Lumami, November 21 (MExN): The 15th edition of PANE (Physics Academy of North-East) Conference held at Nagaland University, Lumami concluded on November 20.
The inaugural session started on November 18 with a welcome to all the participants and delegates of the PANE-2025 conference by Dr N Shanta Singh, the convenor of the conference.
Prof Y Sundarayya, Head of the Department of Physics, delivered the opening remarks by tracing the history and growth of the department since its establishment in September 2013. Sundarayya highlighted the department’s steady progress, including securing funded research projects worth 2.5 crore rupees within a decade itself.
He also expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University for the new science building which was inaugurated on August 15, 2025, and acknowledged the efforts of university officials and the Registrar Dr Abemo for the support in making the conference possible.
Prof NG Nimai Singh, President of PANE, provided an overview of the organisation’s journey since its inception in 1997, noting that the first PANE conference was held at IIT Guwahati in 1998. Singh emphasized PANE’s commitment in promoting excellence in Physics across the
Northeast region.
He also highlighted PANE’s initiatives in recognising veteran scientists through awards and contributing to academic literature through biannual publications of books and journals.
Dr Samrat Dey, General Secretary of PANE, elaborated on the wide range of programs offered by PANE. These include school‐level outreach, training sessions for high school students, summer and winter schools for undergraduate to Ph.D. scholars, online interviews, conferences, and various fellowship opportunities. Dey noted that with this event, PANE has now conducted conferences in all seven Northeastern states, making Nagaland the final state to be covered.
Dr Abemo, the Registrar of the Nagaland University, in his remarks, congratulated the Department of Physics for bringing the 15th edition of the PANE conference to Nagaland University and wished a grand success of the scientific meeting.
Prof G U Kulkarni, a senior professor from JNCASR, Bengaluru and a very eminent scientist in the country graced the occasion as the guest of honor and the keynote speaker at the conference.
Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University Prof Jagadish K Patnaik, in his speech, emphasised the importance of basic sciences in the research and innovation of new technologies for the progress of society. He also expressed gratitude to the Physics Academy of North-East (PANE) for giving the opportunity to Nagaland University to host the conference.
The event featured about 120 participants and delegates from different institutions of North-East as well as from other parts of India.
Caption: Participants of the PANE conference at NU Lumami on November 20.
