W elcome to Dharamshala in the foothills of snowy peaks of Dhauladhar in Kangra Valley. I am sure that you will have a great time in the cool climes prevailing at this time of the year here to rejuvenate yourself both physically and mentally. IAPT has completed its journey of 40 years, a journey started by visionaries like Prof. DP Khandelwal, Prof. Babu Lal Saraf and Prof. H R Hans along with a team of dedicated life members. Welcome to Dharamshala in the foothills of snowy peaks of Dhauladhar in Kangra Valley. I am sure that you will have a great time in the cool climes prevailing at this time of the year here to rejuvenate yourself both physically and mentally. IAPT has completed its journey of 40 years, a journey started by visionaries like Prof. DP Khandelwal, Prof. Babu Lal Saraf and Prof. H R Hans along with a team of dedicated life members. This convention is a Ruby Jubilee Celebration of their belief and determination to take charge of improving the quality of Physics Education in the country. I would like to dedicate this convention to their commitment and love for Physics. All these years, scope and reach of IAPT has grown through its approximately 10000 members and the counter is clicking without pause.
This Convention has all the regular features, and new themes under the banner of quantum Technologies and Physics Education Research. With the launching of Quantum Mission in the country, Quantum Technologies have become area of urgent natural focus. As far as theme of quantum technologies is concerned, I wish if we focus in our deliberations on quantum technologies with the need to innovate on physics curriculum to align with the new skill sets required by physics students in schools, colleges, and universities. It is not only timely, but it also offers us an opportunity to innovate. By preparing students to be part of the quantum workforce, we are paving the way for them to succeed in a world where opportunities for physics majors, graduate students and researchers are abundant.
Physics Education Research in the last three decades has emerged as research-based platform to learn about learning of physics and strategies to improve the learning outcomes. There are abundant resources available which can be introduced by validating and tailoring these to our linguistically diverse educational scenario. Introduction of research based undergraduate degree is demanding both for the students and teachers. How to mentor students for research at this level requires teachers tuned with research aptitude to rub creative thinking, mathematical thinking and computational thinking in the cognitive domain of learner.
It is commendable that pre-conference one-day workshops have been continued and arranged to equip teachers with the latest pedagogies, classroom practices, and innovative experiments. These workshops will undoubtedly play a crucial role in enhancing the teaching capabilities of both educators and learners in fostering a dynamic learning environment. This is the best way to disseminate and share our experiences of teaching and learning physics in a condensed hands-on minds-on smiles-on format.
I also underline the utmost importance of highlighting the pivotal role of physics education and physics teachers in the presence of evolving and challenging landscape of Artificial Intelligence at this convention. Physicists have a natural connect with these developments. Physics has been a corner stone of all modern technologies. Seeing the signatures of Higgs Particle involved imaginative use of Machine learning tools involving even citizen scientists to venture in these areas.
Let us aspire to make physics appealing to the upcoming generation of students and teachers, instilling in them a passion for the subject and preparing them for the exciting challenges of the future. It is not an easy task because of more lucrative opportunities available to them compared to what basic sciences menu card offers.
Going to a new place every year also affords an opportunity to put to practice our determination to reach out the unreached and bring IAPT closer to them. I hope to meet students and teachers from schools, colleges and Universities in this area. There is a lot for them to have the joy of learning Physics.
I want to extend my appreciation to the organizing committee of the conference for taking on the responsibility of hosting this convention. It is through your dedication and hard work that such impactful events can take place, bringing together physics educators and enthusiasts from across the country. I express my gratitude to host institutions viz Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Rainbow International School, Nagrota Baguan, Dharamshala. It is a joint effort of RC03 Chandigarh and RC23 Himachal Pradesh and their lead is commendable.
I wish the organizers best of luck and participants a great time together.
Namaskar and Best regards,

PK Ahluwalia
President IAPT