The Department of Chemistry B. Borooah College (Autonomous) in Guwahati will host an international conference, bringing together scientists, researchers, academics and industry experts to discuss emerging scientific approaches to sustainability and the challenges involved in translating research into practical solutions.
The two-day International Conference on Progress and Challenges in Modern Day Sustainable Science (PCMDSS-2026) will be held on November 2 and 3, 2026, and is being organised by the Department of Chemistry, B. Borooah College (Autonomous).
The conference is being organised in association with the Pollution Control Board, Assam, and the Assam Science Technology and Environmental Council (ASTEC).
The conference assumes significance as scientific and technological development increasingly intersects with questions of environmental protection, resource use and long-term sustainability.
PCMDSS-2026 seeks to provide a platform for researchers, policymakers, industry representatives and students to examine these intersections and explore how scientific research can contribute to sustainable development.
A major focus of the conference will be on translating molecular-scale scientific research into sustainable technologies, processes and solutions at a larger scale.
Discussions will also examine how developments across different branches of chemistry can contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while identifying scientific bottlenecks and emerging global trends in sustainability research.
“Sustainability is no longer a concern that can be addressed by one discipline or institution alone. It requires meaningful collaboration among scientists, researchers, policymakers, industry and young scholars. Through PCMDSS-2026, B. Borooah College hopes to create a platform where scientific knowledge and new ideas can contribute to solutions for some of the most pressing environmental and developmental challenges before us,” said Dr. Bijoy S. Goswami, HOD, Department of Chemistry, B. Borooah College.
“The central idea behind PCMDSS-2026 is to examine how advances in science, particularly chemistry and allied disciplines, can move beyond laboratories and contribute to sustainable technologies, processes and practices. With researchers and experts from India and abroad participating, we expect the conference to facilitate meaningful exchange of knowledge while also giving students and young researchers an opportunity to engage with contemporary developments in sustainable science,” said Dr Pradyumna Mazumdar, Convener, PCMDSS-2026.
To date, several renowned scientists and industry leaders have confirmed their attendance, and the organizing committee is in touch with many more eminent professionals. Confirmed distinguished researchers from India and abroad include Prof. Bill Jones (Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK), who will deliver the international keynote address. Other notable international speakers include Prof. Mihails Arhangelskis (University of Warsaw, Poland) and Prof. Nadeesh M. Adassooriya (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka).
Among the national speakers scheduled to participate are Prof. Tridib K. Sarma of IIT Indore, Prof. Sasanka Deka of Delhi University, Prof. Upasana Bora Sinha of Nagaland University, Dr Debajit Sarma of IIT Patna, Dr Binod Bihari Palei of the Mineral Processing Department, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar, Dr Dinabandhu Das of the School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Dr Bhaskar Jyoti Deka of the Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee.
Industry participation will include Dr Monoj Mon Kalita of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany, and Dr Biva Talukdar, an EU sustainable technology consultant based in Germany.
Scientific sessions during PCMDSS-2026 will cover a broad range of areas, including energy, health, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, green chemistry, environment and sustainability, biomaterials, agriculture and food technology, climate change, waste management and multidisciplinary science. The programme will include plenary lectures, invited lectures, short invited lectures, student oral presentations and poster presentations.
The conference comes as the postgraduate Department of Chemistry at B. Borooah College marks its 62nd anniversary.
The department, established in 1964, currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes and has undertaken research and projects supported by agencies including DST-SERB, UGC, ARIAS and RIDF.
