IITGN Hosts the 35th CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry (CRSI NSC)

The Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) is hosting its 35th CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry (CRSI NSC) and CRSI-ACS Lecture Series at the Jasubhai Memorial Auditorium, IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN), from July 3-5, 2025. This three-day national symposium is a major event in the Indian chemical sciences community and aims to highlight the latest developments in the field of chemistry. The event has brought together scientists, researchers, and experts from across the country, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

The symposium began with a welcome address by Prof Sivapriya Kirubakaran, Kankuben Bakshirambhai Gelot Chair Professor, Chemistry, IIT Gandhinagar and Convener of the event. “We are delighted to host this important gathering of scientists at IIT Gandhinagar. The symposium provides a vibrant forum to engage with the most current advances in chemical sciences,” she said. This was followed by an address from Prof Sriram Kanvah, Head of the Department of Chemistry, IITGN, and Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar.

“Hosting the CRSI National Symposium at IIT Gandhinagar is a proud moment for us. This symposium not only showcases the cutting-edge research happening across India but also fosters a spirit of collaboration that is essential for solving the complex chemical challenges of our time. We are committed to nurturing innovation and building bridges between scientists, institutions, and industries to propel India’s chemical sciences to new heights,” said Prof Moona.

Remarks on behalf of Bharat Ratna Professor C N R Rao were delivered by Professor N Jayaraman from IISc Bangalore, who also serves as the Secretary General of CRSI. “The contributions made through this forum will undoubtedly shape the future of chemical sciences, fostering excellence in science education and advanced research that benefits society. I commend the efforts of the CRSI in bringing together such a distinguished gathering of scientific minds.” Dr Deeksha Gupta, Director, Global Strategy for Society Programs at the American Chemical Society, shared her perspectives on international collaboration, underlining the importance of such events in advancing research and collaboration. The presidential address was delivered by Professor Uday Maitra of IISc Bangalore.

A major milestone during the symposium was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) and the Societá Chimica Italiana (SCI), marking a step forward in fostering global partnerships in chemical sciences.

The scientific program featured several high-profile lectures, including the Silver Medal Lecture by Prof S Natarajan from IISc Bangalore titled “The Quest Towards Developing New Materials: Is there a Role for Minerals?”, and the C N R Rao National Prize Lecture by Prof Pinaki Talukdar from IISER Pune on “Engineering Stimuli-Responsive Artificial Ion Channels: Design, Function, and Applications.” Dignitaries from BARC, IISER Bhopal, BITS Pilani, DRDO Kanpur, JNCASR, Bangalore, IIT Bombay and Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, also delivered valuable lectures from interventions in neurodegenerative diseases to modern problems of physical chemistry.

Over the next two days, the symposium will feature discussions, poster sessions, and microscale experiments demonstrations. It will also celebrate scientists for their exceptional contributions to the field of chemistry. The A V Rama Rao Prize for Women will be awarded to Dr Vandana Bhalla from GNDU, Amritsar, for “Donor Acceptor Fluorescent Materials: Self-Assembly and Catalytic Applications” while the CRSI-ACES Early Career Award will be presented to  Dr Samya Banerjee from IIT BHU for “Development of Photocatalytic Pathways for Cancer Therapy”. With a diverse array of talks and a platform for new collaborations, the 35th CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry promises to be a landmark event for the chemical sciences community in India.