The Department of Physics, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Ramapuram campus organised the 8th National Conference on Hierarchically Structured Materials (NCHSM 2020) on February 21 & 22nd 2020. The conference was sponsored by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,Defence Research and Development Organization New Delhi.
Dr. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Director (E&T), SRM IST presided over the inaugural function and he outlined the significance of gathering researchers and faculties to work for the advancement of science and technology. He also stated the role of science serving industrial purposes, and also turn into decisive to determine the problems in the physical sciences. Dr. G. Selvakumar Dean (E&T) and Dr. Dr. K.N. Srinivas, Vice Principal (Academic), SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Ramapuram campus felicitated the gathering. Dr. Benjamin Lionel, Director, Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dehradun graced the conference as a Chief Guest. He delivered inaugural and keynote address and précised the scope of Hierarchically Structured Materials, how it engrosses in integration of science and technology and released the conference proceedings.
About 150 faculty members, Scientists & Research scholars from various educational institutions along with various Research & Development laboratories across the country attended the conference and presented their research findings.
Dr. L. Sudha, Professor & Head of the Department of Physics, Convener of NCHSM 2020 welcomed the august gathering and presented the overview of the conference. Eminent scientists from prestigious institutions presented plenary and invited talks on a range of topics.
Renowned professionals like Prof. S. Balakumar, Director, National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Madras, Chennai, TamilNadu Chennai delivered his plenary talk.
Dr. Sreekuttan M.U, Scientist – Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-CECRI Chennai Unit, CSIR Madras Complex, Taramani, Chennai, TamilNadu, Dr. J. Arokiaraj, Senior Principal Scientist , 3M, Bengaluru. Dr. J. Ramajothi, Department of Physics, Madras Institute of Technology, Dr. P. Murugavel, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, IIT Madras, TamilNadu, Dr. Shanmugasundaram Sakthivel, Team Leader and Scientist-F, Centre for Solar Energy Materials, International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Balapur Post, Hyderabad and Dr. U. Madhusoodanan, Senior Scientist Radiological Safety & Environmental Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, TamilNadu delivered their invited talk which enthused the young researcher for technology transfer.
Research Scholars and Scientists from leading Universities, Colleges and R&D laboratories contributed and presented their research findings on topics such as Nanomaterials, Crystal Growth and Characterisation, Magnetic and Semiconducting Materials, Materials Characterization, Electronic Structure of Materials, Thin films. Based on the most innovative and challenging areas of conference, the best oral and poster presentations were awarded. This was a big boost for the budding scientists to carry on with their interest on research.
In the valedictory function, Dr. U. Madhusoodanan, Senior Scientist Radiological Safety & Environmental Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam addressed the significance of research work in the field of hierarchically structured materials and mentioned that the conference which was conducted would enormously facilitate the academic community to allocate their knowledge for the betterment of society.

