“India stands at a critical juncture in its mineral resource utilization. Rising demand for metals is inevitable, but it is equally important to rethink the environmental implications of extraction,” said Prof. B.K. Mishra, Distinguished Visiting Professor, IIT Bhubaneswar and Former Director, IIT Goa. The talk was organized by the Institute as part of the National Engineers’ Day celebrations. The event commemorated the contributions of engineers and provided a platform to deliberate on sustainable pathways for the future.

Delivering a lecture on “Toward Green and Sustainable Pathways for Resource Utilization” at IIT Bhubaneswar, Prof. Mishra raised pertinent questions on the future of India’s resource strategy—whether steel can be produced without coal, how the growing demand for non-ferrous metals and rare earths can be met, and what measures are needed to build a resilient base of critical minerals.

He further emphasized the need to rethink resource paradigms and called for shifting from linear to circular models by recycling and valorizing industrial by-products such as anode slime, phosphogypsum, fly ash, and mine tailings. He also urged green innovations, exploration of secondary sources, and practices that secure resources with minimal ecological debt.

He stressed that while immediate answers may be elusive, asking the right questions and exploring innovative & sustainable practices will help strike a balance between industrial growth and environmental responsibility.

Speaking on this occasion, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of the Institute urged the students to understand the value of ‘multidisciplinary’ approach. He said: “Real world problems are multidisciplinary in nature. So, students should think out of the box.” He also asked the students to develop interest in entrepreneurship, so that they would contribute for the betterment of society.

At the outset, Prof. Dinakar Pasla, Dean (Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy) delivered the welcome address and introduced the chief guest. The event was witnessed by the Deans, Registrar, senior faculty members, staff and an overwhelming student population of the Institute.