Global scientists honoured at AFMD 2026 Chennai

Metro India News | chennai :

The second International Conference on Advanced Functional Materials and Devices (AFMD 2026), hosted by SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, brought together leading global researchers and honoured excellence in advanced materials science. Organized by its Nanotechnology Research Centre, the event attracted over 1,000 participants, including more than 160 international delegates from 33 countries, reflecting its growing global relevance.

Held at the Dr. T.P. Ganesan Auditorium, the awards ceremony recognised contributions across multiple domains of materials research. Prof. S. Balakumar of University of Madras received the Outstanding Researcher Award for his work in biomaterials. Lifetime Achievement honours were conferred on Prof. Ramaswamy Murugavel of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Prof. Srinivasan Natarajan of Indian Institute of Science.

Prof. Judy Z. Wu from University of Kansas was recognised as Outstanding Woman Scientist, while Prof. Kanishka Biswas of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research received the Rising Star of Indian Science Award. International honours went to Prof. Naoki Wakiya and Prof. Yoshimasa Kawata of Shizuoka University.

Speakers highlighted the urgent need to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world applications. Experts stressed that innovation must align with industrial needs, with stronger focus on scalability, manufacturing, and patents. The conference, running from March 19 to 24, features plenary sessions, technical tracks, and industry interactions, reinforcing the role of interdisciplinary research in addressing global technological and sustainability challenges.