SEPTEMBER 2022
KNOWLEDGE TREE - IMPACTFUL STORIES FROM IIT BOMBAY
Dear Alumnus,
Warm greetings from IIT Bombay.
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
– Abraham Lincoln
And I have no doubt that our graduating students will create a wonderful and challenging future for themselves. August 2022 brought with it the annual 60th convocation ceremony which was held on August 20, 2022. Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, was the chief guest and delivered the convocation address. During the main convocation session, a total of 2551 degrees were awarded to 2324 students. I am also pleased to announce that we achieved a major milestone as an Institute when we awarded a total of 449 Ph.D. degrees this year (the first time that any Indian academic institute has produced more than 400 Ph.D. graduates in a year). I wish all the graduates the very best and a wonderful and successful future.
GIVING
IIT Bombay is committed to providing the best and most holistic education to all its students. But, often, financial constraints hold back highly accomplished and meritorious students from pursuing higher education. This is why we need our alumni to rally around their alma mater and support us in providing student scholarships to every deserving student so that none of them get left behind.
In this new section titled ‘Giving,’ each month we will highlight one key initiative undertaken by the Institute, as well as profile an alumni member who has backed their alma mater in this worthy cause.
To kick off our section on ‘Giving – Student Scholarships’ the newsletter is honoured to profile Mr. Sanjeev Nabar – a grateful alumni member who benefited immensely from receiving a scholarship when he was a student at IIT Bombay and decided to pay it forward by setting up a scholarship fund for deserving students like him at his alma mater.
Read on to know more about Mr. Sanjeev Nabar’s journey and the Jaywant M. Nabar Diamond Scholarship.
If you would like to donate to student scholarships at IIT Bombay, please click on the button below.
FACULTY INTERVIEW
Professor Preeti Rao is a member of the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Bombay. Her expertise lies in the field of computer audition, and she has been involved with research and technology development for speech and music applications including supporting a product through incubation at SINE.
We are delighted to speak with Prof. Rao for the Dean ACR Newsletter.
DONOR INSTITUTED CHAIR PROFESSORSHIPS
News from IIT Bombay
TECH NUGGETS
INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS
IIT Bombay hosts Deputy Secretary of US Department of Treasury, Mr. Wally Adeyemo
The Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Treasury, Mr. Wally Adeyamo, accompanied by senior members of the US Consulate General Mumbai, visited SINE and interacted with entrepreneurs and student innovators. As Deputy Secretary, Mr. Adeyemo serves as the US Treasury Department’s number two official and chief operating officer. During the meet-and-greet, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay, and Prof. Santosh Gharpure, SINE Professor-in-Charge, highlighted the contribution of IIT Bombay’s innovations to the startup ecosystem in the country.
IIT Bombay Celebrates Independence Day
IIT Bombay celebrated Independence Day in the Main Building on August 15, 2022. The celebration began with the hoisting of the national flag by the Institute’s Director, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, at 9.30 a.m. Later, he addressed the gathering. The entire programme was broadcast live on IIT Bombay’s YouTube Channel. Students also participated in a cultural programme on the occasion.
IIT Bombay Celebrates Azadi Kaa Amrit Mahotsav
IIT Bombay held a series of events celebrating India’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of India’s Independence). The Institute, in a stunning display, recreated the Dandi Memorial on campus. Twenty-four murals of Gandhiji and Satyagrahis were placed on the lawn facing the Main Building of the Institute. These 24 narrative murals depicted the various events and stories from the historic 1930 Salt March.
Many faculty members of IIT Bombay extended their valuable engineering, technology, and design contributions to building this memorial which was a tribute to the 1930 Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi and 80 of his fellow Satyagrahis.
Also, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, IIT Bombay arranged an Akhand Deep (Lighting of the Lamp) in remembrance of martyrs of the Indian Freedom Struggle in the Main Building during August 13-15, 2022. Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay, and Mr. Ganesh Bhorkade, Registrar, IIT Bombay, lit the Akhand Deep in the presence of other Institute employees. The Institute also arranged to showcase films on the National War Memorial and “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” (August 14) at the same venue for three days.
IIT Bombay celebrates Van Mahotsav
Van Mahotsav, the annual tree plantation drive, was held on campus (behind the Udayagiri building) on July 30, 2022. Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, along with Prof. S. Sudarshan, Deputy Director (AIA), and Prof. K.V.K. Rao, Deputy Director (FEA), planted saplings of Ashok on the occasion. An additional 400 saplings were planted by the faculty, staff, and students of IIT Bombay, along with the students and teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Campus School.
Prof. Chaudhuri spoke about the significance of the environment in our lives and encouraged the students to help build a greener campus by planting more trees.
Prof. Tom Mathew, Dean (Infrastructure Planning and Support), Prof. Anurag Garg, Associate Dean (IPS), and Prof. Vedagiri Perumal, Associate Dean (IPS), were also present on the occasion and encouraged the participants to develop a sense of responsibility for the saplings.
Later, students of Campus School and Kendriya Vidyalaya presented cultural performances highlighting the importance of trees which were much appreciated and enjoyed by those present. The event was organized by the Horticulture Section of the Estate Office, IIT Bombay, which takes due care of the saplings planted at Van Mahotsav throughout the year.
Team Shunya Launches Newsletter
Team SHUNYA successfully launched the first edition of their newsletter, SUSTAIN. Esteemed chief guests, Mr. Durgesh Maru and Mr. Jaideep Hardikar shared their experiences of Net Zero Targets and the fight against climate change, and how to achieve sustainability on the occasion.
IIT Bombay completes Highway for 21st Century India – Honourable Minister, Nitin Gadkari joins festivities
IIT Bombay completed its capacity-building program called ‘Highways for 21st Century India – Modern Technologies for Highways for North India’ in partnership with the Indian Academy of Highway Engineering and NHAI INDIA. The Honourable Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and Shri Giridhar Armane (Secretary RT&H) took time out of their busy schedule and interacted with the participants and encouraged them to adopt innovative technologies to enhance quality, improve sustainability, reduce cost and increase the speed of execution.
Upcoming Events
IITB Bangalore Alumni Roadshow
IIT Bombay, in collaboration with the IIT Bombay Alumni Association Bengaluru Chapter, would be hosting an interactive meet-and-greet session for all its alumni members based in Bengaluru with Prof. Subhasis Chaudhari, Director, IIT Bombay, and learn about the Institute’s latest strategic initiatives. This dinner meeting will also allow attendees to catch up with their fellow IIT Bombay alumni and reminisce about their times together on campus.
- Day & Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022
- Time: 7:00 P.M. onwards
- Venue: Radisson Blue, Outer Ring Road, Bengaluru
IIT Bombay Trust Lab
IIT Bombay will launch its first-ever Digital Trust Lab, named the ‘IIT Bombay Trust Lab’ on September 15, 2022. This Lab has been set up through the generous donation of IITB alumnus, Dr. Shridhar Shukla, who has generously contributed Rs. 29 Cr. towards this initiative.
As digital experiences rapidly become an integral part of our lives, security, privacy, population-scale access and usability, citizen empowerment, etc., become fundamental enablers for a safe and prosperous society and nation. Towards that goal, IIT Bombay is setting up the IITB Trust Lab as a timely and far-reaching initiative so that the Institute takes the lead in the vast area of digital trust and supports nation-building.
- Day & Date: Thursday, September 15, 2022
- Time: 11:00 A.M. onwards
- Venue: Victor Menezes Convention Centre, IIT Bombay campus
IIT Bombay Gen Zero Women Initiative
IIT Bombay represents some of the best science and technology talent in India. The Institute has always promoted gender equality and women empowerment, even as our next generation of women students will join a legacy of women alumnae and global icons such as Padma Shri awardees Dr. Rohini M. Godbole, Dr. Sharada Srinivasan, and more.
To honour these exceptional women alumnae and their many stellar accomplishments, IIT Bombay, along with our alumnus, Mr. D.C. Agrawal, will be hosting an event called the ‘IIT Bombay Gen Zero Women Initiative’ with the launch of a coffee-table book and a podcast highlighting their stories.
- Day & Date: September 23, 2022
- Time: 3:00 pm onwards
- Venue: Victor Menezes Convention Centre, IIT Bombay campus
IIT Bombay Research Park to Host Conclave on Sustainability
IIT Bombay Research Park Foundation will host a Conclave on Sustainability on November 30, 2022.
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Government of India, will be the guest of honour at the occasion. The sessions at the conclave will cover critical topics such as Air and Water Quality, Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructure, AI for Sustainability, Climate Mitigation, Green Technology & Carbon Sequestration, Climate Policy and Circular Economy, and Food-Energy-Water nexus.
- Day & Date: November 30, 2022
- Time: TBA
- Venue: IIT Bombay campus
Student Success Stories
IIT Bombay General Elections 2022 were held on campus in March 2022. Kartik Bachhav won a very competitive election for the position of General Secretary, Hostel Affairs (GSHA), and Divya Mrinal won the election for General Secretary, Cultural Affairs (GSCA).
Here, both of them take us through the thrill of winning this election, what their new positions mean to them and how they plan to fulfil the mission they laid out in their respective manifestos.
Read on for more on Kartik and Divya’s journeys.
Student Research Article
Name: Arnab Sarkar
Department: Electrical Engineering
Programme: Ph.D.
The Knowledge Tree – Dean ACR Newsletter August 2022
Chief Content Consultant and Editor (IITB DRF) – Roopa Swaminathan
Contributors:
SARC – Head: Media and PR
Rachit Merani – B.S. – 3rd Year (Economics)
Radhika Bakshi –B.Tech/M.Tech Dual Degree – 3rd Year (Metallurgical Engineering and Material Science)
SARC – Coordinators: Media and PR
Amogha Pote
Dev Parekh
Harshil Khatri
Priyanshi Garg
Shlok Zanwar
Ujjawal Pardeshi