The School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, commenced the celebration of the centenary of quantum mechanics through a national-level conference titled “100 Years of Quantum Mechanics – 2026”. The conference features technical and popular lectures, poster presentations, and panel discussions, drawing participation from physicists and researchers across the country.
The conference was inaugurated on 23 January 2026 by Prof. BJ Rao, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of the University in presence of the Dean (In-charge), School of Physics and IoE Director.
The Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor described the centenary of quantum mechanics as “the best celebration any academic institution can undertake.” He remarked that the occasion represents not merely a celebration of science, but a celebration of human intellectual triumph. Highlighting the rich academic legacy of the University of Hyderabad.
Prof. Nirmal K. Viswanathan, Dean (In-charge), School of Physics, emphasized the role of quantum optics in the broader framework of quantum mechanics. Meanwhile, the Director of the Institution of Eminence (IoE), Prof. Ghanashyam Krishna, emphasized the importance of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) in quantum mechanics.
Following the inaugural address, the Vice-Chancellor chaired the first technical session. The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Jayanta Kumar Bhattacharjee, Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Prayagraj, along with an invited talk by Prof. Subroto Mukherjee of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
Ten distinguished speakers and 370 participants and learners across the Country are taking part in the conference. The conference will end on 24th January 2026 evening with a popular talk session for the high school students.
This year is a very very special year for the physicists because the Schrödinger wave mechanics took birth 100 years back. The Heisenberg-Born-Jordan matrix mechanics, quantum statistical mechanics (such as the Bose-Einstein statistics and the Fermi-Dirac statistics for many-body systems), and the Dirac-von Neumann-Weyl mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics also took birth around the same time. Above all, Quantum Mechanics revolutionized our understanding of nature, specially with the motion of tiny objects and their interactions, a century back and it is still relevant and impactful to the progress in our art of living.