Eminent German physicist bats for sustainable tech

Eminent German physicist and nanotechnology expert Prof Dr Christina Trautmann delivered a lecture on “Interdisciplinary Nanotechnology Research for Societal Benefits” as part of the Prof HS Virk lecture series on interdisciplinary scientific research and its impact on society at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Monday.

Prof Dr Trautmann, former Head of the Materials Research Department at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, Germany, is recognised as an authority in ion-beam induced material modification and nanotechnology. Following her lecture, she interacted with students from the department of physics at GNDU.

Presiding over the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh said such lectures promote interdisciplinary research and inspire students to pursue innovations that benefit society by bridging academic knowledge and practical application.

In her talk titled “Ion Track Nanostructures: A Journey from Discovery to Modern Innovations,” Prof Trautmann discussed the use of heavy ions in developing advanced nanostructures and their applications in health, energy, space research, nuclear reactors, and accelerator facilities. She also introduced a new research facility, FAIR, in Darmstadt, which is expected to be operational by 2028 and would be open to Indian scientists.

Her lecture emphasised the importance of nuclear-based skill development for sustainable and future-ready technologies. She highlighted how ion-track research contributes to creating advanced sensors and nanowires with applications in bio-inspired sensing, electronics and radiation detection. Prof Trautmann’s research — focused on radiation damage in materials, ion-track formation and materials modification — is directly relevant to developing sustainable nuclear technologies capable of withstanding extreme environments.

Prof Aman Mahajan, head of the department of physics, GNDU, noted through such initiatives the university aims to enhance students’ skills and foster learning in cutting-edge scientific domains for the betterment of humanity.

The session drew around 200 participants, including faculty members, research scholars and students. Attendees praised Prof Trautmann for the clarity and depth with which she connected complex scientific concepts to practical technologies. The interactive discussion that followed sparked curiosity among young researchers and opened new avenues for future research collaborations and careers.