The International Conference on Advances in Functional Materials and Applications (AFMA – 2025) was organized recently by the Chemistry Department of BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus from 20^th – 22^nd February 2025.

The primary aim of this conference was to provide a common platform for eminent scientists as well as young researchers from top academic and research institutions from across India and abroad to discuss the current state of the art in seminal areas of research in structural and functional inorganic, organic and materials chemistry. 

The conference covered a wide range of interdisciplinary topics ranging from catalysis, energy storage, environmental remediation, therapeutics to smart materials.  Apart from the engaging talks and the ensuing stimulating discussions, poster sessions were conducted that enabled young research scholars from across the country to showcase their research results. In addition, the confluence of the experienced and the very young researchers sharing the same platform and delivering lectures in their respective areas of research provided a perfect setting to felicitate the distinguished professor of inorganic chemistry at IISc Bangalore, Prof. Srinivasan Natarajan, and celebrate his seminal contributions to research.