1st ILASS-India Meeting and Workshop 2026
Brief report on ILASS India launch and Workshop
The inaugural ILASS-India meeting and workshop on Liquid Atomization and Sprays was held at Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (IITTp) from 29th to 30th January 2026. The workshop, coordinated by Dr. Madan Mohan Avulapati from IITTp turned out to be a very encouraging and memorable beginning for the Indian spray science community. The workshop brought together around 50 participants from different academic institutions, research laboratories, and industries across the country, with a particularly strong presence of PhD scholars and early-career researchers. From the very beginning, there was a sense of excitement and curiosity in the room, with participants eager to interact, learn, and connect with others working in similar areas.
The workshop opened with an introduction to the Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems (ILASS) and its global activities, followed by the formal launch of the ILASS-India chapter by Prof. Marco Marengo. The inaugural session was graced by Prof. KN Satyanarayana, Director of IIT Tirupati, along with Prof. Ravikrishna RV, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, and Prof. Pramod Mehta, whose presence added both significance and warmth to the event.
One of the most appreciated aspects of the workshop was the balance in the technical program. Sessions on fundamentals—such as basics of atomization, aerospace spray nozzles, and optical diagnostics—were especially useful for younger researchers entering the field. At the same time, advanced topics like CFD methods, data analytics for sprays, advanced atomization techniques, and future research challenges sparked lively discussions among experienced researchers and faculty members.
The workshop also featured an excellent lineup of speakers, including Prof. Anand T N C, Prof. Devendra Deshmukh, Prof. Srikrishna Sahu, Prof. Ashok De, Dr. Hrishikesh Gadgil, Dr. Venkat Iyer, and Dr. John Tarakan, whose talks were extremely engaging and well received.
Beyond the formal sessions, the poster sessions and tea-break discussions were particularly engaging. Students enthusiastically explained their work, senior researchers exchanged ideas, and several discussions led to conversations on possible future collaborations, shared facilities, and joint experiments.
