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SPS organises a seminar by Deepak Kumar

SPS organises a seminar by Deepak Kumar

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SPS organises a seminar by Deepak Kumar
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School of Physical Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi


Elastocapillary phenomena with thin films


Speaker: Deepak Kumar
(University of Massachusetts,US)


Date: 18– July -2018
Time: 4 p.m, Wednesday
Venue: Seminar Room, SPS


Abstract : Many liquid phase technologies require the encapsulation of one liquid in another. In the stabilization of emulsions, drug delivery, and remediation of oil spills, liquid droplets are separated from the surrounding liquid by a fluid monolayer of molecular or particulate surfactants. By contrast, we typically wrap solid contents, such as chocolates or the filling in a dumpling, with solid elastic sheets. I will present our work on a new class of surfactant based on thin elastic sheets that can wrap liquid drops in a spontaneous process driven by capillary forces. I will show a method where we can exploit the fast dynamics of droplet impact to achieve wrapping of oil droplets by ultrathin polymer films in a water phase. The process yields wrappings that are optimally shaped to maximize the enclosed fluid volume and have nearperfect seams. We can achieve wrappings of targeted three-dimensional (3D) shapes by tailoring the 2Dboundary of the films. I will further address the related fundamental question about the nature of capillary forces acting on thin films adsorbed to a liquid surface more specifically the role that solid surface energies play in determining the surface stress.

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.