🌀 Black Holes and First-Year Orientation: A Cosmic Beginning at the Department of Physics & Nanoscience

The Department of Physics and the Department of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, University of Kerala, jointly organized a captivating orientation lecture for the newly admitted first-year undergraduate students on July 28, 2025. The session was anchored around an exciting topic:

“Introduction to Black Holes in Einstein’s Theory of Gravity”

delivered by Dr. Chandrasekhar Bhamidipati, Professor, School of Basic Science, IIT Bhubaneswar.

Held at K. S. Viswanathan Hall, the talk began at 10:30 AM and was attended by sstudents and faculty members.

🌌 Why Black Holes for Orientation?

You may wonder — what do black holes have to do with the start of a postgraduate journey in Physics or Nanoscience? The answer lies in the fundamentals.

While black holes themselves may belong to the grand theatre of astrophysics and general relativity, the physical principles that describe them, such as space-time curvature, gravitational force, energy conservation, and event horizons, draw heavily from the core concepts taught early in any physics curriculum.

We thank Dr. Chandrasekhar Bhamidipati for this intellectually stimulating session and warmly welcome all our new students to the Department. Here's to a journey that will expand minds, just like gravity expands space.

Welcoming New Beginnings: July and the Fresh FYUG Batch

July marks not just the middle of the year, but also a fresh academic beginning, the arrival of the new four-year undergraduate (FYUG) batch. It was a moment of pride and purpose as we had the opportunity to deliver the introductory session to the new students, introducing them to the vibrant academic landscape of the Departments of Physics and Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

The session highlighted the diverse range of courses offered, the minor programs available, and the interdisciplinary possibilities that lie ahead. I am happy to share that the interaction was engaging, and it was heartening to see students show genuine interest, many responded positively to the call and opted to pursue minors in Physics and Nanoscience.

Sharing a photo from that memorable day, a snapshot of a new journey taking shape.

Equally delightful was meeting the new Physics major batch, who call themselves “Quantum Mania.” Sharing a photo of this vibrant young team as they embark on their academic journey together.

Also taking a moment to celebrate Bhadra, one of Quantum Mania who has joined Marine Engineering. Even though it is hard to let her go, we wish her all the best as she sails into new horizons.

Farewell to HYADES – PG Batch 2023–25

As the curtains fall on another beautiful chapter, we bid farewell to the HYADES PG 2023–25 batch. The send-off and post-graduation day were not just events, but emotions stitched together, laughter, memories, last-minute hugs, and promises to stay connected beyond the walls of academia. I want to offer a heartfelt word of appreciation to students of Arrakis and the entire organizing team. I know many of you came together to make this day meaningful. There may have been a few rough edges, but what mattered more was the spirit of togetherness that carried us through. I truly cherished every moment. Because in the end, it’s not the derivations from Thermal and Statistical Physics that we’ll carry with us ten years down the line, it’s this: the friendships, the shared struggles, the silent glances of understanding, and the joy of growing together. Sharing here a photo that captures that spirit. a moment from the post-graduation day that speaks more than words ever can. Wishing the HYADES batch fair winds and bright skies ahead. You were, and always will be, a constellation of excellence.

Sharper Signals, Smarter Futures: A Lecture on the Cutting Edge of Biosensing

On 23 July 2025, the Translational Research and Innovation Centre (TRIC-KU) and CLIF, University of Kerala, proudly hosted a thought-provoking invited lecture titled:

🎙️ “Sharper Signals, Smarter Wearables: Engineering the Future of Biosensing”

The speaker, Dr. Samit Chakrabarty, an eminent academic and Editor-in-Chief of Research Directions: Bioelectronics, currently based at Leeds University, UK, brought a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives on the rapidly evolving landscape of biosensing technologies.

Held at CV Raman Hall, CLIF, the session offered deep insights into the intersection of wearable technologies, signal optimization, and future-ready biomedical applications. Dr. Chakrabarty eloquently highlighted how innovations in wearable biosensors are reshaping diagnostics, real-time monitoring, and personal health management.

The event welcomed a vibrant mix of FYUGP students, PG/PhD scholars, and faculty members, all eager to explore this frontier area of science and technology. A big note of thanks to Dr. Viji Vijayan and Dr. Subodh G., the event coordinators, for their efforts in making this session impactful and intellectually engaging.