Nuclear organisation CERN scientist inspires NIT students

Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) hosted an inspiring lecture and interactive session on Tuesday delivered by Dr Archana Sharma, Principal Staff Scientist at CERN (Global Organisation for Nuclear Research) Laboratory in Geneva.

In her lecture titled “Blue Sky Research, Coronavirus and Why You Should Care?”, Dr Sharma took the audience through her journey at CERN and highlighted the profound societal impacts of fundamental physics research. From the invention of the World Wide Web to breakthroughs in medical imaging, cancer diagnostics and pandemic preparedness, she demonstrated how innovations born at particle physics laboratories have transformed mainstream society.

Encouraging students to think beyond boundaries, Dr Sharma emphasised the importance of connecting Indian talent with international scientific endeavours such as CERN. She urged the younger generation to explore emerging fields of science and embrace research as a global collaborative effort with the potential to address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. The event concluded with an engaging interactive session where students asked questions about scientific research, global collaborations, and career opportunities in high-energy physics. Dr Sharma’s inspiring talk left the audience motivated to contribute to India’s scientific growth while building strong links with the global research community.

Dr Sharma, who has recently been honoured with the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman by the Government of India and the Bharat Gaurav Award at the British Parliament, is globally recognised for her pioneering work in high-energy physics. She has played a key role in the R&D and commissioning of large-scale radiation detectors at CERN. Additionally, she has been the founder and Project Manager of the CMS GEM Collaboration since 2008, which brought together nearly 40 institutions across 17 countries and produced more than 75 PhDs under her leadership. Prof Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director of the Institute, congratulated Dr Sharma on her remarkable achievements and appreciated her presence in delivering this enlightening session, recognising her contributions to advancing global research in fundamental physics.

The programme witnessed participation from faculty, research scholars, and students across various departments. The session was graced by Prof Ajay Bansal (Registrar), Prof Mamta Khosla (Dean, Industry and International Affairs), Prof H M Mittal (HOD Physics), Dr Harleen Dahiya, heads of various departments, faculty members, and students.