Page 147 - CW E-Magazine (21-1-2025)

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CHEMCON 2024

IIChE meet highlights role of chemical engineers

in aiding sustainable development

The Doaba Regional Centre of
Indian Institute of Chemical Engi-
neers (IIChE) under the Department
of Chemical Engineering, Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar National Institute of Tech-
nology (NIT), Jalandhar, organised
the 77th Annual Session of the Chemi-
cal Engineering Congress (CHEM-
CON) and International Conference
on the theme “Role of Chemical
Engineering towards Sustainable Deve-
lopment and Aatmanirbhar Bharat”
from December 27-30, 2024 in
Jalandhar (Punjab).

At the inaugural ceremony, Prof.
M.K. Jha, Chairman, Local Organi-
zing Committee (LOC), informed Mr. Sunil Thakkar, President, IIChE; Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director, NIT Jalandhar;
that more than 855 delegates from Mr. Yashwant Gharpure, Gharpure Associates; Mr. Pradip Kumar Agarwal, CEO, Heritage
countries like South Africa, Australia, Group of Institutions; Mr. Biswanath Chatopadhyay, CEO, IVL Dhunseri Petrochem
Canada, New Zealand, USA, and Industries Pvt. Ltd.; and Prof. G.D. Yadav, former Vice Chancellor, ICT, Mumbai.
Bangladesh are participating in the sustainable development and the need Jalandhar, highlighted the role of
conference. In addition, representa- to focus on specialty chemicals and Chemical Engineers in conserving air,
tives from IITs, NITs, State Govern- R&D initiatives to achieve the goal of water and land. Prof. B.K. Kanojia,
ment Institutions, Research Institutes, Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Patron, CHEMCON 2024 and Direc-
Private Institutions and industries tor, NIT Jalandhar, emphasised the
were present. The event included Mr. Sunil Baran Kuila, Secretary challenges related to climate change,
three memorial lectures, 18 Chemical IIChE, discussed the grave challenges clean energy and waste management.
Engineering Design (CDS) sessions, of global warming and how Chemical
10 invited lectures, and 110 oral and Engineers can contribute towards sus- In his video message, Prof. Joseph
poster presentations in parallel ses- tainable development. Mr. Sunil Thakar, D. Smith, President, American
sions. In addition, a panel discus- President, IIChE, spoke on environ- Institute of Chemical Engineers
sion on “Role of Chemical Engineers mental issues such as use of fossil (AIChE), discussed AIChE’s priorities
towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat” was fuels, population growth and exploi- on promoting research and innova-
organised, with representation from tation of resources. He informed that tion, encouraging collaboration with
academic institutions, industries and 23% of carbon dioxide emissions chemical engineering institutes, and
research organisations. come from the transport sector and addressing societal challenges through
adoption of electric and hydrogen professional expertise.
Dr. Poonam Gera, Head, Depart- vehicles is needed to address this.
ment of Chemical Engineering, NIT, He also discussed alternative energy The conference also featured
highlighted the signifi cant achieve- sources such as nuclear, wind and Indo-American and Indo-Canadian
ments of the Department. Dr. Vishwa- solar energy and highlighted their joint symposia, which provided valu-
nath Chattopadhyay, Chairman, limitations. able insights on the vital roles chemi-
NOC, CHEMCON 2024, emphasised cal engineers play in promoting sus-
the importance of clean energy in Prof. Ajay Bansal, Registrar, NIT tainable development.

Chemical Weekly January 21, 2025 147

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