Fifth int’l KaSAM conference concludes

The 5th Kathmandu Symposia on Advanced Materials (KaSAM) concluded at Park Village Resort in Kathmandu, gathering over 200 scientists, researchers, and students from around the globe. Organized by the Nepal Polymer Institute (NPI), Tribhuvan University, College of Biomedical Engineering and Applied Sciences, India’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, and Germany’s Institute für Polymerwerkstoffe (IPW), the three-day event focused on interdisciplinary research in materials science.

Key sessions explored innovations in smart materials, sustainable technologies, and bio-based materials, underscoring the importance of material science research in societal applications. “This year’s conference was dedicated to disseminating Nepal’s latest scientific advancements globally,” said Rameshwar Adhikari, President of NPI and KaSAM-2024 Chair.

Distinguished speakers included Vice-chancellor Keshar Jung Baral of Tribhuvan University and Vice-chancellor Poonam Tandon of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, with attendees from Nepal, India, the USA, Germany, and Japan. The event featured 151 research papers and awarded standout presentations with the Best Poster Award. Notably, three MoUs were signed to foster institutional collaborations between universities and scientific organizations in Nepal, India, and Germany.

The event was supported by various Nepali institutions and private sector entities, including the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, NAST, and Nabil Bank. In the closing remarks, Hari Sharan Adhikari, Vice-president of NPI, announced that the sixth KaSAM conference will take place in Pokhara in 2026, aiming to further strengthen global partnerships and advance material science research in Nepal.