The Department of Physics and Research Centre, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam organized an International Conference on Advanced Functional Materials and Applications [ICAFMA-2024] on 6^th & 7^th March with Dr. A.S. Jebamalar as Convenor and Dr. S. Sindhusha as Co-Convenor.

The conference aims at giving an exposure to the participants regarding upcoming technologies and advances in recent development in functional materials and applications through innovative talks by professionals and experts in those fields. The main motive behind this conference is to bring together eminent researchers across the world to share their ideas with themes emphasized on the significance of material development, various characterization and optimism regarding the potential applications of applied science and technology including nanotechnology and solar energy.  

The inaugural program was started with a prayer by our Chaplain Rev. (Mrs.) Starie Princilal. In the Inaugural welcome address, Dr. Arul Dhas HOD of Physics and the Organizing Secretary of the conference, welcomed all the dignitaries, resource persons, chair persons, faculties, research scholars and student participants from various colleges. The presidential address was delivered by Dr. G.D Biji, Vice Principal and the Correspondent, Dr. T. Vinod Kumar felicitated the gathering. Dr. S.C Jeyakumar, Associate Professor, highlighted the focus and the overall spectrum of the conference.

 The chief guest address was given by Mr. Mohan, Scientist, NPCIL, Koodankulam. During the inaugural program, the unveiling of the conference abstract book and the first copy was received by Dr. I. Hubert Joe. Dr. Racil Jeya Geetha, Assistant Professor of Physics ended the inaugural session with the vote of thanks.

After the inaugural program, the conference continued with three technical sessions. In the first session, Dr. I Hubert Joe, University of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram delivered his talk on the topic “ Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering and its Biomedical Applications.” During the second session, Dr. Loganathan Veeramuthu, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan delivered the keynote address on “Demand and Prerequisites for Highly Efficient Perovskite Quantum Dots.”

After the lunch break in the third session, Dr. Mohan, Scientist, NPCIL, Koodankulam presented his talk on the topic “Advanced Nuclear Reactors.” After that, oral presentations were conducted for the participants. The oral presentation was chaired by Dr.P.Rajesh and Mr.Mohan.

The second day of the conference started with the prayer song and the participants were welcomed by Dr. Arul Dhas. On the second day of the conference during the first session, Dr. K. Ravi Chandran, University of Madras, Chennai, delivered the keynote address on the topic “Nanomagnetic Materials for Spintronics Applications.” The second session was handed over to Dr. D. Arun Kumar, Nagoya University, Japan and he delivered a talk on the topic “Wide Band Gap Semiconductors for Blue LED Applications.”

During the third session, Dr. P. Rajesh, SSN Institution, Chennai, delivered a talk on the topic “High Energy Radiation Defection Materials Fabrication and Applications.” After the lunch break of the second day, poster presentations chaired by Dr.P.Rajesh were conducted in which 46 research scholars from various institutions participated.

The conference came to an end with the valedictory function. Dr. C. Christal Vasanthi welcomed the gathering. Dr. G. D. Biji, Vice-Pricipal delivered the presidential address and  Dr. D. Aruldhas, shared the highlights of the conference. Dr. P. Rajesh, SSN Institution Chennai gave the valedictory address and presented the best presenter awards to the prize winners of Oral and Poster presentation. The conference ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. S. Sindhusha followed by National Anthem.