Chemistry in Times of Artificial Intelligence (Lecture Series-1)

Type of Activity: Class Lecture
Date/ Duration of Activity (from-to): 9^th June, 2025
Time: 12:15 PM to 2:30 PM
Details of Judges:     
Amit Kumar Paul, Associate Professor, Chemical Sciences, Bose Institute, Kolkata
No. of Participants: Student = 34; Faculty = 21; Staff = 7

Objective of the event:
The primary objective of this event is to introduce undergraduate students to the foundational principles of emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concept and how AI/ML techniques can be integrated into scientific research, particularly in modelling and simulating the unimolecular dissociation dynamics of van der Waals complexes.

Brief description of the event:
The lecture series titled “Chemistry in Times of Artificial Intelligence (Lecture Series–1)” was organized by the Department of Chemistry, The Bhawanipur Education Society College, in collaboration with Uluberia College, Howrah, as part of a joint initiative under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two institutions. The event was also held in association with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and the Seminar Committee (Science Section) of The Bhawanipur Education Society College.

The program commenced with a formal welcome address by Dr. Yeasin Sikdar, followed by introductory remarks from Dr. Samir Kanti Dutta, Dean of Science. The session continued with a brief introduction of the guest speaker, Dr. Amit Kumar Paul, Associate Professor of Chemical Sciences at Bose Institute, Kolkata. The lecture, which lasted approximately two hours, offered a compelling and interdisciplinary learning experience.

The event was structured into several informative and engaging segments:

Introduction to AI/ML – Students were introduced to foundational concepts including algorithms, data models, supervised and unsupervised learning, and neural networks, all presented in a clear and accessible format.

Applications in Molecular Dynamics – Dr. Paul demonstrated how machine learning methods can be effectively applied to understand and predict the unimolecular dissociation dynamics of van der Waals complexes, showcasing the synergy between data science and chemical research.

The session concluded with an enthusiastic discussion, where students actively interacted with the speaker, exploring potential applications of AI in chemical research and education. A formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Pinki Saha Sardar, the event coordinator.

The success of the event is credited to the dedicated efforts of the coordinators, faculty members, and departmental staff. The collective contribution of all stakeholders ensured the smooth execution of the program and left a positive and lasting impact on the participants.

Outcome of the event:
The event saw the participation of 34 undergraduate students from the Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science departments of Uluberia College and The Bhawanipur Education Society College. Under the guidance of a highly experienced resource person, students were introduced to the foundational concepts of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The sessions sparked considerable interest in the interdisciplinary applications of data science, particularly in relation to molecular systems. Engaging discussions followed, leading to the exploration of research opportunities and potential project ideas at the intersection of machine learning and molecular dissociation dynamics.