Two-Day International Conference on “Translating Science into Solutions: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Real-World Problems (ICTSSMARP–2026)”
Patna, January 16–17, 2026
The Department of Microbiology and the Department of Biotechnology, Patna Women’s College (Autonomous), Patna University, in collaboration with the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, successfully organized a two-day Online International Conference titled “Translating Science into Solutions: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Real-World Problems (ICTSSMARP–2026)” on 16 and 17 January 2026.
Inaugural Session
The conference commenced with a formal Inaugural Session on 16 January 2026, marked by the traditional lighting of the lamp and invocation.
Dr. Sister M. Rashmi A.C., Principal, Patna Women’s College, in her welcome address, emphasized the vital role of scientific research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing contemporary global challenges. She highlighted the importance of translating academic research into practical solutions that benefit society.
Dr. Regina L. Suganthi, Registrar (Admissions), Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, underlined the significance of inter-institutional collaboration and academic partnerships in fostering knowledge exchange and global research perspectives. The session also witnessed the release of the Compendium of Abstracts.
Dr. Arti Kumari, Convener of the Conference and Head, Department of Biotechnology, Patna Women’s College, elaborated on the relevance of the conference theme in today’s rapidly evolving scientific landscape and highlighted the objectives of ICTSSMARP–2026 in promoting multidisciplinary research approaches.
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Saumitra Das, IISc Bengaluru, delivered an inspiring address focusing on the importance of integrative scientific research and collaborative innovation, particularly in areas such as pandemic preparedness, personalized medicine, and translational research.
The inaugural session was efficiently compered by Dr. Niti Yashvardhini, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, and concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Dr. Preeti Swarupa, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Patna Women’s College.
Plenary and Technical Sessions
The Plenary Session on Day 1 was chaired by Dr. Shobha Srivastava, Dean, Faculty of Science, while the Plenary Session on Day 2 was chaired by Dr. Birendra Prasad, Head, Department of Botany, Patna University.
The conference featured distinguished speakers from India and abroad, including experts from Stanford School of Medicine (USA), Medical College Boston (USA), University of Antwerp (Belgium), IISc Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, National Institute of Biologicals (Noida), University of Delhi, and other reputed institutions.
Following the plenary lectures, multiple parallel technical sessions were conducted over both days. Nearly 150 participants from institutions such as Pondicherry University, Mount Carmel College, University of Delhi, and Patna Women’s College presented their research papers. The sessions covered a wide range of interdisciplinary themes including Plant Stress Biology, Biodiversity Conservation, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Microbial Biotechnology, and Emerging Biotechnologies. The discussions were interactive and provided valuable insights, fostering academic dialogue and collaborative learning.
Valedictory Session
The conference concluded on 17 January 2026 with a Valedictory Session, where Dr. Keshvardana Sanula, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, IISc Bengaluru, delivered the valedictory address. He emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world applications and encouraged young researchers to pursue innovative and solution-oriented research.
The programme concluded with the National Anthem, marking the successful completion of the conference.
Conclusion
ICTSSMARP–2026 was successfully organized through the dedicated efforts of the organizing committee comprising Dr Jaya Philip, Dr. Niti Yashvardhini, Dr. Preeti Swarupa, Dr. Swetnisha (Department of Microbiology) and Dr. Arti Kumari, Dr. Alok Ranjan, and Dr. Vivek Raj (Department of Biotechnology), Patna Women’s College.
The conference reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary research, academic collaboration, and active student engagement in addressing real-world scientific challenges and served as a meaningful platform for knowledge sharing, innovation, and global academic networking.
