The two-day national conference “Catalysis in Synthesis (CiS-2026)” commenced on Friday at the Golden Jubilee Lecture Theatre of the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, bringing together leading chemists, researchers and students from across the country to discuss recent advances in catalysis and synthetic chemistry.
The conference is being organised by the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology as part of the institute’s centennial celebrations marking 100 years of academic and research excellence.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by conference convenor Prof. Soumitra Maity, who highlighted the importance of catalysis in modern chemical synthesis and its growing relevance in pharmaceuticals, materials science and sustainable technologies.
Padma Shri awardee Vinod K. Singh, Chair Professor at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the inaugural lecture. He emphasised that catalysis continues to play a transformative role in modern chemical research and noted that collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches would be crucial for developing innovative and sustainable synthetic methodologies in the future.
The inaugural function was presided over by Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of the institute, who observed that national conferences such as CiS-2026 provide an important platform for interaction between experienced scientists and young researchers and help foster academic collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Other dignitaries present on the dais included Prof. Keka Ojha, Dean (Continuing Education Programme), and Prof. S. K. Padhi, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, who highlighted the department’s growing research initiatives in contemporary areas of chemistry.
The programme also featured the felicitation of the chief guest followed by the formal launch of the conference proceedings. Prof. Sunil Pulletikurti, co-convenor of the conference, delivered the vote of thanks.
According to the organisers, the conference aims to provide a national platform for scientists, academicians and research scholars to exchange ideas and discuss emerging trends in catalytic reactions, synthetic methodologies and sustainable chemical processes.
Following the inaugural lecture, the conference moved into multiple scientific sessions featuring keynote and invited talks by prominent researchers from leading institutions across the country. The two-day event will also include poster presentations by young researchers and interactive discussions designed to promote collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of catalytic chemistry.