CAFM, IISER Kolkata
Smart Materials, Methods and Applications (SMMA) 2026
SMMA 2026 aims to bring together leading faculty members, researchers, and students working across the broad areas of Materials Science to exchange recent scientific advances, foster interdisciplinary discussions, and promote new research collaborations. The conference will feature invited lectures by eminent scientists, along with poster presentations showcasing the work of student researchers.
About the Symposium
Interdisciplinary conversations for next-generation functional materials.
The symposium is designed for meaningful interaction among faculty, postdoctoral researchers, students and visiting scientists, with a focus on research exchange across chemical, biological and physical sciences.
SMMA 2026 is envisioned as a vibrant forum for scientists, academicians, researchers, and young scholars to share ideas and explore emerging directions in materials science. The conference will span diverse and interconnected themes, including Soft Matter, Biomaterials, Functional Materials, Energy, and Catalysis, providing an opportunity to highlight recent breakthroughs and evolving research paradigms. Through a series of invited lectures by distinguished experts, complemented by poster sessions featuring contributions from students and early-career researchers, SMMA 2026 seeks to encourage meaningful scientific dialogue, strengthen interdisciplinary connections, and catalyse new collaborations across fields.
About The Hosts
Centre for Advanced Functional Materials
The Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM) at IISER Kolkata serves as a multidisciplinary platform for advancing research and education in the rapidly evolving field of materials science. The Centre brings together researchers with diverse expertise to address fundamental scientific questions and develop materials with tailored structures, properties, and functionalities. By encouraging close interaction among chemists, physicists, biologists, materials scientists, and engineers, CAFM provides an environment in which ideas can move seamlessly from molecular and nanoscale design to functional systems and practical applications.
Through its interdisciplinary research ecosystem, CAFM seeks to bridge the gap between fundamental materials discovery and technological innovation. The Centre promotes collaborative projects, knowledge exchange, advanced training, and the development of young researchers equipped to tackle complex scientific challenges. In this spirit, CAFM provides an ideal academic environment for bringing together researchers from complementary disciplines and fostering new scientific partnerships. Its broad research portfolio reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of modern materials science, where advances at the molecular, nanoscale, and macroscopic levels collectively enable transformative technologies.
IISER Kolkata
Established in 2006, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER Kolkata) is a premier institution dedicated to advancing excellence in science education, fundamental research, and interdisciplinary scholarship. As one of the IISERs established by the Government of India, the Institute was founded with the vision of creating an academic environment where rigorous scientific education is closely integrated with cutting-edge research.
IISER Kolkata follows a research-driven model of education in which students are encouraged to engage with contemporary scientific questions from the early stages of their academic journey. The Institute offers a range of programmes, including the BS-MS dual degree, MS, Integrated PhD, PhD, and postdoctoral programmes, providing opportunities for students and researchers to pursue advanced training across diverse areas of the basic sciences. By bringing together education, fundamental research, advanced training, and interdisciplinary collaboration, IISER Kolkata seeks to nurture the next generation of scientists and contribute to the advancement of knowledge at both national and international levels. The Institute continues to build a dynamic academic community in which curiosity-driven research, scientific innovation, and excellence in education are mutually reinforcing.
Sponsors
Supporters of SMMA 2026
