Date: January 23, 2026
Time: 05:30 PM
Venue: Lecture Hall 1003, Block 7, IISER Berhampur
Flyer Link: Click here to view
‘AI is not sustainable, what we need is ABI (Artificial Biological Intelligence)’
Modern computing systems are powerful but fundamentally limited by conventional architectures, leading to high energy consumption. In contrast, the human brain performs complex cognition and massive parallel processing using only ~20 W of power. This efficiency motivates neuromorphic computing approaches that aim to emulate brain-like intelligence, yet even advanced computers still struggle with complex real-world problems in real time. The key difference is the biological synapse, which integrates memory and processing in parallel and enables adaptive learning through neuroplasticity. While the underlying mechanisms are still being explored, increasing research is focused on replicating neuroplasticity using artificial synaptic devices. Neuromorphic computing thus offers a route toward low-power, efficient, and adaptive systems beyond the constraints of conventional CMOS and Boolean logic.
Prof. Giridhar U. Kulkarni - Professor Giridhar U. Kulkarni, is a distinguished Indian nanoscientist and the former President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, where he serves as a senior faculty member in materials and nanoscience. He earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, followed by postdoctoral research at IISc and Cardiff University (UK), before joining JNCASR in 1995; he has held leadership roles including Chair of the Materials Unit, Dean of Academic Affairs and Faculty Affairs, and Director of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS). Prof. Kulkarni’s research spans synthesis of nanomaterials, nanopatterning, nanodevice fabrication, molecular systems, and neuromorphic and energy-related devices, with an emphasis on simple design, solution-based processing and affordable technologies, reflected in over 300 publications in top journals. He has held visiting appointments at leading institutions worldwide and has been honoured with prestigious recognitions including the J. C. Bose National Fellowship (2023) and fellowships of major science academies all over India and the world.
