RONO HILLS, Apr 26: A three-day Science Academies’ lecture workshop on ‘Contemporary Topics in Chemical Sciences’, organized by the Rajiv Gandhi University’s Department of Chemistry in tandem with the Joint Science Education Panel (JSEP) of three science academies - Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc), Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi and The National Academy of Sciences India (NASI), Allahabad concluded at the RGU premises here today.
More than 120 undergraduate and post-graduate students, research scholars and faculties from various colleges, universities and institutes of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam took part in the event.
The three-day event served as a platform for the students, research scholars and young faculty members to interact with some of the most eminent academy fellows from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata and IIT, Bombay who are actively involved in teaching and research in chemical sciences.
The inaugural day set the tone with an invigorating address by JSEP chairperson Prof Pushpendu K Das from IISc, Bengaluru. He stated that the workshop will revitalize the advancement of chemical science in Arunachal Pradesh and encouraged the students, especially those from Arunachal to take advantage of various summer intern fellowships offered by the science academies.
RGU Vice Chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha said that the workshop was aimed at reaching out to the less privileged but bright young minds of our society who have the zeal to learn and know key scientific concepts through a wonderful and magical world of chemistry.
He also encouraged the students of this region to make the best of this opportunity to interact with distinguished academy fellows from leading institutions in India and enrich their understanding of science.
Dr N T Rikam (RGU Registrar) said that Rajiv Gandhi University, despite its geographical and infrastructural disadvantage, has been trying to mark its footprint in the field of teaching and research in diverse areas of science education.
The University is now at an inflection point and there are several enabling initiatives that have been taken in recent years such as setting up of a Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) in RGU to fuel and accelerate the research in Arunachal Pradesh in particular and Northeast India in general.
The convener of the workshop, Prof Suhrit Ghosh from IACS, Kolkata, while speaking on the objectives and expected outcome of the workshop, said that the event will serve as a platform not only for sharing knowledge but also for nurturing the next generation of innovators and leaders in chemical sciences.
Moreover, Prof Ghosh encouraged the students, research scholars and young faculty members from RGU and other institutes to seize this opportunity to engage, learn, and grow, as they embark on their journey of academic pursuit.
Dr Rajesh Chakrabarty, Head, Department of Chemistry (RGU), highlighted the steps taken by the department for promotion of science education in Arunachal Pradesh.
The inaugural session was attended by Deans of faculties, Heads, Directors of various departments and Institutes of RGU.
Subsequent sessions delved into multifaceted topics, catering to diverse interests and specialties.
Prof Uday Maitra (FNA, FNASc) from IISc, Bengaluru engaged in a lively discussion on molecules that seem to ‘defy rules’.
Prof Somobrata Acharya (FNASc, FASc) from IACS, Kolkata deliberated on the world of nanotechnology and its transformative impact on modern science.
Prof Ruchi Anand (FNA) from IIT, Bombay captivated the students with her insights into the understanding of enzymes and their journey from laboratory to the devices.
Prof Suhrit Ghosh spoke about the field of antimicrobial materials and their potential in healthcare.
Dr Anindita Das (associate INSA fellow) from IACS, Kolkata treated the participants with engaging lectures on biopolymers and supramolecular polymers.
Prof Pushpendu discussed the chemical reaction rates and their application in understanding chemical reaction mechanisms.
One of the highlights of the workshop was a hands-on laboratory session on the third day conducted by Prof Uday Maitra where participants had the opportunity to engage in experimental demonstrations and gain practical insights into interesting chemical reactions and phenomena. This immersive experience proved invaluable for both young researchers seeking to refine their skills and aspiring chemists eager to embark on their scientific journey.
The three-day workshop concluded with a valedictory program where participating delegates gave feedback on the entire workshop.
Dr Lakhinath Saikia was the coordinator of the workshop.