Electron Excitations in Iron-based Superconductors,” on October 09 2021 at 10:00 am .
Abstract:
Solids, a collection of a huge number (~10 23 ) of atoms, exhibit exotic behaviour due to complex interplay of spin, charge, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom that makes the study of the origin of such exoticism difficult. Heating a system via any method leads to excitation of all the degrees of freedom together. Therefore, studying the effect of a particular degrees of freedom without affecting others is a formidable task. We have discovered a unique method to heat electrons of a selected symmetry without affecting the other electrons via aligning the polarization of a pump light along the orbital lobe of the selected electrons to be heated, then study the excited system using a probe beam in a pump-probe experiment, called time-resolved ARPES. We demonstrated that it is possible to excite the selected electrons without affecting other electrons. Some published results [1,2] will be discussed in connection to the results of Fe-based superconductors.
About the speaker:
Currently a professor at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai (TIFR), Dr Kalobaran Maiti specialises in Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science. He received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for his contribution in the field of very high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy in understanding the physics of metal-insulator transition, charge density wave and Kondo systems. Dr Maiti obtained his PhD from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore (IISc) and is now a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences and Indian National Science Academy.
We encourage you to make use of this exclusive opportunity to interact with Dr Kalobaran Maiti and understand better the scopes and pathways for aspirants of a career in scientific research on October 09, 2021 at 10.00 am .
- Published in Events
Dr Tathagata Sengupta to speak on ‘Debt, Mathematics and Education’.
Department of Mathematics is organising the 16th edition of the “Departmental Weekly Seminar Series” on October 06, 2021, at 3 pm with Dr Tathagata Sengupta as the Chief Guest. Dr Tathagata Sengupta is from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and he is going to speak on ‘Debt, Mathematics and Education’.
The talk is based on the ongoing work of Dr Sengupta, where he and his collaborators deal with the sociological, emotional and intellectual impacts of mechanical reproduction of formal knowledge systems – such as those based on mathematical models – in the service of economies of endless repetition and mass reproduction. Symbols and formalisms can carry over across different paradigms of human existence, across both time and space, without the underlying meanings and subtleties necessarily being carried along. Such nominalisation of meanings only gets exacerbated under systems of massive mechanical reproduction. Mathematical models particularly are not just mere vehicles of computation but play a paradigmatic role in the very realisation of today’s political economy – being endlessly used to reproduce social relations that suit the interests of power and capital.
Specifically, Dr Sengupta and his team analyse a particular, basic microfinance model that aims to mathematise and thus aid in the management of micro-lending businesses. They describe how such a model not only tries to construct particular social realities and certain kinds of financial ‘common sense’ as such but also how pre-existing normative common sense is likewise codified into the model itself. They argue how such mathematical models have no independent truth value outside of specific historic processes, contexts and paradigms of public common sense – hoping that this allows us to fundamentally shift the culture of mathematical modelling in a way that respects such subtleties of human knowledge in their extremely rich, dynamic, plural, communistic wisdom and creativity.
Dr Sengupta’s main attempt is to push the discussion not only out of the binaries of ‘good/bad models’ but also beyond rule-based rationalist imaginations of ethics into the mundane and emotional – and yet creative, subtle and even magical – daily existence of ordinary people. Existence is marked by social relations of radical inequalities and radical unities. In particular, this also opens up possible directions to pursue intellectually and in practice, when it comes to the question of education.
Mathematics enthusiasts can avail this opportunity to listen to the captivating talk of Dr Tathagata Sengupta on October 06, 2021 at 3 pm.
- Published in Events, Math Events
Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality
Governments from across the globe highlight the need to scale up effective mental health services at all levels in the Covid-19 pandemic. As a part of observing World Mental Health Day, SRM University-AP is organising a three-day webinar series on the dates 8, 9, 10 October 2021, to raise awareness among students regarding preventable psychological conditions.
On October 8, at 6.45 pm, Ms Samitha, Counselling Psychologist with Fortis Malar, Chennai will take the session on the topic “Mastering your Mood”. On the second day, Dr Ninad Patwardhan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, SRM University-AP will elucidate on the topic “All stress begins with your thoughts” at 6.45 pm. Psychotherapist and Special Educator Dr Vasuprada Kartic will engage the session on October 10 on the topic “Mental health for 360-degree success” at 5 pm.
One of the primary causes of psychological disability is depression. Suicide is the second-biggest cause of death in people aged 15 to 29. Assistance for mental and neurological conditions have been severely hampered during the lockdown period. Some groups have been particularly affected, including health and other frontline workers, students, persons living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health issues.
About the Speakers:
Dr Vasuprada Kartic holds double Masters in Counseling and Psychotherapy with a Diploma in Special Education and is a PhD (AM) in Holistic Psychotherapy using complementary and alternative tools. She works as a Psychotherapist in private practice. She’s also a trainer and a live television counsellor.
Ms Samitha has volunteered actively in various Nonprofit organizations such as Sarvahitey that works towards equipping rural kids from age 5-13 with important life skills through interactive ways. She was also a part of a nonprofit organization called FEEL-IT which works towards spreading mental health awareness as well as promoting the use of sanitary menstrual products among the rural population.
Dr Ninad Patwardhan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at SRM University-AP. His research areas include cognitive psychology, social psychology and personality psychology.
Make sure you join these informative and healing sessions from 8 to 10 October 2021, organised as part of World Mental Health Day.
- Published in Events, Psychology
Prof Indranath Sengupta to illuminate on the unboundedness of Betti numbers
Department of Mathematics is organising the 17th Departmental Weekly Seminar on October 13, 2021, at 3 pm. Prof Indranath Sengupta from IIT Gandhinagar will be addressing the students on “Unboundedness of Betti numbers of some families of curves in affine and projective spaces”. Prof Indranath Sengupta will discuss some problems related to the unboundedness of Betti numbers of families of affine curves defined by Numerical semigroups. He will also indicate possible connections, with the help of examples, between the unboundedness of the last Betti number and the Cohen-Macaulayness of the projective closure of these affine curves. This work has been carried out in collaboration with Ranjana Mehta, Joydip Saha & Pranjal Srivastav.
Mathematics Departmental Seminar is widely popular among students and Mathematics enthusiasts. This seminar provides a homey environment where students can interact with renowned mathematicians. Eminent mathematicians and scholars have visited SRM University-AP and enjoyed conversations with students. Everyone is encouraged to take part in the exciting journey through the realms of Mathematics with Prof Indranath Sengupta on October 13, 2021, at 3 pm.
- Published in Events, Math Events
Career Development Guidance to Upgrade From “Option” to “Preference”
Career development skills are the difference between the person who seeks inspiration and the person who becomes one. SRM University-AP is happy to introduce Dr Manu K. Vora, a world-renowned mentor and facilitator to our Master’s students, PhD scholars and faculty members on October 23, 2021, Saturday from 9.00 am to 11.00 am for a session on “Career Development Guidance”.
Dr Vora is an ASQ (American Society of Quality) fellow and had previously served as Vice-President of ASQ Board of Directors and Chairperson of ASQ Chicago Section. He is also a member of AICTE-NEP 2020 Implementation Plan Committee. He had received his B. Tech degree from IIT, BHU and his M.S. and PhD from IIT, Chicago. He also has an MBA degree specializing in Marketing Management from Keller GSM in Chicago.
He has till date developed and offered career development and enhancement skills to over one million people. Dr Vora has also been featured in TED Talks both in India and USA. He has received 56 awards for professional soft skills and leadership development. But his contribution is not just limited to the professional skillsets with which he equips his audience. He has also received 35 awards for his philanthropic activities and has been the President of the Blind Foundation of India since 1989.
Presently, the President and the Chairperson of Business Excellence, Dr Vora has 46 years of Leadership experience guiding Fortune 500 companies and 28 years as Adjunct Faculty Globally in Operations Management. He has so far delivered 1170 presentations, published 70 scholarly articles, written 50 blogs on Quality Management and contributed his skills for the development of 680 educational institutes around the world.
To have such an eminent personality guide us is an opportunity second to none. We believe it will give our Master’s students and PhD scholars the career enhancement skills on which to build their presence in our brand and to develop the career development skills that would make them feathers in our cap. Make use of this exclusive opportunity to acquire the skills that are a match to the global leaders on October 23, 2021, Saturday from 9.00 am to 11.00 am with Dr Manu K. Vora.
Register to Join: https://bit.ly/SRMAP_Eminent-Lecture-Series
- Published in Events
Asphalt materials characterization: Trends and challenges
The Department of Civil Engineering at SRM University-AP organises the fifth lecture in the Distinguished Lecture Series on October 28, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Renowned Pavement and Materials Engineer, Derek Nener-Plante, M.S, P.E from FHWA Resource Center, Washington, DC, USA will engage the session on the topic “Asphalt Materials Characterization: Trends and Challenges”. The lecture aims to throw light on balanced mixture design, sustainability, quality assurance and related areas.
About the speaker
Derek is a Pavement and Materials Engineer for the FHWA Pavement and Materials Technical Services Team. He is responsible for leading implementation and deployment efforts in the areas of asphalt materials, asphalt pavement construction, materials and construction specifications, and quality assurance. Prior to joining the Resource Center in March 2020, Derek worked at MaineDOT for nearly ten years as the state asphalt pavement engineer. Derek earned his Master’s of Science in Transportation Engineering from the University of Connecticut and is a registered Professional Engineer.
All students are encouraged to make use of this informative session on October 28, 2021, at 5:30 pm to know more about the trends and challenges in the asphalt materials characterisation.
- Published in Civil Engg events, Departmental Events, Events, Webinars
Network Your Way Through with ‘Alumni Connect Programme’
Our alumni are not just our brand ambassadors but also the perfect network opportunity for current students to learn the nitty-gritty of professional acumens. SRM University-AP is elated to bring forward its alumni from many walks of life to share their experiences in an exclusive session on October 23, 2021, Saturday from 5 pm IST onwards in its Alumni Connect Programme.
This is an opportunity for all SRM University-AP students to get insights from the real-life experience of their alumni. The alumni will help the current students to have a clearer view of their future and the pathways available to them. The students can choose to emulate their inspirations or choose an entirely unexplored avenue for themselves.
Dr P Sathyanarayanan, President, SRM University-AP will inaugurate this event and deliver the inaugural address to motivate both the current students and the alumni. The inaugural address will be followed by the message from Prof V S Rao, Vice-Chancellor, SRM University-AP. The event will move forward with another message by Prof D Narayana Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, SRM University-AP. After the addresses by the esteemed dignitaries, the Alumni Yearbook-2021 would be launched by the President in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
The event will be further advanced with talks given by the Alumni. Their journey will help the students understand the framework of professional possibilities better. Students will be able to plan their co-curricular skills more accurately during their time in the University to do better in the placement drive to land their dream jobs in their dream companies with a sought-after salary.
Those who are interested in pursuing higher education in world-renowned Universities will learn about the procedures and aids that were availed by our alumni during their turns. This will help them plan their education responsibly.
Moreover, those who dream to be entrepreneurs in future would benefit from the know-hows of their predecessors about the challenges both expected and unexpected and how their alumni were able to overcome those. The importance of ‘networking with other entrepreneurs and gaining knowledge from their perspectives’ cannot be overstated for aspiring businessmen.
At the end of the event, Ms Revathi B, Assistant Director, Student Affairs would facilitate the stage for interaction between the current and the former students. To conclude the event, Dr Sujith Kalluri, Assistant Director, Alumni Affairs would offer a concluding speech to mark the closing of the event.
Join the event on October 23, 2021, Saturday from 5 pm IST to take this opportunity to see what your future might look like after SRM University-AP with our Alumni Connect Programme.
Register to Join: https://bit.ly/SRMAP_AlumniConnect
- Published in Events
Distinguished lecture on India’s initiatives on polar and ocean research
The Distinguished Lecture Series organised by the Department of Civil Engineering at SRM University-AP offers a congenial atmosphere in which students can connect with eminent scientists. The fourth episode in the series is scheduled to be held on October 23, 2021 (Saturday) from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Dr M V Ramesh, Senior Scientist, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa – Ministry of Earth Science, GOI will be the guest speaker to deliver the lecture.
The lecture will cover topics such as the scientific programmes focusing on bipolar activities i.e. Antarctica as well as Arctic multi-disciplinary approach studies. Logistic support provided for Antarctica in particular as a nodal agency, LCS(Legal Continental Shelf), Bathymetric surveys of EEZ(Exclusive Economic Zone) in the deeper waters, Southern ocean Oceanography which is supposed to control the monsoon of India as well as South Asian countries will also be discussed. Other topics include ice core analysis of Antarctica for the better understanding of paleoclimate, polar remote sensing studies, and cryospheric studies in polar regions and Himalayas.
About the speaker
Dr M V Ramesh is a Senior Scientist and coordinator who obtained his doctorate (PhD) from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam in 1994 in Marine Geology. He worked on sedimentology and Geochemistry primarily on continental shelf sediments off Kalingapatnam-Pentakota, the East coast of India. He has pursued his post-doctoral course in a DST sponsored project- a collaboration project between Geology and Anthropology at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He had been deputed to Adikavi Nannaya University as a Visiting Scientist for one year during 2007-2008 and his teaching services have been availed off successfully to the students of Department of Geo-informatics in the I, II, and III semesters for a period of nearly 1 year He had been deputed to various multi-disciplinary cruises ( inclusive in the capacity as Deputy Chief scientist) as many as 18 in Number comprising 450 ship days inclusive of EEZ surveys/cruises, Post Tsunami multi-disciplinary cruise off Andaman & Nicobar Islands, exploration of polymetallic nodules on onboard Sagar Kanya and including the one Southern Ocean Expedition(2009) which proceeded up to 66.5◦S i.e. touching the Antarctica waters on onboard Academic Boris Petrov a Russian vessel. He had been deputed to Oman in Indo-US-Oman multidisciplinary cruise for a period of 14 days onboard Sagar Kanya. Altogether, he had been deputed 850 days on official duties. He has to his credit 36 scientific papers in various National as well as International Journals related to the Bay of Bengal, Arabia and in oceanography as a whole. His research areas are primarily sedimentology, clay mineralogy primarily off-shelf sediments and deep-sea sediment cores. He had worked on RS studies and GIS Technologies in NRSA, Ministry of space, Hyderabad for a period of 12 weeks during 2006-07. He has been actively involved in Outreach activities for more than 10 years in giving his services to students, Professors, Scientists and delegates from four corners of the Nation as well abroad (schools, colleges, universities and R&Ds).
Join this intriguing online lecture on October 23, 2021, at 09.30 am and enrich your knowledge through the scholarly voice of Dr M V Ramesh!
- Published in Civil Engg events, Departmental Events, Events, Webinars
Vivid minerals and colourful crystals: an inquiry into the creation of coloured compounds
The Department of Chemistry brings to all the distinguished Dr Srinivasan Natarajan for Department Lecture Series 2 on October 23, 2021, Saturday at 11.00 am. He is a professor in the Solid-State and Structural Chemistry Unit, IISc, Bangalore.
Dr Srinivasan Natarajan has devoted his research towards Inorganic Solid-State Materials Chemistry specifically into Synthesis, structure and Heterogeneous Catalysis of solids, Magnetism, Electrocatalysis (OER/ORR/HER), and Li-ion Battery Materials, Inorganic Pigments, and Multiferroics.
Dr Natarajan has to his name over 300 publications. He is also a member of numerous Editorial Boards such as European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry (Wiley-VCH) (2005-2015), Chemistry – An Asian Journal (Wiley-VCH) (2015-present), Chemistry Select (Wiley-VCH) (2016–present), Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie (ZAAC) (Wiley-VCH) (2012–present), Crystal Growth and Design (ACS) (2012-2018), Associate Editor in Bulletin of Materials Science (Springer) (2013-2017), Chief Editor in Journal of Chemical Sciences, (Springer) (2019-present), Board Member in Current Science (2018-present), and Associate Editor in Resonance, Journal of Sci. Education (Springer) (2009-2014)
He is an Elected Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences (Bangalore), National Academy of Sciences (India), The Indian National Science Academy as well as a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry. Along with it, he has also been accorded as a Ramanna Fellow (DST, Government of India) (2007–2013), a JC-Bose National Fellow (SERB, Government of India) (2013–2023), a member of Research Council, CECRI, Karaikudi (2013-2016) a member of PAC, Inorganic/Physical Chemistry (2012–2018) at SERB, Government of India, and also the Chairman of PAC, SRG and NPDF (2019-present) at SERB, Government of India.
Dr Natarajan has attended as a visiting professor in RMIT, Melbourne, Australia from 2018-2020. He has many allocates to his name such as Professor P.K. Bose Memorial Medal Lecture from Indian Chemical Society, Professor Balakrishnan Endowment lecture medal from Madras University, and Professor S. Swaminathan 60th Birthday commemoration medal from INSA
Take part in this colourful session on October 23, 2021, Saturday from 11.00 am onwards.
Register to Join: https://bit.ly/SRMAP_Chemistry-Lecture-Series-02
Coordinator: Dr. Maram Pardha Saradhi, Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, SRM-AP.
- Published in Events