Srinagar: The weeklong training program on R&D equipment, ‘Material Processing and advanced functional material characterization techniques under STUTI on Monday began at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.
The workshop is being organized by the Department of Physics and Central Research Facility Centre, National Institute of Technology Srinagar in association with Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility Panjab University, Chandigarh. Dr. Vijay Kumar is the convener of the workshop.
The event was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Sehgal while Prof. Yogendra Kr. Mishra, University of Southern Denmark was the special guest during the inaugural session.
In his key speech, Prof. Yogendra said this program is unique and it enables the researchers and students to acquire knowledge about various state-of-the-art equipment and learn about their usage.
“I will be very happy to host students and researchers of NIT Srinagar as visiting students to our laboratories at Southern Denmark University. We are ready to collaborate with NIT Srinagar on different aspects of material development. Our university will act as vibrant platform for NIT Students,” he said.
He also congratulated Director NIT Prof. Sehgal, Head Physics Dr. MA Shah, and Dr. Vijay Kumar for successfully organizing this program. We are going to look forward to different types of materials development strategies and characterization avenues,” he said.
“I am really happy that Dr. Vijay Kumar is visiting the University of Southern Denmark under SERB SIRE Scheme,” Prof. Yogendra said.
He said participants of this workshop are the ambassadors and we need to pass the right knowledge to the younger generation so there will be more focus on science and technology.
Director NIT, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Sehgal said availability and accessibility are very important for overall development. We must be thankful to our policymakers at the central level that imparting this kind of training program to the people who were deprived of such facilities,” he said.
“Research and technology are need of the hour. Both NIT Srinagar and University of Southern Denmark will work in joint collaboration of research projects in future,” he said.
Prof. Sehgal said research and innovation are essential to increase the abilities of young minds. We need to develop and test solutions; predict outcomes and mitigate harm and make informed policy decisions, he said.
Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said such programs would go a long way in developing our students, and research scholars. It would act as great significance to our R&D programs, he said.
“We at NIT Srinagar across all departments have a growing R&D sector. With the help of such programs, we will be featured among top research institutes in the country,” he said.
Prof. Bukhari congratulated Dr. Shah HoD Physics and Dr. Vijay Kumar for initiating such programs in the department. The role of Science and Technology is pivotal for the evolution of mankind, he said.
On the occasion, Guest of Honor, Dean Research and Consultancy, Prof. MF Wani said NIT Srinagar has developed state of the art for facilities for the research facilities and will continue to expand its activities. The essence of this program is to improve the teaching ability of the participants and enable learners to learn, he said.
STUTI Coordinator – PMU and Director, SAIF/CIL, Panjab University Prof. G.R. Chaudhary said this program is designed for the participants of various institutes across the country. They will be given hands-on training on high-end sophisticated, analytical instrumentation in addition to expert lectures from the eminent scientists, he said.
“The idea of STUTI is to impart hands-on training and access to science and technology infrastructure present with DST supported institutes. The researchers who are deprived of such facilities will get a deeper insight of principle, working, analysis and interpretation of results of processed materials by analytical tools or faculties,” he said.
Dr. Sandeep- GJU-SNT (Hisar) and Dr. Rajeev Kumar from Panjab University share that the participants will not get only exposure to high-end techniques but will also know the capabilities of different tools that they can use in their research activities.
In his welcome address, HOD Physics Dr. MA Shah said Department is taking a lead role in organizing scientific summits under the leadership of Prof. Sehgal and his team. We promise to continue it for the benefit of students and young faculty, he said.
“We can’t ignore to learn the operation of sophisticated equipment, we all witness they are an integral part of our new challenges. These initiatives will spread the spirit of the collaboration and cooperation among the R&D community, taking us further along to innovation, prosperity, and well-being,” he said.
Director SAIF Kholapur University, Prof. R G Sonkawade said, “I am happy to see such programs are being organized by NIT Srinagar. We are expecting another collaboration soon,” he said.
Convener of the workshop, Dr. Vijay Kumar said the program consists of both theory and as well as hands-on experience with various instruments, supported by DST. The uniqueness of the program includes a minimum of four hours of theory and remaining 50% of the duration is on practical training on the equipment, he said.
‘More than 150 participants had registered for the program and only 35 were selected from 15 institutes across the country. Research persons from top institutions will deliver their lectures during the workshop,” Dr. Kumar said.
A formal vote of thanks was presented by Prof. Seemin Rubab. She expressed his gratitude to Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Yogendra, Registrar, Head Physics, resource person, and participants for making the inaugural event a grand success.
The PG students, research scholars, and staff of the department wholeheartedly contributed in organizing this program.