MARCH 2022
KNOWLEDGE TREE - IMPACTFUL STORIES FROM IIT BOMBAY
Greetings from IIT Bombay!
I trust you and your family are fine and doing well.
Life has come full circle for me as I step into the role of Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations (Dean ACR) at IIT Bombay. As an IIT Bombay alumnus I’ve received these newsletters before, and as I take on my new role at the Institute, it feels wonderful to write one myself.
I began my journey with IIT Bombay as a B-Tech student (1985) in the Department of Chemical Engineering. I’ve always felt a deep connection with the Institute and, particularly, with IIT Bombay’s campus. The legacy of IIT Bombay is rich and impressive, and becoming Dean ACR is a humbling and challenging opportunity for me. I’m grateful to IIT Bombay’s extensive and close-knit alumni community who continue to rally around their alma mater in good times and bad, and for making me feel so welcome in my new position at the Institute. I hope that our mutual connection to our alma mater brings us closer, even as we take pride in our Institute’s myriad growing accomplishments.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Dr. Nandita Bhattacharjee – Celebrating the Woman and the Engineer
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually all over the world on March 8. The day celebrates the achievements of women as they make strides culturally, politically, socially and economically. World Engineering Day is celebrated annually on March 4.
For our special section celebrating both International Woman’s Day and World Engineering Day, we present one of IIT Bombay’s most extraordinary woman alumnus – Dr. Nandita Bhattacharjee (B.Tech, Electrical Engineering, 1972).
GO IITB: Scholarship Cause
FACULTY INTERVIEW
Prof. Raghavan B. Sunoj – An Inspired Visionary
Prof. Raghavan B. Sunoj, Department of Chemistry, IIT Bombay, received the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 2019. It is an incredible accomplishment and the Institute is extremely proud of his achievement. In a recent conversation he shared with us what shaped his interest in chemistry, his vision and goals for the future, and the roles that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning play in the field of chemistry. Read on for more on this inspiring and visionary professor.
Q: You received the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 2019. Our very belated congratulations to you! What made you pursue a professional career in chemistry?
Prof. Sunoj: Since my high school days I have been deeply interested in the sciences, and particularly, in chemistry. I owe a lot to St. Joseph’s school (Trivandrum) for their excellent laboratory that made me curious and allowed me to discover the fun elements of chemistry.
Corporate Collaborations
IN CONVERSATION WITH ALUMNI
Meet The Man Behind IIT Bombay Alumni Association (IITBAA), Mr. Kirat Patel – Making the impossible possible
Our Institute takes immense pride in its alumni community and applauds their efforts as they give back to their alma mater. Mr. Kirat Patel (B. Tech, Mechanical Engineering, 1975) is one such alumnus.
Here, he takes us on a journey of his time at IIT Bombay as a student, and then as an alumnus, who was instrumental in setting up the IIT Bombay Alumni Association (IITBAA).
INNOVATIVE PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY
Success Stories
IIT Bombay Student Brings Cellular Connectivity to the Mountains
Students from IIT Bombay are well known for their entrepreneurial spirit and leaving behind a tangible impact on the world around them.
Tejasvi Chauhan, a PhD student from IIT Bombay’s Department of Civil Engineering, ushered in cellular service to one of the most remote villages in Himachal Pradesh, and in the process, left his indelible mark on the mountains.
Let’s get to know him better.
Hello, Tejasvi – before we talk about your project, can you quickly tell us about your academic background at IIT Bombay? What degree are you pursuing?
Tejasvi: I am pursuing a PhD from the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay, with the support of the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF). In 2017, I joined this university as a master’s student and later changed to a dual degree (MTech + PhD).
Upcoming Events
Foundation Day 2022
IIT Bombay will celebrate its 63rd Annual Foundation Day on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The function will be presided over by Chief Guest and Padma Vibhushan awardee, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, 1996–2000 and Chairman, Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, 2006–2015.
- Day & Date: Thursday, March 10, 2022
- Time: 04:00 pm to 06:30 pm
- Venue: IIT Bombay, Powai
IIT Bombay’s Alumni Association will hold its second virtual FinTech Summit on March 11 and 12 (comprising two half-day sessions), where prominent speakers and panellists will share their views and opinions, and also discuss and debate where India is headed over the next decade and what it needs to accomplish in order to become the next global FinTech destination.
- Day & Date: Friday, 11th March 2022 to Saturday, 12th March 2022
- Time: 05:30 pm - 01:00 pm
- Venue: YouTube