Exploring the intersection of materials, chemistry, and design.
Indian culture is a vibrant "Unity in Diversity," where ancient traditions like Yoga and Ayurveda blend with modern urban lifestyles. It is defined by its deep-rooted spirituality, emphasis on family, and a philosophy that treats every guest as divine. Core Cultural Values
The proliferation of portable recording devices and mobile messaging platforms (MMS) has made it easier for individuals to document and share their experiences. Indian culture is a vibrant "Unity in Diversity,"
Family and Community
| Category | Topics | |----------|--------| | Festivals | Diwali, Holi, Eid, Durga Puja, Pongal, Onam, Gurpurab, Christmas in Goa | | Food | Regional cuisines (Punjabi, Bengali, South Indian, Rajasthani), street food (chaat, vada pav, golgappa), thali culture, spice use, Ayurvedic cooking | | Clothing | Saree draping styles, salwar kameez, lehengas, dhoti, kurta, turbans (pagri), handloom fabrics (Banarasi, Kanjeevaram, Patola, Phulkari) | | Home & Living | Rangoli, toran (door hangings), puja room setup, indoor plants (tulsi), courtyard houses, vastu shastra | | Rituals & Traditions | Wedding rituals (saat phere, mehendi, sangeet), naming ceremonies, housewarming (griha pravesh), fasting (karwa chauth, navratri vrat) | | Arts & Crafts | Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Tanjore paintings, block printing, pottery (Khurja, Blue Pottery), brasswork, bamboo crafts | | Performing Arts | Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Bhangra, Garba, Bollywood dance, folk music (Bihu, Lavani, Baul) | | Yoga & Wellness | Pranayama, asanas, Ayurveda, meditation, natural skincare (haldi, chandan, neem) | | Daily Life | Chai breaks, joint family dynamics, auto-rickshaw rides, morning kolam, newspaper with filter coffee, “Indian standard time” humor | Family and Community 1
The Ritual of Dining: Eating is considered a sacred act. In many traditional homes, sitting on the floor and eating with the right hand is still practiced to foster a connection with the food. 4. Spiritual Wellness and Mindful Living 4. Spiritual Wellness and Mindful Living
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Principal Investigator, Professor of Chemistry
Panče Naumov leads the Smart Materials Lab and the Center for Smart Engineering Materials at NYUAD. His group is internationally recognized for pioneering crystal adaptronics and advancing adaptive molecular solids, with applications in sensing, robotics, optics, and energy systems.
Meet the Team
We are proud that the Smart Materials Lab is the leading team in impactful chemistry research in the United Arab Emirates, with research output that, according to the Nature Index, accounts for 40‒60% of the total chemistry publications within the country, both in fractional count and weighed fractional count. The past and current research projects in the Smart Materials Lab have been sponsored by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), Human Science Frontier Program Organization (HFSPO), and the UAE National Research Foundation (NRF), in addition to generous financial support from NYUAD and the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute. The members of the Smart Materials Lab work closely with NYUAD's Center for Smart Engineering Materials (CSEM).