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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at SRINAGAR: The Alumni Association of NIT Srinagar, in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of Alumni and International Affairs, organised an Alumni Back to Campus (ABC) Programme featuring distinguished alumnus Dr. Ing Ubaid Manzoor, Project Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Germany, at the Hi-Tech Hall, NIT Srinagar.
The programme was hosted by Prof M. A. Shah, Dean of Alumni and International Affairs, along with Ms. Toyiba, Joint Secretary-II of the Alumni Association, NIT Srinagar. During the interactive session, Dr. Manzoor emphasised that āthe green energy transition is fundamentally a materials and metals transition,ā highlighting the growing demand for critical metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt in batteries, renewable energy technologies and modern infrastructure.
He highlighted the carbon-intensive nature of conventional metal production, noting that producing one tonne of nickel can generate approximately 22ā28 tonnes of COā emissions. He stressed the need to develop sustainable, energy-efficient alternatives to conventional metallurgical processes.
Drawing on his research published in Nature and Science Advances, Dr. Manzoor discussed Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction (HPSR), an innovative technology combining electrical energy, reactive hydrogen chemistry and high-temperature processing to extract critical metals from low-grade nickel laterites and deep-sea polymetallic nodules.
He explained that the technology offers an alternative to conventional carbon-based extraction by integrating reduction, melting and separation into a single electrically driven process.
Dr. Manzoor emphasised that sustainable metallurgy requires more than replacing carbon with hydrogen, calling for a fundamental redesign of metal production systems through cleaner energy, process integration and resource-efficient technologies.
Prof M. A. Shah, Dean AIA said the programme provided students with an opportunity to engage with advanced materials research and understand the role of scientific innovation in addressing global environmental challenges. He emphasised the importance of alumni engagement in inspiring young engineers and connecting academic learning with developments in global research.
