Summary of the (NSNMP-2015)

Department of Natural Science, School of Science, Kathmandu University (KU) organized one-day national level symposium on “Nanotechnology for Novel Materials Processing (NSNMP)” on 18^th January 2015 at the CV Raman mini-auditorium hall at Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel. Prof. Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, vice chancellor of KU, inaugurated the program. The opening program was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mohan B. Gewali, Dean of School of Science. The symposium was coordinated by Dr. Bhim Kafle, assistant professor of chemistry.

The symposium included two plenary, five invited lectures and eight oral presentations by well known figures in the field of nanotechnology and material science of Nepal. Plenary lectures were delivered by Prof. Dr. Rameshwar Adhikari and Prof. Dr. Deepak Subedi.

While addressing, Prof. Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju encouraged the participants to dream big to solve the national problems like energy crisis, waste management, and health and hygiene facilities, giving an example of Israel. He informed Israeli first prime minister Devid Ben-Gurion envisioned to translate Negev desert into green land and this can be motivation to scientist of Nepal. Key note speakers Prof. Adhikari highlighted the devising the polymer based materials to address various problems, while Prof. Subedi demonstrated prospects of utilizing low temperature plasma facility available at Plasma Laboratory of KU for thin film deposition, waste water treatment and surface modification required for textile industries . The chairman Prof. Dr. Mohan B. Gewali highlighted the advantage of the program which enabled researchers from TU and KU to collaborate and share limited laboratory facilities available in two different institutions and thanked organizers for taking initiations and also suggested to incorporate more younger generations to participate in such programs.