tirupati: The International Conference on Rare Earth Science, Technology and Applications (ICSTAR-2025) began on Monday at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) in Tirupati. The three-day event is co-organized by the Rare Earths Association of India (REAI), the Department of Physics at SVU and the Department of Biotechnology at Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) to bring together key scientists, academicians and industries to explore the latest advancements and future guidance in recent rare earth research.
In his speech, Reai President D. Singh emphasized the strategic importance of rare earth elements (REES) and described it as an essential component of the transition to advanced technology systems. He noted that elements such as New Island and Adrenaline are crucial for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines, while others are crucial in laser systems, missile guidance and display technology. Singh noted that they have extensive applications between clean energy, defense, space exploration and electronics, highlighting the importance of ensuring sustainable supply chains and facilitating research collaboration.
Professor V. Uma, Vice President of SPMVV, provides a scientific overview of rare earth elements, outlining their position in the periodic table and the underlying causes of their unique chemical and physical behavior. She explained that although rare earths are not rare in abundance, they rarely appear in economically viable concentrations. Due to their similar ion radius and overlapping chemical properties, separating individual elements from ores requires advanced technologies such as solvent extraction and ion-exchange processes. She stressed that these separation and purification steps are energy-intensive and environmentally sensitive, but they are essential for producing high-purity REEs that can achieve modern technological applications.
Professor SVU Vice President Appa Rao emphasized the important role in electric motors and renewable energy sources, especially in the production of high-strength magnets used in EV motors and wind turbine generators. In the energy sector, rare earths such as rare soils and lanterns act as catalysts in petroleum refining, improving fuel quality and reducing emissions. Professor Rao also talked about their use in lighting and display technologies, where Europium and Terbium are essential for the generation of red and green phosphates in LED screens. He noted that ongoing research on battery technology, smart sensors and rare earth materials for quantum computing are carried out.
There are also Professor A. Srinivasa Rao, Vice President of Vikrama Simhapuri University; Professor K. Jakrapong from Thailand; Professor Mitra Djamal from Indonesia; Professor M. Bhupathi Naidu, Registrar of SVU; Professor N. Rajani, Registrar of SPMVV; Dr. MLP Reddy, Secretary of Reai; Dr. CK Jayasankar, Vice President of Reai; Professor B. Deva Prasad Raju, Convener of ICSTAR-2025.
