Pahalgam, Aug 08, KDC: The two-day National Conference on Nano and Supramolecular Chemistry (NCNSC-2025) concluded on Friday in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam tourist spot, where speakers from across the country reflected not only on scientific advancements but also on the deep connection between the region’s people and its lifeline tourism.
They noted that tourism remains a vital source of sustenance for countless families in Kashmir and stated that the Valley is truly a jewel in the crown of our great democratic nation.
The inaugural address for day 2 was delivered by Prof. Kowsar Majid, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Chairperson of the conference. She said tourism remains a vital source of sustenance for many here.
“As scientists and educationists, we carry tender hearts and are deeply moved by the suffering of this land and its people. Kashmir is truly a jewel in the crown of our great democratic nation. May the Almighty continue to protect our country, and especially this treasured part of it,” she added.
Prof. Kowsar said one of the significant objectives of holding this part of the conference here in Pahalgam is to pay homage to those who tragically lost their lives in the recent unfortunate incident.
“We strongly condemn the brutal killings. Our hearts are heavy with grief, and we share in the pain of the families who have suffered such an unimaginable loss. We pray for peace for the departed souls and patience and strength for their loved ones,” she said.
Prof. Kowsar further said that 15 years ago, the Chemistry department. organized a conference whose valedictory function was held at Pahalgam.
She said that nature, nanoscience, and supramolecular science are deeply interconnected. Supramolecular science explores the elegant world of non-covalent interactions and molecular self-assembly, offering fundamental principles for designing intricate molecular architectures.
“Nanoscience builds upon these principles, allowing us to manipulate materials at the nanoscale where unique and often transformative properties emerge. Nature, in its brilliance, showcases countless such examples from DNA helices and protein complexes to cellular systems,” she added.
Dean Alumni and International Affairs NIT Srinagar, Prof. MA Shah said that the aim to host the second day of the conference in Pahalgam was to pay rich tributes who were killed in the April 22 deadly attack, and it is a message to people that now everything is okay in Pahalgam.
“Tourism is the backbone of Kashmir, and that is why people strongly condemned the deadly attack. We are hopeful, things will be normal again,” he added.
Prof. Shah praised the Department of Chemistry for organising the conference on relevant theme.
The first invited talk of session IV was chaired by Prof. M. A. Shah, Department of Physics, Prof. Nikhil R. Jana, School of Materials Science, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, on the title, Designing Colloidal Nano drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases
It was followed by a lecture of Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Dar, Department of Chemistry, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir, on “Atomically Dispersed Catalysts for CO2 Reduction Reaction: Insights from First Principles Simulations.”
Followed by another Speaker: Dr. Fatima Jalid, Department of Chemical Engineering, NIT Srinagar. Her topic focused on “Towards Selective Hydrocarbon Activation: Microkinetic Simulations arm Ab Initio Catalyst Design.”
Throughout the sessions, speakers delivered insightful presentations on the latest advancements in nano and supramolecular chemistry, sparking active engagement from the audience.
Participants posed a range of thoughtful and challenging questions, leading to interactive discussions that enriched the exchange of knowledge and ideas during the event.
The conference was anchored by Falak Jahan (Phd Scholar) from Department of Chemistry, NIT Srinagar.
Meanwhile, the Poster Evaluation Session was chaired by Dr. Hirakendu Basu from BARC, Mumbai. In the poster presentation category, Dr. Feroz Sofi secured the first position, Dr. Waseem Arif from NIT Srinagar won second place, and T.M. Amarnath from BARC clinched the third position.
In the oral presentation category, De Kiesar Sadeeq from Department of Chemistry , University of Kashmir bagged the first position, while Dr. Nivvedita from IIT Roorkee secured the second place.
A formal vote of thanks was presented by the Organising Secretary of the conference, Dr Ravi Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, NIT Srinagar. He expressed his gratitude to Director, Registrar, Central administration and esteemed resource persons of the conference for making the event successful.
The session was followed by an award ceremony for poster and oral presentation.
The concluding remarks were made by Prof. Kowsar Majid, Head Department of Chemistry and Chairperson NCNSC-25, She expressed her gratitude to Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Dean R&C Roohi Naaz, Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman, Organizing Secretaries, including Dr. Jigneshkumar V. Rohit and Dr. Ravi Kumar, Central administration of NIT Srinagar, Deans, Heads of Departments, Officer Incharges, Accounts, Security, Sanitation and volunteers for making the event a resounding success.
She also thanked the sponsors of the conference, including ANRF, JKSTIC, J&K Bank, EQUIPRONICS, ANCHROM, SRL, SINSIL INTERNATIONAL and others for making the event successful.
Participants across the country praised the beauty of Kashmir and expressed their willingness to act as ambassadors of trust for Pahalgam. (KDC)