Telangana varsity hosts global conference on functional materials

Over 200 delegates from 10 countries are attending an international conference on advanced functional materials which kicked-off on Monday at Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) at Basar in Telangana.

Internationally acclaimed scientists came together to discuss and showcase their research findings to researchers from India and abroad at the three-day conference.

The conference aims to address the application aspect of the functional materials in areas of societal relevance, to discuss current scientific issues and to ignite scientific temper in young researchers.

Apparao M. Rao, Director of Clemson Nano-Material Institute, Clemson University, delivered the keynote address at the conference being held with the theme 'Applications of smart materials in the areas of nano-science and nano-technology, synthetic chemistry, sensors and computational materials science'.

S. Jonnalagadda from University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was among the key speakers.

A. Ashok, Vice-Chancellor of RGUKT Basar said that the conference is being organised to enthuse interest in the students and young faculty and encourage them to take up research and developmental activities.

Addressing the inaugural session, Ranjeev R. Acharya, Telangana's Special Chief Secretary, Higher Education, said that technology is fundamentally innovation driven and universities must inculcate innovative thinking in students.

To encourage activity-based learning and teaching from school level, the government established more than 540 residential schools on par with international standards which is first of its kind in the country, the official said.

The integration of basic and applied research on nanostructured aspects of materials is encouraged in Telangana universities. The government is keen in developing research and developmental activities in the universities, she added.

Selection of materials, information on their composition, structure and surface are crucial for specific application. Physics and chemistry of how atoms are arranged in materials underpin the design, fabrication and applications, she said.

The Vice-Chancellor said that it is a matter of great pride that the 10-year-old university is organising an international conference on such a rare subject with speakers of international repute.

RGUKT is an autonomous body established in a 300 acre campus to cater the needs of rural meritorious students.

It is the first University to start integrated six years B.Tech programme just after completion of Class 10, Ashok informed.

--IANS

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