NIT professor discusses microfluidic devices and their applications at a webinar

Dr. Abhiram Hens, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Durgapur was the speaker at a webinar on 'Microfluidic Devices and their Applications'. The webinar was organised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering on 20th August from 3 p.m to 5 p.m.

In this context, one must note that microfluidics is the study of systems that can process small quantities of fluids by using tiny channels having dimensions at the microscale – typically tens to hundreds of micrometres. Although in the nascent stage, microfluidics is rapidly emerging as a breakthrough technology that finds applications in diverse fields ranging from biology and chemistry to information technology and optics.

While speaking to the students, Dr. Hens pointed out the advantages of the system that include the use of minuscule amounts of samples and reagents in the lab, cost reduction due to lesser use of expensive reagents, shorter analysis times and faster results, reduced footprint of analytical and diagnostic systems compared to huge machines in the lab etc. The speaker delivered a vivid description of the system, its various case studies, history along with its various applications.

The total number of participants at the event was 45. The coordinators of the event included Sayon Dey, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Nityanando Mahato, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering.