GITAM School of Science, Hyderabad, commemorated the birth anniversary of Shanti SwarupBhatnagar(21 February 1894 – 1 January 1955) on 20 February 2026 with a keynote address by Prof. G. NarahariSastry, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad and S SBhatnagar Awardee. The event paid tribute to Dr.Bhatnagar, revered as the “Father of Research Laboratories” in India, for laying the foundation of the nation’s scientific research infrastructure.
In his address, Prof.Sastry emphasized the transformative power of technology and research in shaping national economies. He highlighted how countries that embraced technological advancements during and after the Industrial Revolution achieved rapid growth, noting that India must strengthen its focus on both fundamental and applied sciences. He expressed concern over the decline in India’s R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP and called for renewed investment in innovation and scientific research.
Recalling the contributions of visionary Indian scientists such as MokshagundamVisvesvaraya, Jagadish Chandra Bose, and SatyendraNath Bose, Prof.Sastry urged students to draw inspiration from their legacy of excellence, integrity, and nation-building. He encouraged youth to view India’s large population as a strength and to convert knowledge into wealth through innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-ready skills. At least 20 percent of graduates, he suggested, should aspire to become entrepreneurs and job creators.
He underscored the importance of asking meaningful questions, pursuing scientific experimentation and modeling, and applying knowledge for societal benefit. “The future of Bharat lies in your hands,” he told students, motivating them to think like leaders and contribute to national progress.
Earlier, Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, Distinguished Professor of GSS and former Secretary of DST, welcomed the guest and felicitated him in the presence of Dr. M. Reza, Principal, School of Science, Heads of Departments, and faculty members. Dr.Gousia Begum, Head of the Department of Chemistry, delivered the vote of thanks. Around 200 students from BharatiyaVidyaBhavan Degree College, Sainikpuri, participated in the programme.
National Conference held at GITAM
The GITAM School of Pharmacy, a constituent of GITAM Deemed to be University, successfully hosted a National Conference on “Quality by Design (QbD): Integrating Design of Experiments (DoE) in Pharmaceutical Research” on its Hyderabad campus on 20 February 2026.
The conference highlighted the application of Design of Experiments (DoE) and advanced statistical tools across multiple stages of pharmaceutical research, including drug discovery, formulation development, analytical sciences, quality assurance, and regulatory science. The programme provided a vibrant platform for meaningful interaction and knowledge exchange among academicians, researchers, and industry professionals.
The plenary lecture was delivered by Dr.Venkateshwarlu, Managing Director of Neuheit Pharma Technologies. This was followed by an expert talk on “QbD: Integrating Risk Assessment, DoE, and Lifecycle Management in Pharma Development” by Saurabh Gupta. Another insightful session on “DoE as a Core Tool in QbD for Pharmaceutical Development” was presented by Dr.GautamSamanta, Founder & Principal Consultant at AGS Pharma Consulting. The dignitaries also released the conference abstract book, followed by an engaging poster presentation session.
Dr. Pooja Mittal, Convener of the conference, delivered the welcome address, while Prof. G. Shiva Kumar, Principal of GSP, set the tone for the deliberations. Dr.Bappaditya Chatterjee proposed the vote of thanks. The conference started with a song by Dr.SrikanthGatadi, and was coordinated by Dr.Pavan Kumar Chintamaneni. Participation certificates were distributed to all attendees at the conclusion of the event.
The conference reaffirmed GITAM’s commitment to promoting innovation, quality-driven pharmaceutical research, and industry–academia collaboration.
