In a remarkable achievement for Indian academia, a team of students from Vadodara-based Parul University has brought international recognition home. The young researchers secured a prestigious third prize at the International Conference on Advanced and Sustainable Materials (ICASM 2025), held at Qatar University in Doha.
A Triumph on the Global Stage
The conference, a major gathering for materials science experts, saw participation from researchers across the globe. The Parul University team, consisting of Muskan Memon, a junior research fellow, and Fiza Shaikh from the faculty of engineering & technology, presented their innovative work under the expert guidance of Dr. Soyeb Pathan. Their project stood out in a fiercely competitive field of more than 150 international entries.
Their winning presentation was a research poster titled "Acid-redox tailored undecamolybdophosphate-based heterogeneous catalyst for direct oxidative cross-esterification of aldehydes." The core focus of this complex-sounding research is profoundly simple and crucial: developing greener, more sustainable methods for chemical processing. This aligns perfectly with global efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of industrial chemistry.
Double Victory for the Talented Team
The accolades for the Vadodara students did not stop at the research presentation. Demonstrating versatile talent, the same team also clinched the second place in the logo design competition that was conducted alongside the main conference. This double victory highlights the creative and scientific prowess nurtured at the institution.
University officials credited this success to a supportive ecosystem. The research received crucial seed funding from the university, providing the initial resources needed for experimentation. Furthermore, the team acknowledged the invaluable mentorship of Geetika Patel, PU's Vice President, whose guidance was instrumental in shaping their project and presentation.
Implications and Future Prospects
This achievement is significant on multiple fronts. For Parul University, it underscores its growing reputation as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation, particularly in the fields of engineering and sustainable technology. For the students involved, it is a career-defining moment that opens doors to global academic and research opportunities.
More broadly, the success story sends a powerful message about the quality of higher education and student talent emerging from Indian universities. It proves that with the right guidance, funding, and determination, students from India can compete and excel on the world's most prestigious scientific platforms. The focus on sustainable materials also positions this work as a direct contribution to solving some of the planet's most pressing environmental challenges.
