Chennai: The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) celebrated its One Week One Theme (OWOT) programme with a focus on Civil Infrastructure and Engineering (CIE) at the CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC) in Chennai on September 5, 2024.

This initiative, launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science & Technology, aims to showcase India's advancements in science and technology across various research themes.

The event brought together five CSIR laboratories, including CSIR-Central Building Research Institute (CSIR-CBRI), Roorkee; CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi; CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI), Durgapur; CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI), Bhopal; and CSIR-SERC.

The programme featured a stakeholder meet and exhibition to highlight significant research contributions in areas like Building Physics, Rural Infrastructure, and Disaster Mitigation.

The inaugural session, led by Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director of CSIR-SERC, included addresses from prominent guests such as Prof. Ravindra Gettu of IIT Madras and international experts Prof. Prasad Rao Rangaraju and Prof. Hemanta Doloi.

Discussions emphasized the importance of aligning research with societal needs and fostering academia-industry collaboration to advance sustainable infrastructure.

The event underscored CSIR's commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges and enhancing public awareness of its contributions.