CSIR-NPL Hosts Dr K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture 2025

17 Jun 2025 CW Team

This year’s lecture was delivered by Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran, Distinguished Professor at IIT Madras, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada, and Matscience, Chennai. He was the Chief Guest for the occasion.

Dr Nita Dilawar, Director’s representative, CSIR-NPL, highlighted Dr Krishnan’s instrumental contributions to Indian science and technology. She spoke on the essential role of metrology in industrial development, international trade, and societal progress, while emphasising the growing impact of quantum science on modern metrology. She also detailed the valuable contributions made by CSIR and CSIR-NPL to India’s scientific landscape.

Delivering his talk titled “Prediction of Room Temperature Superconductivity in Graphite, K. S. Krishnan’s Favourite Mineral”, Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran paid tribute to Dr Krishnan’s legacy and his seminal work in light scattering, magnetic susceptibility, quantum mechanics, thermionics, thermal conductivity, and alloy resistivity. He discussed the unique properties of graphite and carbon-based materials and delved into the physics driving their superconductivity. Prof. Baskaran elaborated on the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) and Resonating Valence Bond (RVB) theories, explaining how the RVB model provides insight into achieving room temperature superconductivity in doped graphene and graphite.

As part of the memorial programme, CSIR-NPL also hosted a “Workshop on Quantum Metrology, Materials and Technologies” on 10th June 2025. The Chief Guest was Prof. T. Ramasami, Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Chairman of the K. S. Krishnan Memorial Trust. Research scholars and student interns from CSIR-NPL participated actively, presenting their research and project work. Thirteen outstanding participants were honoured with Best Presentation Awards for their contributions.

To honour the legacy of its Founder Director, Dr K. S. Krishnan, the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, organised the annual Dr K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture on 16th June 2025. The event also commemorated the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025. CSIR-NPL, a premier national research institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has held this lecture series since 1965, celebrating Dr Krishnan’s pioneering contributions to science by inviting eminent scientists of global repute. Over the decades, the platform has hosted Nobel Laureates and renowned scientific minds. This year’s lecture was delivered by Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran, Distinguished Professor at IIT Madras, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada, and Matscience, Chennai. He was the Chief Guest for the occasion. Dr Nita Dilawar, Director’s representative, CSIR-NPL, highlighted Dr Krishnan’s instrumental contributions to Indian science and technology. She spoke on the essential role of metrology in industrial development, international trade, and societal progress, while emphasising the growing impact of quantum science on modern metrology. She also detailed the valuable contributions made by CSIR and CSIR-NPL to India’s scientific landscape. Delivering his talk titled “Prediction of Room Temperature Superconductivity in Graphite, K. S. Krishnan’s Favourite Mineral”, Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran paid tribute to Dr Krishnan’s legacy and his seminal work in light scattering, magnetic susceptibility, quantum mechanics, thermionics, thermal conductivity, and alloy resistivity. He discussed the unique properties of graphite and carbon-based materials and delved into the physics driving their superconductivity. Prof. Baskaran elaborated on the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) and Resonating Valence Bond (RVB) theories, explaining how the RVB model provides insight into achieving room temperature superconductivity in doped graphene and graphite. As part of the memorial programme, CSIR-NPL also hosted a “Workshop on Quantum Metrology, Materials and Technologies” on 10th June 2025. The Chief Guest was Prof. T. Ramasami, Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Chairman of the K. S. Krishnan Memorial Trust. Research scholars and student interns from CSIR-NPL participated actively, presenting their research and project work. Thirteen outstanding participants were honoured with Best Presentation Awards for their contributions.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..