Experts from India and abroad gather at SVU to explore the strategic, scientific roles of rare earth elements.
Tirupati: The International Conference on Science, Technology and Applications of Rare Earths (ICSTAR-2025) commenced on Monday at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) in Tirupati. The three-day event, jointly organised 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), brought together leading scientists, academicians and industry experts to explore recent advancements and future directions in rare earth research.
In his address, D. Singh, president of REAI, emphasised the strategic importance of rare earth elements (REEs), describing them as indispensable components in the transition to advanced technological systems. He noted that elements such as neodymium and dysprosium are crucial for manufacturing permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines, while others like yttrium, europium and terbium are essential in laser systems, missile guidance and display technologies. Singh pointed to their wide-ranging applications across clean energy, defence, space exploration, and electronics, underlining the importance of securing sustainable supply chains and fostering research collaborations.
Providing a scientific overview of rare earth elements, Prof. V. Uma, Vice-Chancellor of SPMVV, outlined their position in the periodic table and the underlying reasons for their unique chemical and physical behaviours. She explained that although rare earths are not rare in abundance, they seldom occur in economically viable concentrations. Due to their similar ionic radii and overlapping chemical properties, separating individual elements from ore requires advanced techniques such as solvent extraction and ion-exchange processes. She stressed that these separation and purification steps are energy-intensive and environmentally sensitive, yet they are essential for producing high-purity REEs that enable modern technological applications.
Prof. Ch. Appa Rao, Vice-Chancellor of SVU, highlighted the vital role in electric mobility and renewable energy, particularly in the production of high-strength magnets used in EV motors and wind turbine generators. In the energy sector, rare earths like cerium and lanthanum serve as catalysts in petroleum refining, improving fuel quality and reducing emissions. Prof. Rao also spoke about their use in lighting and display technologies, where europium and terbium are critical in generating red and green phosphors in LED screens. He noted ongoing research into rare earth-based materials for battery technologies, smart sensors and quantum computing.
Also present were Prof. A. Srinivasa Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Vikrama Simhapuri University; Prof. K. Jakrapong from Thailand; Prof. Mitra Djamal from Indonesia; Prof. M. Bhupathi Naidu, Registrar of SVU; Prof. N. Rajani, Registrar of SPMVV; Dr M.L.P. Reddy, Secretary of REAI; Dr C.K. Jayasankar, vice-president of REAI; and Prof. B. Deva Prasad Raju, Convenor of ICSTAR-2025.
