The transformative role of advanced carbon materials in water purification, affordable health technologies and cutting-edge research – from carbon nanomaterials to porous carbons and graphene-based systems – is enabling breakthroughs in sustainability and strategic sectors, IIT-Kanpur professor and former secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Ashutosh Sharma said on Wednesday.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day ‘Conference on Advanced Carbon Materials (CACM-2026)’ at the BITS-Pilani campus in Hyderabad, he emphasized the need for interdisciplinary research, stronger industry-academia collaboration and policy support for full utilization of carbon technologies for national development.
Organized by the Indian Carbon Society, Hyderabad Chapter in collaboration with the International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), the event was held under the theme ‘Transforming India with Sustainable Carbon Technologies’ – and brought together leading scientists, industry experts, policy makers and students to explore the growing potential of advanced carbon materials.
ARCI Director R. Vijay emphasized the vital role of carbon in driving technological progress across sectors. Organizing committee chairman PK Jain, convener Sanjay R. Dhage and others also addressed the rally. A short film titled Carbon’s Odyssey: From Flame to Frontier was screened at the ceremony. The release of a book of abstracts, along with a poster presentation and technology exhibition, was the first day of the conference, according to a press release.
Published – 18 Feb 2026 20:07 IST