International Virtual Conference on Advances in Functional Materials (AFM 2020) and Pre-Conference International Workshop on ‘Ferroelectric & Piezoelectric Nanomaterials and Devices’ for Young Researchers were inaugurated on 26th August 2020. The meet is being organized by the Department of Physics, School of Applied Sciences, KIIT Deemed to be University from 26th – 28th August 2020. In his inaugural address, Prof. R. N. P. Chaudhary underscored the significance of such virtual conferences during these unusual times to share and discuss issues and developments with an interdisciplinary and international audience.
Experts who deliberated in the first three sessions were: Dr. Amritendu Roy, IIT Bhubaneswar; Dr. Balaram Sahoo, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Dr. Amiya Priyam, Central University of South Bihar; Mr. Sovan Kumar Patra, Tata Steel R&D, Jamshedpur; Dr. Alluri Nagamalleswara Rao, Jeju National University, South Korea; and Dr. Ashok Kumar, CSIR- National Physical Laboratory Campus, Delhi. The sessions were chaired by Dr. Lalatendu Biswal, Dr. S. K. Sahoo, and Dr. Maya Devi of KIIT-DU.
The fourth and final session of the day, ‘Young Scientist Forum’, was chaired by Dr. Balram Sahoo, IISc Bangalore. The session, which comprised 18 interesting presentations by young scientists from various parts of the world, aimed at recognizing the scientific contributions of outstanding young scientists working on functional materials within the last two years.
Earlier, Prof. P. Pattojoshi, Dean, SAS; Dr. J. Mohanty, Registrar; and Dr. S. Nanda Head CIR, KIIT-DU addressed the audience and highlighted the research credentials of the School and the university, while stressing the various issues and developments across various functional materials disciplines. Dr. S. K. S. Parashar, Convener, AFM 2020 proposed the vote of thanks.
All sessions were anchored and coordinated by Dr. Swetapadma Praharaj and Dr. Bhavya Bhushan, KIIT-DU. In each session, feedback from the participants was collected through a Google form link. The digital wing of the School of Applied Sciences (Dr. Sutanu Mangal, Dr. Gopal K. Pradhan, and Dr. Gorky Shaw) ensured smooth conduct of the Zoom meeting sessions, as well as live streaming of the entire event on YouTube, which enabled participation of more than 1000 researchers and students from different parts of the world.
The organizing team expressed gratitude to Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS; Prof. Hrushikesha Mohanty, VC, KIIT-DU; Prof. Sasmita Samanta, Pro VC; Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar; and Prof. P. Pattojoshi, Dean, SAS for their support and encouragement.