Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, successfully organised Expert Talks on “Life Cycle Assessment as a Key Element of Safe and Sustainable by Design Lubricants” and “How to Leverage Product Regulations to Improve Product Design”, under the aegis of the DST–PURSE programme, supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The workshop brought together eminent international experts and academicians, including Dr. Parvin Zare, who leads the R&D team for industrial lubricants at MOTOREX; Dr. Jonas Hoffmann, Sustainability Consultant and Researcher at GreenDelta; and Mr. Davide Don, Research Associate – Bioeconomy and Sustainability at the Fraunhofer Innovation Engineering Center. The workshop was further graced by the DST–PURSE Principal Investigator (PI), Prof. Vasundhara Singh, along with Co-Principal Investigators Prof. R. S. Walia and Prof. Sandeep Kumar. The event was ably coordinated by Dr. Poonam Saini and Dr. Shilpi Chaudhary.
The programme commenced with an introductory address by Prof. Vasundhara Singh, who outlined the objectives and scope of the DST–PURSE-supported initiative and emphasised its role in strengthening interdisciplinary and translational research at PEC. A series of expert talks and interactive sessions followed, offering valuable insights into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), safe and sustainable-by-design approaches, and regulatory frameworks for improved product design.
In his seminar, Dr. Jonas Hoffmann delivered an in-depth talk on “Life Cycle Assessment as a Key Element of Safe and Sustainable by Design Lubricants”, highlighting the role of LCA methodologies, environmental footprint assessment, and sustainable chemistry in developing environmentally responsible products. Mr. Davide Don presented a comprehensive session on “How to Leverage Product Regulations to Improve Product Design”, focusing on the strategic use of regulatory frameworks to drive innovation, sustainability, and industry transformation. Dr. Parvin Zare shared insights on safe and sustainable-by-design lubricant formulations, emphasising the application of polymer chemistry and material innovation in industrial lubricant development.
Punjab Engineering College has been honoured with the prestigious DST–PURSE grant of ₹7.5 crore, which has significantly strengthened the institution’s research ecosystem by enabling high-impact, collaborative research initiatives. The workshop concluded with vibrant discussions and active participation, reaffirming PEC’s commitment to fostering industry–academia collaboration and advancing research in sustainable and next-generation technologies.
