Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) marked its 83rd Foundation Day with a grand celebration at the NML Auditorium. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Dr. Shankar Venugopal, Vice President of Mahindra Research Valley, Chennai; Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury, Director of CSIR-NML; and Aditya Mainak, Administrative Officer of CSIR-NML. The ceremony commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a welcome address from Dr. Chowdhury, who greeted the dignitaries, NML retirees, scientists, and other invitees.
The highlight of the event was the CSIR Foundation Day lecture delivered by Dr. Shankar Venugopal, who spoke on “The New Materials that are Shaping the Future of Mobility.” In his insightful talk, Dr. Venugopal emphasized the importance of introducing cutting-edge technologies that are accessible to Indian farmers, aligning with Mahindra’s mission to make technology affordable and impactful. He also discussed the exciting potential of Deep Sea Mining, which contains critical materials like manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and neodymium (Nd), essential for the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Dr. Venugopal touched upon the significance of India’s lithium reserves, estimated at 5.9 million tons, and highlighted the 90% price drop in lithium-ion batteries over the past decade, underscoring the rapid transformation in battery technology. He also noted the challenges India faces in securing critical metals, such as lithium and cobalt, which are vital for producing EV batteries. As a solution, he urged a focus on technology development for recycling these critical materials from end-of-life EV batteries to ensure sustainability in the long run.
In keeping with the tradition of celebrating excellence, the event also featured awards for various competitions and achievements. Dr. Venugopal presented awards for the essay and quiz competitions, held in honor of the Foundation Day, along with meritorious student awards for the wards of CSIR-NML employees.
In recognition of academic excellence, a one-time cash award of Rs. 3,000 was given to students who secured 90% or more in at least three science subjects in the Senior Secondary Examination (12th class) of 2024. This year’s recipients were:
Employees who had completed 25 years of service with CSIR were honored for their dedication, while those who retired between September 30, 2023, and August 31, 2024, were also recognized for their contributions to the organization.
The celebration concluded with a vote of thanks by Aditya Mainak, Administrative Officer of CSIR-NML, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, participants, and attendees for making the event a success. The 83rd Foundation Day of CSIR-NML highlighted the continued commitment of the laboratory to scientific and industrial innovation, along with its contributions to the development of future technologies, especially in the mobility and materials sectors.
