Prof. Dipak Mazumdar

Head, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, I.I.T. Kanpur

It is my proud privilege to pen in a few lines in this column as Head of the department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. The department, celebrating currently fifty glorious years of existence (1960-2010), started its journey as a traditional Metallurgical engineering department. However, since inception, we have been a path breaker and able to formulate a contemporary undergraduate program much before others in the country. This has been possible due to a highly accomplished group of faculty members who later became leaders in their respective fields. Science based metallurgical engineering education, introduced in the sixties still continues to be the hall mark of our teaching style and is followed in true spirit. This coupled with a sound and well thought of professional program helped us impart a holistic training to students.

From the decade of eighties onwards, teaching and research in the department started to gradually drift towards other engineering materials although emphasis continued on traditional metals. This has been possible largely due to the continuous evolution of the course curriculum as well as recruitment of world class faculty in emerging areas. In 1993, we were renamed as “the department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (MME)” so as to reflect the entire gamut of teaching and research activities on engineering materials within the department.

We have always tried to maintain a harmonious balance between class room teaching and research and this has been generally a unique feature of the IIT-K education system. There are currently about twenty highly accomplished faculty members in the department who teach and conduct research on such topics that form a perfect blend between traditional (viz. Electro-chemistry, Corrosion, Manufacturing, Steelmaking, Solidification…..) and emerging subjects (viz., Electronic materials, Biomaterials, Photovoltaic, devices…..). The department has well equipped laboratories for experimental research; modeling and experiment both find nearly equal emphasis in our curriculum. The faculty is highly visible through publications in top notch international journals. Projects funded by Federal government agencies (DST, BRNS, ARDB……) as well as private industries (Display, Steel, Refractories…….) propel our cutting edge research. A large number of very bright and creative students [250+ UG and 100+ PG] are currently enrolled with the department.

I myself was a student of this department during the early eighties. The vibrant academic atmosphere of the department, amenities and facilities and above all openness, have tremendously impressed and influenced me all through. “Creativity is at its best” is the all expressive statement of my experience. I invite potential students and faculty to consider seriously being a part of this wonderful experience!