Two-Day National Conference on Functional Materials Held at Carmel College, Nuvem.

The Department of Chemistry, Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women, Nuvem, successfully organised a two-day National Conference on Material Chemistry titled “Functional Materials for Sustainable Development (FMSD-26)” on January 23^rd and 24^th, 2026. The conference brought together eminent scientists, academicians, and researchers from premier institutions across the country.  The conference commenced on January 23 with the registration followed by the inaugural function. Prof. Jayant Budkuley graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and also chaired the keynote session. The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Rodney Fernandes, IIT Bombay, who emphasized the significance of oxidative olefin functionalization, covering classical reactions such as Wacker oxidation, oxidative cleavage, and oxidative cyclization. The first technical session, chaired by Prof. Rodney Fernandes, featured an invited talk by Dr. Amit Vernekar (CSIR–Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai) on the applications of biomimetic enzymes. Post-lunch, Session II was chaired by Dr. Amit Vernekar and included talks by Dr. Kiran Venkayala (BITS Goa), Dr. Raja Mitra (IIT Goa), and Prof. Mainak Banerjee (BITS Goa). The day concluded with a poster session showcasing student research, followed by a cultural programme.  The second day of the conference opened with Session III chaired by Prof. K. S. Rane, featuring invited talks by Prof. Deepa Khushalani (TIFR Mumbai), Dr. Sudipta Chatterjee (BITS Goa), and Prof. Sounak Roy (BITS Hyderabad). Session IV, chaired by Dr. Harsha Uskaikar, included a short lecture by Prof. K. S. Rane and an oral presentation session by research scholars and invited talks by Prof. V. M. S. Verenkar and Prof. S. N. Dhuri (Goa University) along with Prof. Subhashish Roy (BITS Goa). The conference concluded with a valedictory function, marking the successful culmination of insightful deliberations and scholarly exchange.  The conference provided a valuable platform for interaction among researchers and inspired participants to pursue innovative research aligned with sustainability goals.