National Science Day: Vedanta invites students to experience the ‘Science of Aluminium’
2nd March 2023
- Organises a plant tour to its mega aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda, one of the world’s largest
New Delhi; 2nd March 2023: On the occasion of National Science Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, invited the students at Women’s Degree College, Jharsuguda to experience the ‘Science of Aluminium’ at its mega aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda, Odisha, as part of its Campus Connect program. With the aim of inspiring ambitious students to opt for higher education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) fields, and aspire for careers in the manufacturing industry, the company took them on an extensive tour of its operations. This is the latest instance of the company’s Campus Connect initiative, as part of which thousands of students from leading schools and colleges across India have been introduced to the possibilities offered by the world of science, engineering and high-tech manufacturing.
Vedanta’s ‘Science of Aluminium’ initiative is an informative bridge between classroom learning and applied learning, bringing students closer to concepts they may have only learnt theoretically. It also seeks to encourage female students in particular, who show an inclination towards science-related subjects to build their careers in this field, as they are under-represented in science streams. In another example of this initiative, the company featured an innovative display demonstrating the process of manufacturing aluminium from bauxite ore (with actual samples of each) at the Make in Odisha Conclave 2022. The exhibit was a huge draw with several thousands of visitors, including students, thronging the Vedanta stall to experience it.
At Vedanta Aluminium, science forms the basis of the company’s state-of-the-art aluminium and power operations. The company leverages scientific advancements to produce the highest quality of aluminium for sophisticated applications in aerospace, aviation, renewable energy, electric vehicles, electricity transmission, building & construction, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and many other industries. It is also present in the company’s endeavours to promote a circular economy through innovations to recycle and reuse industrial wastes and ensure judicious usage of raw materials. Diverse branches of science and engineering such as geology, metallurgy, computer sciences, data sciences, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and several others, find numerous applications across Vedanta Aluminium.
During the Campus Connect session, employee volunteers demonstrated scientific concepts behind the production of aluminium, such as Bayer’s process (for producing alumina from bauxite), Hall-Héroult process (for smelting aluminium from alumina), power generation and casting processes.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Vedanta Aluminium, said, “As the metal of the future, aluminium holds limitless potential to shape a better, more sustainable tomorrow for us and the generations to come. Science is a captivating domain and aluminium manufacturing features some of its most remarkable applications. At Vedanta Aluminium, we use the world’s best technologies to develop cutting-edge products that will transform the future in new, exciting and sustainable ways. It is therefore our constant endeavour to engage with younger generations who will actively be driving that transformation as tomorrow’s leaders and share with them the fascinating advancements and challenges of today’s technologies. Through these efforts, we hope to inspire them towards partaking in the tremendous opportunities offered by the world of science. Our Campus Connect programme is helping thousands of students gain from an interactive and live learning experience beyond their classrooms to kindle an enduring passion in this field.”
Thanking the company for facilitating the industrial visit, Sharada Patra, an engineering student from Women’s Degree College, Jharsuguda, said, “The visit to Vedanta Aluminium’s smelter was an exciting experience. Seeing the science of aluminium production first-hand helped us imbibe the theoretical learnings of classroom sessions through a practical experience. The world of science feels a lot less daunting and a lot more exciting to me as a result of this. I thank Vedanta Aluminium for organizing this illuminating visit.”
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.27 million tonnes in FY22. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
About Vedanta Aluminium Business:
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com
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