The course stresses on methods to enhance research on metals and mining through advanced scientific study of metallurgy.

Senior Scientist of Metallurgy and Chemistry of Material Groups, Paul Craddock, who recently retired from the Department of Scientific Research of The British Museum has started delivering lectures on the course to IIT-K students.

This is the first of such course in India and will have 40 lectures. Craddock will take 30 and Professor R Balasubramaniam of the Materials and Metallurgical Department, IIT-K will conduct 10 sessions.

In the first phase of the project, the course is offered to BTech students of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering students of the institute. Craddock said: “The course is important not only for students but also for India, as the country has immense potential in the field of metals and mining but due to lack of proper study the research work has not been carried out.”

“Zinc was processed in India nearly 1000 years ago with highly advanced technology, but we do not have much information in this regard,” he added.

The uncoordinated study of metallurgy in India has been responsible for slow progress in research on metals and mining, he added.

The course introduces a wide range of approaches to the study of material, different from the usual methods of material sciences. It stresses on understanding the structure of materials, aspects of geology, culture, economics, technology, even environment studies as they play an important role in the research work.

Craddock said, “The course offers integration of many disciplines, a fusion of sciences and humanities, but retains its concentration on the materials.”

He added: “Ancient materials, especially metals can be very different from the new materials. Age-hardening over several millennia, for instance, is quite different from age-hardening over several days.”

The scientific study of ancient metallurgy can elucidate new ways of looking at materials and thus offers a good training for examination of a wide range of material problems.