SRINAGAR: The five-day 8th International Conference on Nanotechnology, themed ‘Nanotechnology for Better Living', concluded on Monday with an impressive valedictory ceremony held at the Common Hall of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.

The valedictory ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Prof. Sudhakar Yedla, Director of NIT Srinagar, Prof. Venugopal Achanta, Director of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), Prof. A M Wani, former and first Director of NIT Srinagar, and Prof. S K Bukhari, Registrar of NIT Srinagar.

The audience comprised delegates from various parts of the country and abroad, among whom was Prof. Yashiro Azimo from Japan, a Physics professor at IIT Delhi and a frequent visitor to Kashmir's Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora.

During the valedictory ceremony, participants expressed their admiration for the conference, applauding the diligent efforts of NIT Srinagar in organizing such a remarkable event.

In his address, Prof. Yashiro Azimo remarked that India is a vibrant nation enriched with vast human resources. He emphasized the complementary nature of Japan and India, expressing his hopes for more such collaborative events in the future, where international expertise can be shared with Indian students. Prof. Yashiro confidently stated, "Japan needs India more than India needs Japan."

Prof Yedla emphasized the significance of conferences like NBL-2023 in prioritizing societal benefits above all else.

"Conferences like NBL-2023 play a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant intellectual ecosystem, bringing together diverse institutions and minds," Prof Yedla said, adding, "Through the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and sharing of knowledge, we create a powerful catalyst for innovation and progress."

These conferences, he said, serve as a platform where institutions can collectively push the boundaries of scientific discovery and pave the way for transformative advancements that positively impact society.

Prof. M A Shah, the distinguished head of the Department of Physics at NIT Srinagar and the chair of NBL-2023, praised the diverse expertise and ground-breaking research presented by the academicians, which "significantly contributed to our understanding of nanotechnology and its vast applications."

"It is a privilege to gather such brilliant minds to foster knowledge exchange and pave the way for advancements in the field," Prof. Shah said.

He expressed his confidence that the insights gained from the conference sessions would serve as inspiration and fuel future innovations for the betterment of society.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar organized the conference in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, and other esteemed universities such as Parul University, the University of Kashmir, and SKUAST-K.

Previously, the first four editions of the conference were held in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, while subsequent editions partnered with prestigious IITs across the country, including the renowned IIT Kharagpur.

Exciting news surfaced during the ceremony, as Shah announced that the next NBL conference, scheduled for 2025, will be held in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad. The organizers launched a promotional campaign to generate enthusiasm and anticipation for this future event.

The valedictory event showcased an exciting art competition, where students from different government and private schools participated and wowed everyone with their creative skills. Both the participants and the winners were praised for their remarkable talents, highlighting the abundance of artistic potential among these students.