Date: December 11, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Venue: Lecture Hall 2003, Block 7, IISER Berhampur
Flyer Link: Click here to view
About the talk and speaker: Click here to view
Water: A Molecular Foundry From Atomically Precise Clusters to Droplets and Ice for Sustainability
This talk will explore the interconnected realms of materials chemistry in my laboratory - spanning atomically precise clusters, affordable clean water, droplets, and ice. Sustainable nanotechnology has enabled the creation of materials that selectively remove contaminants such as arsenate and arsenite from water, reducing their concentrations below permissible drinking limits. This research culminated in AMRIT (meaning elixir in Sanskrit), an affordable purification technology that currently delivers 80 million litres of arsenic-, iron- , and uranium-free water every day to 1.4 million people, at a cost of just 2.1 paise (US$0.00026) per litre — the lowest globally.
Prof. Thalappil Pradeep is an Institute Professor and Chair Professor of Chemistry at IIT Madras, renowned for his work in molecular and nanoscale materials and affordable drinking water purification. With over 600 publications and 100+ patents, his technologies—including the AMRIT arsenic-removal system—serve millions across India.
He has co-founded seven companies and received major honors such as the Padma Shri, Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize, Nikkei Asia Prize, VinFuture Prize, ENI Award, and the Vigyan Shri (2025). A Fellow of leading global science academies, he is also an author of notable books on nanoscience and an award-winning science writer. His philanthropic work includes supporting a school in his native village.
We warmly invite faculty, researchers, and students to attend this colloquium. Don’t miss the opportunity to interact with an eminent international scientist and gain a global perspective on cutting-edge materials research.
