The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is organising a webinar titled “Chemical Engineering: Chemistry to Computers”, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Late. Prof. N. R. Kamath. The details of the webinar are given below:

Title                 :      “Chemical Engineering : Chemistry to Computers”

Speakers         : 

• Prof. M. M. Sharma, (Emeritus Professor of Eminence, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai)
• Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, (Chairman, National Innovation Foundation, Reliance Innovation Council, KPIT Technologies Innovation Council and Marico Foundation’s Governing Council)
• Prof. Devang Khakhar, (Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay)

Abstract:

In the early years, the nature of the chemical engineering discipline was primarily defined by the branches of chemistry viz. organic, industrial, physical and biochemistry with its emphasis on modest craft operations for manufacture of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, over the years, the chemical engineering discipline has witnessed a gradual change due to factors like increases in the scale of manufacturing, competition for efficiency and lowering costs, and ever-increasing advances in computing sciences and infrastructure, among others.

Due to this merging of engineering and computing advances, the chemical engineering discipline has been generating an increased understanding of various phenomena from the nano-scale to their impact at the macroscale. This has helped the chemical engineering discipline to address emerging global problems in clean energy, healthcare, environment, and sustainability.

This webinar, will present thoughts and perspectives from prestigious thinkers and experts on chemical engineering, tracing the path of the discipline from chemistry to computers.

About the speakers   :

Prof. M. M. Sharma, (Emeritus Professor of Eminence, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai)

Professor Man Mohan Sharma obtained Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (1958) from UDCT (ICT) and subsequently MSc (Tech) in 1960. He obtained PhD (Chemical Engineering) (1964) at Cambridge University with PV Danckwerts.

He remained as Professor for 33 years at UDCT along with 8 years as Director of this Institute. He has been honored by several universities including IITs by honorary doctorates. Professor Sharma made contributions to chemical engineering science and technology.

Professor Sharma is a recipient of a number of prestigious academic honours and awards including the 1977 Moulton Medal of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (2001) and Padma Bhushan (1987) by the President of India. He was INSA President (1989-90).

Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, (Chairman, National Innovation Foundation, Reliance Innovation Council, KPIT Technologies Innovation Council and Marico Foundation’s Governing Council)

A dangerous optimist, Mashelkar is uniquely multifaceted. In 1998, this scientist received J.R.D. Tata Corporate Leadership Award, an exclusive honour reserved for Indian Corporates. In 1998, he was also elected Fellow of Royal Society, the topmost honour reserved for world’s path breaking scientists. He is a Director on boards of India’s leading companies, from Tatas to Reliance. 44 global universities have bestowed honorary doctorates upon him.  

He has received Padmavibhushan at the hands of President of India and Star of Asia at the hands of George Bush (Sr), former US President.

Prof. Devang Khakhar, (Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay)

Prof. Devang Khakhar is Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.  He was appointed as the director of the institute and on expiry of the first term, he was retained for a second term in 2014.

Professor Khakhar completed his Bachelor of Technology at IIT Delhi in 1981, and his PhD at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1986. He joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Bombay in January 1987.

He has received several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (1997), the Swarnajayanti Fellowship (1998) and the J. C. Bose Fellowship (2010). He is also a recipient of IIT Bombay's Excellence in Teaching Award and the Mathur Award for Research Excellence. He’s a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and the Indian National Science Academy, and serves on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India.