July 7, 2026 -- July 7, 2026
Speaker: Dr. Samiran Mahapatra, R&D Director, Home Care, Science & Technology, Unilever R&D Bangalore and Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kanpur.
Date & time : 07th July 2026 Tuesday at 4 PM.
Venue : Seminar Hall, Chemical Engineering Dept. IISc. Bangalore.
Innovations with Positive Social Impact: From Scientific Discovery to Societal Benefit.
Scientific innovation delivers its greatest value when it addresses meaningful societal challenges and improves the lives of people at scale. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience in research, technology development, and innovation leadership, this talk will explore how purpose-driven science can be transformed into solutions with lasting social impact.
Through three examples from my career, I will illustrate the journey from scientific discovery to societal benefit. The first is the development of fluoride-stable calcium carbonate-based toothpastes, which enabled affordable oral care solutions for millions of consumers in developing markets. The second is the creation and scaling of Pureit water purification technologies, addressing the critical public health challenge of access to safe drinking water. The third is the emerging paradigm shift in cleaning and hygiene through probiotics, which is redefining conventional approaches to hygiene by working with beneficial microbes to create healthier and more sustainable living environments.
These case studies highlight the importance of combining deep scientific understanding with consumer insight, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to scale innovation for widespread adoption. They also demonstrate how innovations can simultaneously create value for consumers, businesses, and society.
The talk will conclude with reflections on the opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers to develop solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also socially relevant and environmentally sustainable.
