The Department of Mathematics is organising the first episode of the Distinguished Lecture Series on September 15, 2021, Wednesday, at 6.30 pm. Prof Suman Chakraborty from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, will deliver a lecture titled “Flipping with the Flow – Perspectives of Puzzling Fluid Dynamics and Human Health”.

Abstract of the Lecture:
Over the past century, advancements in fluid dynamics hallmarked deeper studies on complex fluids, though. Fluid dynamics of blood, possibly the most critical complex fluid impacting human lives, is primarily dictated by red blood cells (RBCs) that are flexible biconcave discs spending their lives suspended in blood plasma that is elusively more complex than simple water. Commonly, RBCs stack together to form structures called rouleaux like cylindrical packs of coins that reform continuously. Contrary to intuition, instead of clogging, such reforms result in the easier flow of blood as it passes through extremely narrow channels. An influential theoretical premise of blood flow has been rationalizing this by drawing analogies of RBCs with compound liquid droplets in which the cytoplasm is more viscous than the outer fluid that triggers a series of complex shape transitions. However, a stiffening of RBC membranes under certain conditions contradicts this analogy and may alter ATP release that happens due to shape deformation. This may signify specific diseased conditions and influence a plethora of ailments ranging from cardiovascular irregularities to cancer metastasis. The role of unique flexibility of microvasculature and morphology of the microenvironment, dynamical signals of pressure pulsation and disease-specific blood rheology make it extremely deceptive and patient-specific and difficult to model within the known territories of expertise of fluid dynamics.

Prof Suman Chakraborty will discuss here various computational, in-vitro and in-vivo studies conducted in his research group that have attempted to address some of the pertinent outstanding questions, unresolved paradoxes, and will present a deeper challenge that makes even ‘simple’ blood flow strikingly more complicated than its intuitive analogy of pipe flow in engineering fluid mechanics. He will also suggest a way forward with a convergence of physics-based modelling and data science, where blood flow is not merely perceived as an ‘inert’ physical phenomenon but recognized as an exclusive hallmark of ‘life’ with all individualism intrinsic to humans.

About the Speaker:
Prof Suman Chakraborty received the prestigious Santi Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize and became the youngest Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He has also been a Fellow at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), and Indian National Academy of Science (NASI), in addition to being the recipient of the Indo-US Research Fellowship. He is also a recipient of the Scopus Young Scientist Award given by Elsevier for high citations in his research publications, the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2005), and the Young Scientist/Young Engineer Award from various National Academies. He has been bestowed with the Fellowship of the American Physical Society, the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Fellowship of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Join this educational session on September 15, 2021, at 6.30 pm to gain insights from the field expert.

Register here :https://srmap.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qxuYML8uT9ayuzH1LtJO4A

The third edition of the Eminent Guest Lecture Series: An Odyssey of Physics organised by the Department of Physics at SRM University-AP will be held on September 04, 2021, Saturday at 3.00 pm. The session will be engaged by Prof D Narayana Rao from the University of Hyderabad on the topic “1D and 3D Photonic Crystals and their Applications”.

Abstract of the event:

There will be a brief introduction to the Photonic crystals, followed by our laboratory results. Our work mainly concentrated on optical field enhancement in both the 1D and 3D photonic crystals. Such strong local field enhancement is essential for reducing the high power laser requirements in nonlinear optics experiments. These photonic crystals have been prepared through various techniques like sol-gel, slow evaporation method and RF sputtering technique. Prof D Narayana Rao will show some results on surface-enhanced Raman studies and optical limiting and white light generation.

All are invited to join this lecture on September 04, 2021, at 3.00 pm to gain an insightful overview of 1D and 3D photonic crystals and their applications.

Register here:http://bit.ly/SRMAP_PhysicsSeries3

Despite the variety of traditional and IT-based agricultural information delivery approaches, the majority of Indian farmers are not acquiring or provided with actionable agricultural information in a timely and regular manner. A lecture titled “Crop Darpan: Towards building a smartphone-based system for improving the efficiency of every farm in India” will be organised by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering on September 08, 2021, at 11.00 am to address the issue of the lab to the land gap in agriculture. Prof P Krishna Reddy, from IIIT Hyderabad, will talk about the eSagu system, an IT-based farm-specific agro-advisory system field-tested on about 50 field and horticultural crops in hundreds of villages.

Since 2004, research efforts are being made at IIIT Hyderabad to investigate the building of IT-based agro-advisory systems to deliver actionable agro-advice to every farm field of India in a timely manner. In this connection, they have built the eSagu system and village-level eSagu system. They are also currently investigating the building of the Crop Darpan system. The Crop Darpan App is available for cotton and rice crops at Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In this talk, Prof P Krishna Reddy will share the experiences of building these systems and the future plans.

Biography of the speaker:
Prof P Krishna Reddy is the head of the Agricultural Research Center and a member of the Data Sciences and Analytics Center research team at IIIT Hyderabad, India. From 2013 to 2015, he has served as a Program Director, ITRA-Agriculture & Food, Information Technology Research Academy (ITRA), Government of India. His research areas include data mining, database systems and IT for agriculture. He has published about 189 refereed research papers which include 30 journal papers, four book chapters, and eight edited books. He is a steering committee member of the Pacific-Asia knowledge discovery and data mining (PAKDD) conference series and the Database Systems for Advanced Applications (DASFAA) conference series. He has delivered several invited/panel talks at reputed conferences and workshops in India and abroad. Since 2004, he has been investigating the building efficient knowledge agricultural knowledge transfer systems by extending developments in IT. He has conceptualized the notion of Virtual Crop Labs to improve applied skills for extension professionals. Currently, he is investigating the building of the Crop Darpan system, which is a crop diagnostic tool for farmers, with funding support from the India-Japan Joint Research Laboratory Program. The eSagu system, an IT-based farm-specific agro-advisory system, has got several recognitions including CSI-Nihilent e-Governance Project Award in 2006, Manthan Award in 2008 and has been a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Award in 2008 and received PAKDD Distinguished Service Award in 2021.

Join this illuminating lecture on September 08, 2021, at 11:00 am and gain valuable insights into building a smartphone-based system for improving the efficiency of every farm in India.

Register here: https://srmap.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qITnmUdMQjqkvFSM9yGCzA

The third session of the distinguished lecture series organised by the Department of Civil Engineering is scheduled to be held on September 18, 2021, Saturday, from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Dr Ganesh Kumar S, Scientist, Geotechnical Eng. Division, CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee will deliver a talk on the topic “Liquefaction and reliquefaction studies and their mitigation techniques”.

During an earthquake, liquefaction is one of the processes that occur in the saturated loose sand layer. It occurs when the pore water pressure reaches a certain level, which is near to the soil’s total stress. Structures built on top of or within the liquefied ground may fail to owe to ground settlement, which is one of the possible effects. The lecture aims to elaborate on the experimental studies on the liquefaction and reliquefaction potential of saturated ground and the use of ground improvement techniques for its improvement.

About the Speaker:
Dr S Ganesh Kumar is currently working as a scientist in Geotechnical Engineering Division at CSIR-Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee. He completed BE in Civil Engineering from Anna University and ME Geotechnical Engineering from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore. After his ME, he joined IIT Madras for his PhD. He completed PhD in the year 2014, working in the area of soft clay improvement using combined vacuum consolidation and geosynthetic encased stone columns. He has one year of academic experience and six years of research experience. He has published 7 papers in SCI and Scopus indexed journals and presented 18 papers in International and national conferences. His areas of interest include ground improvement techniques for soft clay improvement, ground improvement measures against liquefaction and reliquefaction hazards, and landslide control measures.

Join this engaging session on September 18, 2021, at 9:30 am to know more about liquefaction and reliquefaction studies and their mitigation techniques!

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The Department of Mechanical Engineering at SRM University – AP organises the third episode of the Distinguished Lecture Series on the topic “Light-weighting through Composite Materials & Design Concepts”. Dr K. Sriram, Principal Scientist, GE Global Research Centre will engage the online session on September 18, 2021, Saturday, at 4:00 pm.

Light weighting of engineering products is traditionally performed to improve performance with the same or higher cost. The concept of light-weighting is changing the paradigm of many industries now with a big focus on affordability and sustainability along with improved performance/value. The future of light-weighting is tending towards solving the problem with systems and life cycle thinking by combining bio-inspired structures with multi-functional materials manufactured through the additive process that enable value, affordability and sustainability.

About the Speaker:
Sriram K is a Principal Scientist in Structural Materials organization located at GE Global Research Center in Bangalore, India. In this role, Sriram provides technical leadership in developing Composite materials for GE products by working closely with design, manufacturing, inspection and testing teams across businesses. Sriram joined GE in 2006, starting in GE Plastics as a researcher. In GE Plastics, he worked on product development for automotive and electronic applications. He successfully developed and commercialized HMD Cycoloy for BMW fenders and Bio-Lexan for mobile phone and laptop cases. Sriram moved to GRC in 2010 as part of the Manufacturing & Materials Organization as a composites researcher. His key contributions include GE9X Fan Blade with carbon-glass compliant trailing edge, High-temperature cracks growth behaviour in CMC’s for LEAP and GE9X, low-cost material selection for wind blade skin structures and All-Composite operator cab design, materials development and manufacturing for GLW locomotives market. His areas of expertise include composite materials & manufacturing, materials behaviour and deriving allowable. Sriram has a PhD in “Manufacturing and Durability of Composite materials” from Cranfield University, UK and a master’s from the University of Sheffield, UK.

Join this engaging webinar on September 18, 2021, Saturday, at 4:00 pm to know more about the light-weighting of engineering products through affordable and sustainable bio-inspired structures.

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The Department of Mathematics at SRM University-AP organises the first episode of the Distinguished Lecture Series on September 29, 2021, at 3:30 pm. Prof Vikraman Balaji, renowned Mathematician from Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai, India will deliver a lecture on the topic “The Narasimhan-Seshadri theorem and some of its ramifications

Abstract of the talk:

The Narasimhan-Seshadri theorem is one of the spectacular theorems from India in the past 50 years or so. The theorem is more than a deep result but is in a way philosophy or correspondences and symmetries. The theorem has had an impact on several aspects of mathematics. The theorem has also led to developments along lines that are similar but by themselves are also deep and central. Since the talk is for a general audience, I plan to give an overview of the theorem, a few of its big impacts in topology and geometry and a few of its ramifications in terms of generalizations.

About the Speaker:
Prof Vikraman Balaji is a renowned Indian Mathematician and currently a professor at the Chennai Mathematical Institute, India. He completed his doctorate in mathematics under the supervision of Prof C S Seshadri. His primary research area is algebraic geometry. He has made outstanding contributions to moduli problems over algebraic varieties. In particular, his work on ‘compactification of moduli of principal G-bundles over algebraic surfaces and his joint work with C.S Seshadri on ‘Parahoric torsors’ are very significant among his many other notable works. In 2006, he received the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Mathematical Sciences and was awarded the J.C Bose fellowship in 2009. He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy Of Sciences in 2007 and Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in 2015. He is presently an elected member of the National Academy Of Sciences, India (NASI).

Join this lecture on September 29, 2021, at 3.30 pm to understand the Narasimhan-Seshadri theorem and its impact on Mathematics.

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The research scholars from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering with great support and supervision from the faculty have planned to conduct their second Research Scholar’s Talk Series MSV-II on 25 September 2021 at 02:30 pm. Mr D Lenin Babu will engage the participants from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm with his enlightened talk on Photonic crystals-based DWDM devices for optical networking applications.

About the Speaker:
Mr D Lenin Babu is pursuing his PhD under the guidance of Dr Sreenivasulu (Department of ECE, SRM University-AP). He received his B Tech degree in ECE from JNTU Kakinada and received his MTech with specialization in Embedded systems from Vignan University in 2015. His research interests include integrated optical devices for optical communication systems. He is working towards his thesis titled “Photonic crystals based DWDM devices for optical networking applications”.

Join this engaging webinar on 25 September 2021, at 02.30 pm to learn more about photonic crystals-based DWDM devices for optical networking applications!

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The Department of Civil Engineering at SRM University-AP organises the fifth lecture in the Distinguished Lecture Series on October 28, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Renowned Pavement and Materials Engineer, Derek Nener-Plante, M.S, P.E from FHWA Resource Center, Washington, DC, USA will engage the session on the topic “Asphalt Materials Characterization: Trends and Challenges”. The lecture aims to throw light on balanced mixture design, sustainability, quality assurance and related areas.

About the speaker

Derek is a Pavement and Materials Engineer for the FHWA Pavement and Materials Technical Services Team. He is responsible for leading implementation and deployment efforts in the areas of asphalt materials, asphalt pavement construction, materials and construction specifications, and quality assurance. Prior to joining the Resource Center in March 2020, Derek worked at MaineDOT for nearly ten years as the state asphalt pavement engineer. Derek earned his Master’s of Science in Transportation Engineering from the University of Connecticut and is a registered Professional Engineer.​

All students are encouraged to make use of this informative session on October 28, 2021, at 5:30 pm to know more about the trends and challenges in the asphalt materials characterisation.

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The Distinguished Lecture Series organised by the Department of Civil Engineering at SRM University-AP offers a congenial atmosphere in which students can connect with eminent scientists. The fourth episode in the series is scheduled to be held on October 23, 2021 (Saturday) from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Dr M V Ramesh, Senior Scientist, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa – Ministry of Earth Science, GOI will be the guest speaker to deliver the lecture.

The lecture will cover topics such as the scientific programmes focusing on bipolar activities i.e. Antarctica as well as Arctic multi-disciplinary approach studies. Logistic support provided for Antarctica in particular as a nodal agency, LCS(Legal Continental Shelf), Bathymetric surveys of EEZ(Exclusive Economic Zone) in the deeper waters, Southern ocean Oceanography which is supposed to control the monsoon of India as well as South Asian countries will also be discussed. Other topics include ice core analysis of Antarctica for the better understanding of paleoclimate, polar remote sensing studies, and cryospheric studies in polar regions and Himalayas.

About the speaker

Dr M V Ramesh is a Senior Scientist and coordinator who obtained his doctorate (PhD) from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam in 1994 in Marine Geology. He worked on sedimentology and Geochemistry primarily on continental shelf sediments off Kalingapatnam-Pentakota, the East coast of India. He has pursued his post-doctoral course in a DST sponsored project- a collaboration project between Geology and Anthropology at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He had been deputed to Adikavi Nannaya University as a Visiting Scientist for one year during 2007-2008 and his teaching services have been availed off successfully to the students of Department of Geo-informatics in the I, II, and III semesters for a period of nearly 1 year He had been deputed to various multi-disciplinary cruises ( inclusive in the capacity as Deputy Chief scientist) as many as 18 in Number comprising 450 ship days inclusive of EEZ surveys/cruises, Post Tsunami multi-disciplinary cruise off Andaman & Nicobar Islands, exploration of polymetallic nodules on onboard Sagar Kanya and including the one Southern Ocean Expedition(2009) which proceeded up to 66.5◦S i.e. touching the Antarctica waters on onboard Academic Boris Petrov a Russian vessel. He had been deputed to Oman in Indo-US-Oman multidisciplinary cruise for a period of 14 days onboard Sagar Kanya. Altogether, he had been deputed 850 days on official duties. He has to his credit 36 scientific papers in various National as well as International Journals related to the Bay of Bengal, Arabia and in oceanography as a whole. His research areas are primarily sedimentology, clay mineralogy primarily off-shelf sediments and deep-sea sediment cores. He had worked on RS studies and GIS Technologies in NRSA, Ministry of space, Hyderabad for a period of 12 weeks during 2006-07. He has been actively involved in Outreach activities for more than 10 years in giving his services to students, Professors, Scientists and delegates from four corners of the Nation as well abroad (schools, colleges, universities and R&Ds).

Join this intriguing online lecture on October 23, 2021, at 09.30 am and enrich your knowledge through the scholarly voice of Dr M V Ramesh!

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Jairam Ramesh: On the journey of writing

On the journey of writingThe Department of English at SRM University-AP invites you to an engaging webinar on November 26, 2021, at 11.00 am. Mr Jairam Ramesh, Member of Parliament representing the state of Andhra Pradesh, will be the guest speaker of the day.

Writing is a process of pain and pleasure. Every writer approaches, experiences, and survives it in a unique way. In this talk and interaction, Mr Jairam Ramesh would share his idea and process of writing. His talk would be followed by an interaction about his latest book The Light of Asia: The Poem That Defined The Buddha (Penguin, 2021). The talk is intended to be a part of the Department’s larger initiative to organise interactions around “Language and Society” to address all kinds of conversations about language, communication, writing, speaking, thinking, and at a deeper level, about connecting with others.

About the Speaker:

Jairam Ramesh is presently a Member of Parliament and Chairman of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change. He was Union Minister between 2006 and 2014 and held several portfolios including Commerce, Power, Environment and Forests, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Rural Development. He played a key role in global climate change negotiations in 2009 and 2010. He is also the author of several well-known books some of which are Green Signals: Ecology, Growth and Democracy in India, Old History, New Geography: Bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story, Indira Gandhi: A Life in Nature, Intertwined Lives: PN Haksar and Indira Gandhi, A Chequered Brilliance: The Many Lives of V.K. Krishna Menon and The Light of Asia: The Poem that defined the Buddha.

We encourage you to make use of this exclusive opportunity to interact with Mr Jairam Ramesh and understand the nuances of the writing process on November 26, 2021, at 11.00 am.

Register here!