SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
DBT STAR COLLEGE PROJECT ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY REPORT
Guest Lectures Organized by the Department of Physics, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati
Activity Dates: Guest Lecture 1: 24th March 2025 and Guest Lecture 2: 8th April 2025
Type of Activity: Other
Organizing Department: Department of Physics
Program Coordinators: Dr. S.S. Arsad
Head of the Department: Dr. P.A. Nagpure
External Collaborator (if any): IAPT
Objectives:
- To deepen students’ understanding of complex topics in computational and quantum physics through expert insights beyond the regular curriculum.
- To expose students to cutting-edge research in quantum computation, wave mechanics, and simulation techniques through real-world applications.
- To motivate undergraduate and postgraduate students to pursue careers in physics and research through inspiring stories and career guidance by renowned physicists.
- To develop students’ ability to connect theoretical knowledge with experimental and computational tools, enhancing their analytical and problem-solving skills.
- To provide a platform for interaction among students, faculty, and subject experts and encourage collaborative learning and participation in national and international academic activities.
No of Beneficieries: 148
Classes Involved: B.Sc. III and M.Sc. I
Venue of the Activity: AV Theatre
Activity Report:
The Department of Physics, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, continuously strives to enhance the academic engagement and scientific outlook of its students by organizing expert talks, seminars, and guest lectures from eminent personalities in the field of physics. As a part of this ongoing effort, the department successfully conducted two significant guest lectures in March and April 2025, focusing on frontier topics in physics: Computational Physics and Quantum Physics. These lectures not only enriched the students’ academic knowledge but also motivated them to explore higher studies and research in emerging areas of physics.
Guest Lecture 1: "Introduction to Computational Physics" by Dr. S. K. Omanwar
Date: 24th March 2025
Time: 12:30 PM
Venue: AV Theatre, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati
An inspiring guest lecture on Computational Physics was delivered by Professor Dr. S. K. Omanwar, Former Head of the Department of Physics, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati. The session, organized by the Department of Physics, took place on 24th March 2025 in the college’s AV Theatre and witnessed active participation from 75 undergraduate and postgraduate students and 13 faculty members of the college.
The event commenced punctually at 12:30 PM. The session began with a formal welcome address by Dr. G. V. Korpe, Principal of the college, who highlighted the importance of organizing such academic sessions to expose students to real-world advancements in science and technology. Dr. Korpe also expressed his appreciation for the presence of Dr. Omanwar, a well-known academician and researcher, who has significantly contributed to the fields of luminescence materials, quantum physics, and computational modeling.
This was followed by introductory remarks from Prof. P. A. Nagpure, Head of the Department of Physics, who emphasized the necessity of integrating computational methods into traditional physics education. He briefly outlined Dr. Omanwar’s academic journey, his research achievements, and his pivotal role in promoting interdisciplinary and computational approaches in physics.
The lecture session was conducted by Dr. S. S. Arsad, a senior faculty member of the department, who skillfully managed the program and ensured its smooth progression.
Highlights of the Lecture
Dr. S. K. Omanwar began his lecture by introducing computational physics as the third pillar of science, complementing theory and experiment. He emphasized that in the current scientific landscape, computation serves as a powerful tool to simulate physical phenomena, analyze complex systems, and validate theoretical predictions when experiments may be too difficult, expensive, or impractical to perform.
He discussed the importance of computational physics in understanding systems that are analytically unsolvable, such as chaotic dynamics, quantum many-body problems, and condensed matter systems. He provided illustrative examples of how numerical simulations and modeling techniques have revolutionized our approach to research in physics and other allied sciences.
A significant portion of the lecture was devoted to the applications of computational methods in quantum physics and quantum computing. Dr. Omanwar explained the relevance of quantum simulations, where computational techniques are used to model the behavior of quantum systems, especially when dealing with atomic and subatomic particles. He also touched upon quantum algorithms, quantum programming languages, and how computational thinking is becoming an integral part of modern scientific education.
He shared real-life success stories of students who, after learning computational tools such as Python, MATLAB, and simulation platforms like COMSOL and ANSYS, have contributed to significant projects or pursued careers in national labs and international research institutes.
Dr. Omanwar emphasized that proficiency in coding, numerical methods, and data analysis is no longer optional but essential for a physicist in the 21st century. He encouraged students to embrace computational tools and begin integrating them into their academic projects and research work.
The lecture concluded with a motivational message, urging students to remain curious, proactive, and consistent in their pursuit of physics. He reassured them that with the right skills and dedication, they can contribute meaningfully to the rapidly evolving landscape of physics research.
The session ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. P. P. Khirade, who acknowledged Dr. Omanwar’s insightful presentation and appreciated the active participation of students and faculty.
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Guest Lecture 2: "Quantum Physics – Foundations and Applications" by Prof. P. K. Ahluwalia
Date: 8th April 2025
Time: 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Mode: Online (ZOOM)
Organized in Association With: IAPT Sub-Regional Council for Vidarbha (SRC-08E)
Another academic milestone was achieved on 8th April 2025, when the Department of Physics, in association with the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), Sub-Regional Council for Vidarbha (SRC-08E), organized an expert talk on Quantum Physics by Prof. P. K. Ahluwalia, a renowned theoretical physicist and science communicator.
The lecture was held in online mode via the ZOOM platform, making it accessible to a wider audience. At Shri Shivaji Science College, 45 undergraduate students and 10 faculty members attended the session in a centralized manner. In total, over 150 students and teachers from various universities and colleges across the region participated.
The event commenced with introductory remarks by Prof. S. W. Anwane, President of IAPT SRC-08E, who welcomed the speaker and the participants. The session was coordinated and conducted by Dr. G. V. Lakhotia, Secretary of IAPT SRC-08E.
Summary of the Talk
Prof. Ahluwalia’s lecture was intellectually stimulating and historically rich. He began by discussing the relevance of quantum physics in our daily life and how it forms the foundation of technologies such as semiconductors, lasers, medical imaging, and quantum computing.
He then provided a historical overview of the development of quantum theory, beginning with the blackbody radiation problem, which led to Max Planck’s quantization hypothesis. The talk then moved toward Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect, which earned him the Nobel Prize, and introduced the concept of light quanta (photons).
Prof. Ahluwalia elaborated on Bohr’s model of the atom, the quantization of electron orbits, and the explanation of hydrogen spectra. He highlighted de Broglie’s revolutionary idea of wave-particle duality and his hypothesis that matter, like light, also exhibits dual characteristics, laying the groundwork for modern quantum mechanics.
The speaker brought attention to significant experimental verifications of quantum theory, including the Davisson-Germer experiment and G. P. Thomson’s electron diffraction experiments, both of which confirmed the wave nature of particles like electrons.
Further, he covered advanced topics such as:
• Wave packets and the relationship between phase and group velocity
• Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, and its profound implications in measurement and particle localization
• Harmonic oscillators in blackbody radiation
• Schrödinger’s wave mechanics, which provided a more comprehensive framework for understanding quantum systems
Prof. Ahluwalia concluded his talk by encouraging students to explore quantum physics beyond textbooks and engage with online courses, simulations, and experimental projects to strengthen their grasp on the subject.
A video recording of the entire session has been made available for public viewing on YouTube:
Watch here: https://youtu.be/NpAYs5JYdA4
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Concluding Remarks
Both guest lectures were immensely successful in achieving their objectives of enriching students’ academic knowledge, introducing them to modern tools and ideas, and igniting a passion for higher studies and research in physics.
The key takeaways from these lectures were:
• The interdisciplinary nature of modern physics, integrating computational and quantum concepts
• The importance of historical understanding to appreciate the evolution of scientific ideas
• The need for skill development in programming, simulations, and research methods
• Encouragement for students to participate in national and international academic initiatives
The Department of Physics remains committed to organizing such intellectually stimulating events in the future and sincerely thanks both the eminent speakers and all participants for making these sessions impactful and inspiring.
Outcomes:
- Students gained clarity on computational approaches in physics and understood how these methods are applied in simulations and research.
- Participants were able to relate historical developments in quantum mechanics with modern concepts such as wave-particle duality, uncertainty principle, and quantum computation.
- Several students expressed increased interest in continuing their education in physics, inspired by the success stories and encouragement from the guest speakers.
- The lectures helped students better understand abstract physical concepts and interpret them mathematically and computationally.
- With over 150+ students participating online from various institutions, the guest lectures fostered a broader academic reach and networking opportunity among physics learners and educators.
Photos:
 Dr. S.K. Omanwar Delivering lecture on |  Dr. P.K. Ahluwalia Delivering online lecture on |
 Students in AV theatre listening to Dr. S.K. Omanwar |  Students in AV theatre listening to Dr. P.K. Ahluwalia |
 The students teachers join online for guest lecture of Dr. P.K. Ahluwalia |  Dr. S.K. Omanwar Delivering lecture on |
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