Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary DSIR, visited CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI), Bhopal, on 22 December 2024. In the first session, Dr N Kalaiselvi inaugurated the five-star rated eco-friendly green building complex of CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal, facing the national highway in the gracious presence of Prof. Suhas S Joshi, Director, IIT Indore; Prof. Avanish Kumar Srivastava, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal and staff of CSIR-AMPRI.

The total area of the building is ~13500 square metres. The building complex encompasses an Admin & Research Block (G+2) having a total build-up area of ~11000 sqm housing various labs, departments and rooms, lifts, reception, etc. on the ground floor. The first floor has 75 rooms for Scientists, a Director Chamber, a Planning and Performance Division, an Exhibition Hall, a Common sitting area for research scholars, a service room, a conference room, a meeting hall and many more. The second-floor houses offices for Senior Officers with a Digital Library, Meeting Room, and Staff Room. In addition, the laboratory block also has sitting space for scholars. The complex also houses a service block and a canteen block with all state-of-the-art facilities. The building is equipped with solar panels for renewable energy generation. The complex is also equipped with a 15 KLD sewage treatment plant, an extensive water supply network with an underground storage capacity of 102500 litres and a rainwater harvesting system.

On this occasion, an MoU was signed between CSIR-AMPRI, and IIT Indore at the Director Office in New Building to explore academic and research collaboration in the areas of mutual interest.

Technology documents were exchanged between CSIR-AMPRI, and M/s Rollabss Hi-Tech Industries Kolkata at the Director Office in New Building for know-how titled “Nano adsorbent-based filters for arsenic and fluoride free drinking water”. The know-how is based on the CSIR-AMPRI developed technology of large-scale and cost-effective production of nano alumina as a nano adsorbent that can effectively remove fluoride and arsenic from contaminated water. The domestic filters designed using this adsorbent can provide clean water without the need for electricity as well as with zero discharge of wastewater. The technology will be crucial in providing potable water to the rural as well as urban population of India.

A pilot plant for the fabrication of joint-free X-ray, gamma ray and neutron shields was inaugurated by Dr N Kalaiselvi at the new building. Dignitaries visited various Laboratories/Facilities and saw various products developed by CSIR-AMPRI, viz. HPLC lab and Biomimetics and Biomaterials Lab at the new building, 3D Printing Facilities of Graphene Centre, Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding & Geo-polymeric Materials and Gamma Radiation Panel, X-ray Shielding Tiles, Bamboo Composites, Bamboo Composite Structure “Baithak, Bio Green Composite, (Bio binder), Parali Composite, and Raman Spectroscopy Facility.

Dr N Kalaiselvi and Prof. Suhas S Joshi planted a tree at the Technology Development Centre for Bamboo Cultivation and Products site under #??_????_???_??_??? #Plant4Mother Campaign.

During the second session, Prof. Avanish Kumar Srivastava welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted that the inauguration of the new building is a lifetime achievement in the history of AMPRI. He further highlighted about inauguration of a Pilot plant for the fabrication of joint-free X-ray, gamma-ray and neutron shields. He said that this lab is working on engineering materials. In the last 7 years, CSIR-AMPRI has transferred several technologies and four of the signature technologies are available in the market. He emphasised that last year we published around 150 research papers in SCI Journals with an average Impact Factor (IF) of around 6.0 and also published in 46 IF journals. We are receiving several prestigious awards. For the first time, CSIR-AMPRI has received the CII Waste to Worth award, and NRDC Societal Innovation award, and has also established 5 star rated green laboratory building.

In his address, Prof. Suhas S Joshi highlighted about inauguration of the new building being a massive achievement of CSIR-AMPRI. He congratulated Director CSIR-AMPRI and his leadership. He also elaborated on the greenery of the campus of IIT, Indore. He talked about technologies developed by IIT Indore like the technology on tribological nanogenerator for shoe soles for soldiers for charging batteries and the technology to identify real basmati rice. He also mentioned about various programmes for students at IIT, Indore.

About 160 Students and teachers (Vigyan Jyoti) from PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sehore, PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Sagar, PM Shri Govt Higher Secondary School, Shyampur, Sehore and Govt Girls Higher Secondary School Doraha attended the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Dr N Kalaiselvi expressed her happiness for the inauguration of the new building and also appreciated the leadership of Prof. Avanish Kumar Srivastava. She highlighted that several technologies of the institute itself are used in this new building making it a unique structure. She talked about indigenisation and appreciated the efforts of CSIR-AMPRI in making indigenous Raman spectrometers. She encouraged students to visit CSIR-AMPRI and learn about upcoming eye-opening technologies. She expressed her happiness for around 1.5 lakh students and teachers receiving training and exposure to the scientific environment at CSIR-AMPRI through the Jigyasa programme.

She appreciated the growth of AMPRI in terms of technologies, papers and patents. She further highlighted that we are keeping doors open for the public. She emphasised that as per recent studies, it was found that only science and technology are capable of creating a safe and secure earth. Science and technology take us to different levels. She appreciated the mementoes developed by thermal evaporation and 3D printing technology at CSIR-AMPRI. Further, she appreciated the efforts made in making the model of ‘Ram Mandir’ using a metal 3D printer with the highest level of perfection. She appreciated CSIR-AMPRI for taking care of the supply chain on the one hand and developing machines as well as technologies on the other hand. She also appreciated the work undertaken by AMPRI on wound healing, skin patches and many more. She also highlighted that India is coming up with its own standards for benchmarking in various fields and the landscape is appreciable.

Mementoes based on Raman technology and thermal evaporation technique were presented to the Dignitaries. Dr Archana Singh, Principal Scientist, CSIR-AMPRI, moderated the programme. Dr Sandeep Singhai, Head, of Business Development, CSIR-AMPRI, proposed the formal vote of thanks.