National Physics Conference (PHYCON-25) at IIT Ropar: Advancing Frontiers in Physics
Ropar/Chandigarh, 02 April 2025 : IIT Ropar successfully concluded PHYCON-25, a national-level physics conference that brought together leading scientists, academicians, and industry professionals for two days of insightful discussions and research presentations. More than 250 researchers and students from various institutions across India participated in the event. The conference commenced with a lamp-lighting ceremony and the felicitation of distinguished guests.
Dr. Kailash C. Jena, Convener of PHYCON-25 and Head of the Physics Department highlighted the ongoing research activities at IIT Ropar. In his inaugural address, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and stronger academia-industry partnerships, focusing on both theoretical and application-oriented research. He also mentioned that beyond serving as a hub for intellectual discourse, PHYCON-25 holds significant regional and national importance. Prof. Ahuja underscored India’s active efforts to strengthen scientific literacy, research culture, and innovation. With immense potential for scientific and technological growth in north-western India, IIT Ropar remains committed to playing a pivotal role in this transformation.
The first day featured a plenary talk by Prof. Satishchandra Ogale, Director, RISE-TGC Kolkata & Emeritus professor, IISER Pune on ‘The Evolving Landscape of New Energy and Sustainability: Unleashing the Power of Intelligent Materials Design’, highlighting advancements in battery technology, solar cells, and their commercialization. He emphasised on the nexus of good between industry, academia, and government. The second plenary session was delivered by Prof. Anand Jha, IIT Kanpur on ‘Partial Optical Coherence: Applications in Quantum State Measurement and Imaging.’ His talk shed light on cutting-edge techniques in quantum imaging and optical coherence. The day concluded with a vibrant cultural evening featuring traditional dance performances, poetry recitations, and an electrifying Punjabi Bhangra.
The second day opened with a plenary talk by Prof. M. Krishnamurthy, Director TIFR Hyderabad on ‘Converting Liquid Droplets to Mini-Accelerators Using Ultrafast Lasers’, followed by Prof. Peter Kruse, McMaster University, Canada discussing ‘Chemiresistive Sensors for Applications in Aqueous Environments’. The industry track featured talks from Nexus Analyticals and New Age Instruments & Materials, reinforcing the importance of bridging academic research with industrial applications. The final plenary talk was delivered by Prof. Raghunath Sahoo, IIT Indore, on ‘Recreating the Universe at the Large Hadron Collider.’ He provided a fascinating overview of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, and its role in replicating the conditions of the early universe during the Big Bang. The PHYCON-25 facilitated a unique platform for young researchers to share their cutting-edge research works and thought-provoking ideas with the scientific community. Thus, during these two days, research scholars from various institutions presented their works in the form of oral and poster presentations on light-matter interaction, condensed matter, and nuclear and high-energy physics. These engaging sessions tested knowledge across various domains of physics, fostering a spirit of curiosity and interactive learning.
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding oral and poster presentations. Dr. Ritu Gupta, Co-Convener of PHYCON-25, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to participants, speakers, sponsors, and organizers. She also announced PHYCON-26, promising even greater innovations and collaborations.
