AFMD 2026 honours global research excellence; top scientists awarded in Chennai
Chennai: The 2nd International Conference on Advanced Functional Materials and Devices (AFMD 2026), organised by the Nanotechnology Research Centre (NRC) at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), witnessed a prestigious award ceremony recognising leading scientists for their outstanding contributions to advanced materials research.
The conference has attracted over 1,000 participants, including more than 160 international delegates from 33 countries, highlighting its growing global stature and academic significance.
The award ceremony, held at the Dr. T.P. Ganesan Auditorium during the inaugural session, brought together eminent scientists, academicians, industry leaders, and researchers. The event underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing emerging global technological challenges.
The Dr. T.R. Paarivendhar AFMD Awards were presented across multiple categories to honour excellence in materials science and engineering.
Prof. Ramaswamy Murugavel of IIT Bombay received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Prof. Srinivasan Natarajan of IISc Bengaluru was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Science.
In the international category, Prof. Naoki Wakiya of Shizuoka University, Japan, received the Outstanding Researcher Award for his work in ceramic materials. Prof. Yoshimasa Kawata, also from Shizuoka University, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to materials science and global research collaboration.
Prof. Judy Z. Wu from the University of Kansas, USA, was conferred the Outstanding Women Scientist Award for her pioneering contributions and global academic influence in materials science.
The Rising Star of Indian Science Award was presented to Prof. Kanishka Biswas of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, for his work in functional materials and energy research.
Among other awardees, Prof. S. Balakumar of the University of Madras received the Outstanding Researcher Award for his contributions to biomaterials and healthcare-focused materials research.
Delivering the chief guest address, Dr. R. Balamuralikrishnan, Director of the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), DRDO, emphasised the need for innovation-driven research.
“Global challenges demand interdisciplinary solutions integrating energy, environment, and advanced technologies. Functional materials will play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainability and technological security,” he said. He also highlighted the gap between research and real-world applications, noting that less than five per cent of research reaches product development stages.
Krishnan Sadagopan, Senior Vice President – R&D at Ashok Leyland, the guest of honour, stressed the importance of industry-academia collaboration. He noted that aligning research with industrial needs and focusing on scalable innovations are crucial for broader impact.
In his special address, Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice-Chancellor of SRMIST, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to fostering a strong research ecosystem that integrates academic excellence with industry relevance.
The conference, chaired by Prof. M. Navaneethan, Head of NRC-SRMIST, is supported by organisations including ANRF, DST, CSIR, and DRDO, along with collaborations from institutions across Japan, France, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
The event also featured a plenary lecture by Prof. Kanishka Biswas on next-generation thermoelectric materials and their role in sustainable energy solutions.
AFMD 2026, scheduled from March 19 to 24, includes plenary sessions, technical tracks, oral presentations, and industry interactions. The organisers said the awards aim to inspire young researchers and promote collaborative efforts to address global technological and environmental challenges.
