National Symposium in Chemistry at NIIST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) here are jointly organising the 14th National Symposium in Chemistry of the Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) during February 3-5, on NIIST campus, Industrial Estate, Thiruvananthapuram. The sixth Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) symposium will also be conducted prior to the national symposium, on February 2. Prof C N R Rao (JNCASR, Bangalore), Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and founder president of CRSI, will deliver a special lecture on ‘The birth and growth of Solid State and Materials Chemistry’ during the national symposium on Friday. About 700 researchers from in and around the country are expected to take part. The event is being held under the patronage of Prof Samir Brahmachari, DG, CSIR, with Dr Suresh Das, Director, NIIST as the chairman and Dr D Ramaiah of NIIST as the convener.  Prof S Chandrasekharan (IISc, Bangalore), president, CRSI, will deliver the inaugural lecture. Prof Robert Park, CEO, RSC, as well as a group of eminent scientists, including Prof Anna Peacock (UK), Prof J O Midiwo (Kenya) and Prof Bob Crawford (UK) will also present their work .  CRSI was established under the chairmanship of Prof Rao in 1999 to promote research in chemical sciences and cater to the improvement of science education in the country through various programmes.  The symposium is aimed at providing a forum for scientists, teachers and students in the country to participate and discuss recent developments in chemical sciences. The event will also witness the honouring of scientists who have made great contributions in chemical sciences. As part of the promotion of chemical education, CRSI Best Researcher Awards will be presented to select teachers from various universities and colleges in India. There will be medal lectures and poster presentations, apart from special lectures by internationally renowned scientists like Prof R Tenne (Israel), Prof S Kitegava (Japan), Prof D G Nocera (MIT, USA), Prof F Mayer (Germany), Prof M A Subramoniyam (USA), Prof Kalyana Sundaram (Switzerland), Prof A Sen (USA), Prof V Krishnan (JNCASR, Bangalore), Prof Uday Maitra (IISc Bangalore) and Dr A Ajayghosh (NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram).