A workshop on "Industry-Academia workshop on Analytical Instruments and material Characterization" was held by the Department of Instrumentation and USIC from 18th March to 22nd March 2024.

The programme was financially supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, as part of the Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) scheme.

The honorable Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, Prof. Partap Jyoti Handique, inaugurated the event, and Prof. Pratima Agarwal, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati provided the keynote lecture.

Participants

The programme was successfully carried out with a total of 31 participants from various institutions, including IIT Guwahati, IIT Kharagpur, Jagiroad College, Nagaland University, Ranchi University, St. Xavier's College, Tezpur University, University of Science & Technology Meghalaya, Gauhati University and some industry. Experts and researchers from various fields related to industry and academia were among the participants.

The workshop addressed all aspects, from basic theory, instrumentation, experiment, and analysis of the DST-sponsored facilities present at Gauhati University. It covered topics from sample preparation to data analysis and live demonstrations of all the facilities.

Lectures were delivered by:

• Prof. Prodeep Phukan
• Prof. Anurup Gohain Baruah
• Dr. Arabindo Baruah
• Dr. Sonit Kumar Gogoi
• Dr. Ranjit Thakuria (Gauhati University)
• Dr. Bimal Kumar Sarma (Gauhati University)
• Dr. Hemen Kumar Kalita (Gauhati University)
• Dr. Pranjit Hazarika (Gauhati University)
• Dr. Pranjal Saikia
• Dr. Hemen Deka
• Dr. Debajyoti Mahanta
• Dr. Bulbuli Khanikor

Dr. Santanu Bardoloi (Scientific Officer), Mr. Dipak Das (Scientific Officer), Dr. Sanjib Karmakar (Scientific Officer), Ms. Duborima Kashyap , Ms. Chayanika Sharma provided their valuable guidance and assistance to participants during the hands-on sessions.

The schedule of the training programme was planned so that the participants may attend both lectures and a brief hands-on session using all the available DST-sponsored analytical instruments at Gauhati University. The preparation of the sample for different analytical procedures and an introduction to the interpretation of the experimental results were both covered during the lecture sessions.

During the hands-on sessions, the complete sample analysis procedure of Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction (SC-XRD), Powder X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), UV-Visible spectrometer, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

The event was coordinated by Dr. Madhurya Madhur Borgohain and Dr. Hemen Kumar Kalita, with active support from the organizing committee.