Materials science professors, researchers, and students from around the globe convened online recently for the International Webinar on Materials Synthesis and Characterization 2020, hosted jointly by Florida Polytechnic University and Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University in India.
“The international scientific community learned about current trends and need-of-the-hour technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data, and 3D and 4D printing that are used to guide materials’ development for a variety of applications,” said conference co-organizer Dr. Sesha Srinivasan, chair of Florida Poly’s Department of Natural Sciences. “This international webinar created opportunities for extending collaborations between various international institutions, commended by the honorable vice-chancellor and patron of IWMSC-2020, Prof. Manoj Dixit of Dr. RML Avadh University in India”
The international three-day webinar is the first of its kind, Srinivasan said. More than 200 attendees of the July 11-13 event heard from speakers from universities in India, the United States, South Korea, and Sweden on topics such as advances in polymer nanocomposites and electrolytes, and the synthesis of piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting applications.
“Materials are playing a very vital role in different forms, whether bulk, thin-film, or nanomaterials in the electronic industry, health sector, or transportation,” said conference organizer Prof. K.K. Verma, head of the Department of Physics and Electronics at co-host institution, Dr. RML Avadh University in India.
Several Florida Poly faculty members presented during the event, including Srinivasan, Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, assistant professor of chemistry; Dr. Emadelen Fouad, physics instructor; Dr. Scott Wallen, chemistry lab staff, and Dr. Mary Vollaro, chair of the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
“The attendees learned cutting-edge research and development on materials synthesis, various state-of-the-art characterization tools, and were exposed to a number of applications, including COVID-19 diagnostic and eradication methods,” said Srinivasan, who was a keynote speaker at the three-day event.
Vollaro delivered the closing remarks at the webinar.
“Materials characterization is truly interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and it brings together people from all different areas,” Vollaro said. “The bottom line is we’re all working with these instruments and characterization techniques, to discover new things and add to our knowledge base.”
The international webinar connected not only researchers with their peers, but also allowed students to learn from experts in their fields.
“By attending IWMSC-2020, I hope the attendees are inspired by the eminent panelists and their interactions, which will certainly enable them to pursue their career in materials science or engineering physics research or push them to aspire to competitive industrial placement,” Srinivasan said.
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