The School of Physics is proud to announce that PhD scholar Ms. Bidisha Bag has received the prestigious Best Poster Award at the 10th International Soft Matter Conference (ISMC 2026). The conference was held at BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, from May 25–29, 2026.
This global accolade recognizes her outstanding scientific contribution and excellence in research presentation within the field of soft condensed matter physics.
Working under the expert supervision of Prof. Surajit Dhara, Ms. Bag’s research explores the fascinating physics of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals—a newly discovered state of matter that uniquely combines liquid crystallinity with spontaneous electrical polarization.
Key Highlights & Impact
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The Study: Titled “Elastocapillary Thinning Dynamics in Ferroelectric Nematic Filaments,” her award-winning work was recently published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), USA [122(25), e2518010122 (2025)].
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The Breakthrough: The study reveals that long-range polar order in ferroelectric nematics can generate remarkable polymer-like elasticity.
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Future Applications: This uncovers a completely new mechanism for elastic behavior in fluids, opening exciting avenues for adaptive soft materials and fluidic technologies.
“This achievement highlights the growing international recognition of cutting-edge research being conducted at the University of Hyderabad and reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in scientific innovation.”
Hearty congratulations to Ms. Bidisha Bag on this remarkable milestone!