The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) in New Delhi held its annual Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture on June 16, 2025, coinciding with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. The lecture series commemorates the contributions of CSIR-NPL's Founder Director, Dr. K. S. Krishnan. This year's lecture was delivered by Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran of IIT Madras, Perimeter Institute, and Matscience, who spoke on "Prediction of Room Temperature Superconductivity in Graphite, K. S. Krishnan's Favourite Mineral." The event also included remarks on Dr. Krishnan's impact on Indian science and the role of metrology, as well as highlighting CSIR and CSIR-NPL's contributions. A Workshop on Quantum Metrology, Materials and Technologies was held on June 10, 2025, as part of the memorial lecture program. Research scholars and school students presented their work at the workshop, and outstanding presenters were recognized with awards during the memorial lecture event.
Key Entities Referenced
10th June 2025: Date when Workshop on Quantum Metrology, Materials and Technologies was held.
Ministry of Science Technology: A government ministry, likely in India, responsible for science and technology.
CSIRNational Physical Laboratory: A national physical laboratory in India, under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
New Delhi: Location of the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory and the Ministry of Science Technology.
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture: An annual lecture series held to commemorate Dr. K. S. Krishnan.
Dr. K. S. Krishnan: The Founder Director of CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, in whose memory the lecture series is held.
CSIRNPL: Abbreviation for CSIR-National Physical Laboratory.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR: A governmental organization overseeing national research laboratories like CSIR-NPL.
Government of India: The governing body of India.
International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025: A designated year to celebrate and promote quantum science and technology.
Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran: Distinguished Professor at IIT Madras, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada, and Matscience, Chennai. The Chief Guest who delivered the memorial lecture.
IIT Madras: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, an engineering institute where Prof. Baskaran is a professor.
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: A theoretical physics research institute in Canada where Prof. Baskaran is a professor.
Canada: Country where Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is located.
Matscience: A research institute in Chennai where Prof. Baskaran is a professor.
Chennai: Location of Matscience.
Dr. Nita Dilawar: Directors representative, CSIRNPL who highlighted Dr. K. S. Krishnan's contributions.
Prediction of Room Temperature Superconductivity in Graphite, K. S. Krishnans Favourite Mineral: Title of the Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran.
BardeenCooperSchrieffer BCS: Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory.
Resonating Valence Bond RVB: Resonating Valence Bond theory.
Workshop on Quantum Metrology, Materials and Technologies: A workshop organized by CSIRNPL as part of the Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture programme.
Prof. T. Ramasami: Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Chairman, K. S. Krishnan Memorial Trust. The Chief Guest of the workshop.
Department of Science and Technology: A department of the Government of India.
K. S. Krishnan Memorial Trust: Trust where Prof. T. Ramasami is the chairman.
NKRPSM: Acronym of unknown entity related to the Release ID.
Ministry of Science & Technology
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi
conducts Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture
Posted On: 16 JUN 2025 7:49PM by PIB Delhi
To commemorate the outstanding contributions of its Founder Director, Dr. K. S. Krishnan, the CSIR-
National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, organises a series of Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial
Lectures every year. CSIR-NPL is one of the premier national research laboratories under the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India. Since 1965, this lecture series has honoured
Dr. K. S. Krishnan’s pioneering contributions to science and technology by inviting eminent scientists of
national and international repute to deliver lectures. Over the years, this prestigious platform has hosted
numerous Nobel Laureates and distinguished scientific leaders.
This year, the Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture was held on 16th June 2025 and also marked the
celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025. Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran,
Distinguished Professor at IIT Madras, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada, and Matscience,
Chennai, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the memorial lecture.
Dr. Nita Dilawar, Director’s representative, CSIR-NPL highlighted Dr. K. S. Krishnan’s remarkable
contributions to Indian science and technology. She emphasised the vital role of metrology in industrial
growth, global trade, and societal development, and underscored the importance of quantum science and its
impact on modern metrology. She also elaborated on the significant contributions of CSIR and CSIR-NPL
towards the nation’s scientific and technological advancement.
Delivering the Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture titled “Prediction of Room Temperature
Superconductivity in Graphite, K. S. Krishnan’s Favourite Mineral”, Prof. Ganapathy Baskaran paid tribute to
Dr. Krishnan’s legacy, reflecting on his groundbreaking work in light scattering, magnetic susceptibility,
quantum mechanics, thermionics, heat conductivity, and resistivity of alloys. He elaborated on the fascinatingproperties of graphite and carbon-based materials and explored the physics underpinning their
superconductivity. Prof. Baskaran explained the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) and Resonating Valence
Bond (RVB) theories of superconductivity and described how room temperature superconductivity in doped
graphene and graphite can be better understood through the RVB theory.
As part of the Dr. K. S. Krishnan Memorial Lecture programme, CSIR-NPL also organised a “Workshop on
Quantum Metrology, Materials and Technologies” on 10th June 2025. The Chief Guest of the workshop was
Prof. T. Ramasami, Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and
Chairman, K. S. Krishnan Memorial Trust. Research scholars and school internship students of CSIR-NPL
actively participated in the workshop, presenting their research findings and topics of interest. During the
memorial lecture event, 13 outstanding research scholars and school students were honoured with Best
Presentation Awards in recognition of their exemplary contributions.
****
NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2136784)