IIT BOMBAY FAN US MEET 2024

IIT Bombay, in partnership with the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, proudly hosted the Faculty Alumni Network (FAN) event at Stanford University between July 19-21, 2024. This prestigious gathering assembled a diverse group of leading academics, industry experts, and distinguished IITB alumni from around the globe. The event fostered a dynamic environment for intellectual exchange and collaborative exploration, and attendees strategized on ways to shape the future of IIT Bombay’s growth and deliberated on emerging areas of research.

The event commenced on July 19th with a compelling dinner talk by Prof. Daniel L. Schwartz, who explored the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on higher education. This set the tone for an intellectually stimulating series of sessions that followed on the next day.

The highlight of FAN 2024 was a keynote plenary delivered by Nobel Laureate Prof. Steven Chu during the forenoon of July 20th. His insights during this plenary talk followed by a fireside chat conducted by Dr. Arunava Majumdar further enriched the discourse on the future of technology and innovation.

Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, addressed the celebrated audience and said, “I am extremely optimistic about the transformative discussions and partnerships that lie ahead. The insights we will share, partnerships we will forge, and ideas we spark during FAN-DA Meet 2024 will allow us to harness the power of technology and education to address the pressing challenges facing our society and our country. Together, let us chart a course toward a more sustainable, equitable future—one where innovation serves as a force for positive change.”

The event next featured an exciting panel discussion centred on integration of medical and engineering education to foster future advancements in healthcare. The panel moderated by Prof. Jayesh Bellare, IIT Bombay included:

– Dr. Lloyd Minor Dean of Medicine at Stanford University,
– Dr. David Stevenson, Associate Dean of Medicine at Stanford University
– Dr. Balram Bhargava, Immediate Past DG ICMR;
– Prof. King Li, Dean Emeritus of Carle Illinois college of Medicine, at UIUC,
– Mr. Sean Hennessey-Hsieh, Managing Director, Strategic Ventures Enterprise Strategy Team, Stanford Medicine

Throughout the day, the attendees engaged in a range of breakout sessions covering critical and emerging fields. The themes of the breakout sessions included:

–  Quantum Technologies
–  Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability
–  Healthcare
–  Smart Cities, Transportation and Logistics
–  Supercomputing and AI

The day’s events also featured a panel discussion with an overview of the Translational Research Ecosystem at IIT Bombay.

In addition to the technical sessions, the event featured a meeting of IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumni, where prominent alumni provided valuable perspectives on the strategic growth of the Institute. This session underscored the continued influence and engagement of IIT Bombay’s alumni community in shaping the future trajectory of the Institute.

The Faculty Alumni Network Event 2024 not only highlighted IIT Bombay’s commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation but also reaffirmed the powerful synergy between academia and industry. By facilitating rich discussions and collaborations, the event reinforced the Institute’s role as a global leader in research and education. As IIT Bombay continues to build on its legacy of excellence, the insights and connections made at FAN DA Meet 2024 are poised to drive future advancements and shape the Institute’s path forward.