Six-Day FDP on Scientific Foundations for Emerging Technologies (SFET-2026) by AS Department

To provide participants with valuable insights into the scientific foundations of emerging technologies,the Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), and the Institution of Engineers (India), successfully conducted a six-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled “Scientific Foundations for Emerging Technologies (SFET-2026)” during 20-25 April 2026 at Vidya.

Inaugural Session

The inaugural session held on 20 April 2026 commenced with a prayer, followed by the welcome address delivered by Dr. Nisha A. B (HoD, AS Dept). The presidential address was delivered by Dr Sunitha C (Principal) which set a positive and encouraging tone for the programme.

The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. C. P. Vinod (Chief Scientist, CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory, Pune) who highlighted the importance of advanced catalytic processes in capturing and converting greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly carbon dioxide, into valuable products. He emphasized that such technologies contribute significantly to environmental sustainability by reducing pollution, mitigating climate change, and enabling the production of fuels, chemicals, and functional materials through greener pathways. The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Sreedevi (Asso Prof, AS Dept)

Technical Sessions

The FDP featured a series of expert lectures delivered by distinguished academicians and researchers across various disciplines:

• On 21 April 2026, Dr. Satheesh S (Visiting Faculty, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam) delivered a lecture on “Stochastics in Action”, focusing on the application of stochastic methods in solving real-world problems.
• On the third day, Dr. Arun A. V. (Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, TKM College of Engineering) presented a talk on “Mathematical Modelling of Tunnel FET for Low-Power Applications”.
• On the fourth day, Dr. Sudev N. K. (Professor, Department of Mathematics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru) delivered an insightful lecture on “Graph Theory in Contemporary Applications”, highlighting its relevance in modern scientific and technological domains.
• On the fifth day, Dr. Jinesh K. B. (Professor and Head, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram)  presented a session on “Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy”, explaining its principles and applications in nanoscience, surface science, and the semiconductor industry.
• On the final day, Dr. Jayesh Santhi Bhavan (Lecturer in Material Engineering, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK) delivered a talk on “Applications of Mathematics in Material Science”.

Participation and Outcome

All sessions were conducted online via Zoom and witnessed active participation from approximately 100 faculty members and research scholars from engineering and allied science disciplines across various institutions. The programme successfully brought together experts from core scientific fields such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, fostering a strong interdisciplinary learning environment.

The sessions effectively connected fundamental scientific concepts with emerging technological applications, thereby enhancing the teaching and research competencies of the participants. Both theoretical discussions and practical insights ensured a comprehensive learning experience.

The Organizing Committee comprises Dr. Nisha A. B (HoD, AS Dept) as Convener,Dr. Sreedevi A (Asso Prof, AS Dept) as Coordinator and Ms. Rachana Sajeev (Asst Prof -Sr. Grade,AS Dept) as Co-coordinator. Their collective efforts ensure the effective planning, organization and execution of the program.