Alumni Meet & Greet: Hyderabad Edition
SRM University-AP hosted a memorable get-together, the Alumni-Meet and Greet in Hyderabad for its beloved alumni on June 29, 2025. The Meet and Greet welcomed 150 alumni from Hyderabad and neighbouring locations, who assembled for a wonderful evening of rekindling memories, reconnecting with peers and establishing new connections. Organised under the aegis of The Directorate of Alumni Relations, the event was presided by Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dr Satish Anamalamudi, Assistant Director – Alumni Relations, Dr Vinayak Kalluri, Dean – Academic Affairs, Mr Siddharth Tripathi, Director – Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Mr Payeli Indra Kiran Kumar, President of the Alumni Association SRM AP.
Prof. Ch Satish Kumar welcomed all alumni and remarked that the Meet aimed to build an emotional bridge between the generations, batches, and sections. He opined that this network would help the alumni grow, prosper, and progress professionally and personally and commended Dr Satish and SRM AP for taking the initiative to build this bridge through the Alumni Meet and Greet.
Mr Indra Kiran Kumar enlightened the alumni on the various channels through which they could engage and contribute to their alma mater. He encouraged them to be mentors by sharing their experience and knowledge with the students, to be part of the various academic and non-academic councils of the university, and to join hands with the faculty and students to work on joint projects or begin a new business venture. He also emphasised the slogan “Come. Connect. Contribute” advocated by Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora.
The meet-and-greet offered alumni an opportunity to meet their fellow alumni and connect with their alma mater, which has guided them in their formative years of higher education and helped them choose their career path. The event also conducted some team-building activities and prizes for the winners.
The Hyderabad chapter of the Alumni Meet and Greet was a resounding success. The Alumni Relations’ initiative to organise several smaller meetings in various locations of the country made it easier and more accessible for the alumni to get together, witnessing a broad and active participation. The event organisers also encouraged the alumni to visit the campus occasionally and be part of the journey to excellence.
- Published in Alumni Relations, Alumni Relations News, News
Office of Dean Research Organises Two-Day Workshop on X-ray Diffraction Techniques
The Office of the Dean-Research organised a two-day meet on X-ray Diffraction Technique. The hands-on workshop was led by Prof. L N Patro, Mr Arun Kumar Bandarapu and Mr K Sumit through various sessions in coordination with Mr Ch Srinivas, in the presence of Dr Ranjith Thapa and Dr Sabyasachi Mukhopadhyay, among others. The event saw the participation of over 80 attendees, including 40 participants from various universities and colleges across the region.
The objective of the event was to provide a comprehensive platform for academic and research participants to explore the fundamentals and applications of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and to combine theoretical grounding with hands-on experience, thereby strengthening technical capabilities in material characterisation and promoting collaborative learning across institutions.
The workshop was divided into several sessions, namely the theoretical, interactive and practical sessions alongside a session on sample analysis, offering the participants an in-depth understanding and hands-on learning experience. Participants were also offered a comprehensive session on accessing I-STEM and the process of booking XRD facilities via the I-STEM (Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map) portal. Attendees were walked through each step, including user registration, instrument search, booking protocols, and submission best practices. The session aimed to enhance awareness and access to high-end scientific infrastructure for researchers across institutions.
The two-day workshop helped participants acquire practical competency in handling XRD equipment and interpreting results while fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and broad understanding of characterisation tools. The XRD Users Meet served as a dynamic platform enabling participants to build foundation knowledge and hands-on competence in X-ray Diffraction Techniques.
- Published in News, Research News
Industrial Meet on Fracture Mechanics: Forging Industry-Academia Partnerships
The Department of Mechanical Engineering organised a focused Industrial Meet on June 21, 2025, titled “Demystifying Fracture Mechanics for Industry: Safe Design, Analysis and Operation of Pressure Vessels, Piping & Pipelines & Green Hydrogen Storage and Transportation Equipment.” This specialised workshop was designed for professionals from well-established Refinery, Petrochemical and Oil & Gas, sectors and the emerging Green Hydrogen industry.
The industry meet commenced with a brief keynote address by Dr Dipak K Chandiramani, Independent Consultant (Mumbai) & Chair, ASME PVP Division, India, on the topic “Quality Assurance in Fabrication: Perspectives from Industry Standards.” His talk laid a strong foundational understanding, setting the stage for the central theme of the meet. visited the laboratories of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and discussed opportunities for commercialising the available facilities. He expressed interest in promoting our industrial training programs on ASME’s Master Class – Advanced Learning Programs webpage and invited faculty members to participate in the upcoming ASME code development committee meetings.
Dr Gurumurthy Kagita, Professor of Practice, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM AP, the main resource person for the event, shared his extensive industry experience relevant to the theme of the meet and explained the practical applications of fracture mechanics in the refinery, petrochemical, and oil & gas sectors, as well as in the emerging green hydrogen industry.
The meet began with an introduction to the key concepts of fracture mechanics, presented in a simple and accessible manner for industry professionals. Emphasis was placed on visual learning through graphics and animations rather than traditional classroom-style lectures. In the latter part of the session, the focus shifted to applying fracture mechanics in alignment with various international industry codes and standards. Several case studies were presented using in-house-developed software modules, including Brittle Fracture Screening, MPT envelopes for hydro-processing reactors, etc.
The meeting saw external participants from professionals across various industries, faculty members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and students, including both B.Tech. and Ph.D. scholars.
Several industry participants expressed strong interest in future collaboration with SRM University. Multiple organisations, including Anup Engineering, Jindal Renewable Pvt. Ltd., and Ratnamani Metals and Tubes Ltd., expressed interest in signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with SRM University for future collaboration in advanced engineering services. Several companies also expressed willingness to offer internships and placement opportunities to SRM AP students.
Industry representatives showed keen interest in collaborative research and consultancy projects, particularly in areas such as hydrogen pipeline design, digital twin tools, and numerical assessment of hydrogen-compatible materials.
These outcomes collectively highlight strong potential for long-term industry-academia partnerships and increased opportunities for students in training, research, and employment.
- Published in Departmental News, Mechanical Engineering NEWS, News, Workshop
A Sustainable Method for Recovery of Valuable Metals from LIBs
What happens when you can use natural waste like orange peels and rice husks to extract valuable metals from old batteries, electric vehicles, etc.? Exploring innovative and eco-friendly methods to recover useful metals, Dr Deblina Dutta, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, and her research scholars, Ms Syed Suffia Iqbal and Mr Pranav Prashant Dagwar, have published a paper titled “Recovery of metals from spent lithium-ion batteries using agricultural waste, applications and circularity framework” in the prestigious Q1 journal Separation and Purification Technology having an impact factor of 8.2.
Abstract
This research explores an innovative, sustainable method to recover valuable metals (Li, Co, Ni, Mn) from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using agricultural waste such as rice husk, orange peels, tea waste, and sugarcane molasses. These organic wastes serve as eco-friendly, cost-effective leaching agents. The study compares conventional and biomass-based recovery methods, evaluates environmental impacts, and aligns the approach with circular economy principles to promote green technology and resource optimization.
Practical Implementation/ Social Implications of the Research
- Eco-friendly Recycling: Offers an alternative to hazardous chemical recycling by using biodegradable, non-toxic agricultural waste.
- Waste Valorisation: Transforms agricultural waste into a valuable resource, reducing landfill and open burning.
- Resource Recovery: Helps recover critical battery metals, reducing dependence on mining.
- Circular Economy: Supports sustainability goals by promoting a closed-loop recycling system.
- Policy Relevance: Aligns with SDGs such as clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable industries (SDG 9), and responsible consumption (SDG 12).
Collaborations
- Ain Shams University, Egypt
- Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), Egypt
Future Research Plans
- Scale up biomass-based metal recovery to pilot or industrial level.
- Develop hybrid leaching methods combining microbes and green solvents.
- Expand to rare earth element (REE) recovery from other waste streams.
Link to the article
Fig. 2. Conventional and technologically advanced process for recycling LIBs.
Fig. 9. Sustainability and circular economic applications in LIBs management.
- Published in Departmental News, ENVS News, News, Research News