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IIT Bombay commemorated India’s 78^th Independence Day on August 15, 2024, with a ceremony held near the iconic arch in front of the Nandan Nilekani Main Building. The event began at 9:00 a.m. with the hoisting of the National Flag by Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay. The ceremony was honoured by the presence of the Chief Guest and distinguished alumnus Mr. Deepak Satwalekar (B.Tech. (Hons.), Mechanical Engineering, 1971).

In his address, Prof. Kedare extended warm greetings to the IIT Bombay community, reflecting on the Institute’s recent achievements and milestones. He also highlighted the significance of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,’ celebrating 78 years of India’s progressive independence.

The campus was adorned with tricolour lights, enhancing the festive atmosphere. The event featured a vibrant student cultural program and a tree plantation drive, both symbolizing growth and unity. The event also showcased the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, encouraging campus residents to display the national flag at home and take selfies at a special booth near the hoisting arch.

Prof. Kedare and Mr. Satwalekar honoured Shri Prem Bahadur Gangabir Pun, Sr., a multi-skilled assistant from the Department of Civil Engineering, for his 40 years of dedicated service to the Institute.

The ceremony, which was well-attended by faculty, staff, and students, was broadcast live on the Institute’s YouTube channel.

In a significant stride towards enhancing collaboration between academia and government, Ms. Sujata Saunik, the newly-appointed Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, visited IIT Bombay to explore avenues of partnership between the state government and the institute. The visit focused on leveraging IIT Bombay’s expertise across various domains to bolster government initiatives and capacity-building efforts.

Ms. Saunik engaged in detailed discussions with Prof. KVK Rao, Deputy Director (Finance and External Affairs) of IIT Bombay, and faculty members representing diverse departments on integrating technological advancements into state government programs. The discussions spanned critical sectors such as infrastructure development, housing, transportation, water management, healthcare, skill development, climate change adaptation, and disaster management.

A pivotal highlight of the meeting was the proposed collaboration through the SANGAM Fellowship, to be anchored by the Global Initiative for Sustainable Energy (GISE) Hub at IIT Bombay. This initiative underscores a strategic effort to empower government agencies with cutting-edge technological solutions and innovative approaches developed at the institute.

The fruitful deliberations culminated in a mutual agreement to forge a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between IIT Bombay and the Office of the Chief Secretary in the future. This MOU is poised to serve as a framework for collaborative projects that will directly contribute to the socio-economic development of Maharashtra and the nation at large.

The visit by Chief Secretary Ms. Sujata Saunik to IIT Bombay marks a significant step forward in fostering synergies between academic research and governmental policy implementation, aiming to address contemporary challenges and propel Maharashtra towards a sustainable and technologically advanced future.

IIT Bombay documented the journey of WiSE (Women in Science and Engineering) at the Institute since its launch in May 2023. This initiative plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality by empowering young girls from rural India to explore STEM fields.

Supported by the IEEE CAS Circuits & Systems Society, WiSE invited 10th-grade girls from rural India to experience a week of hands-on learning and mentorship each year. WiSE connected participants with “Winspirers” – extraordinary women role models from various fields – and engaged them in BMP (Break-Make-Program it) activities using lab-developed kits. From constructing light bulbs to FM radios, drones, and autonomous rovers, the initiative sparked interest in STEM careers and fostered aspirations for higher education.

The video below showcases the impact of WiSE, highlighting the commitment of approximately 40 IIT Bombay student volunteers and demonstrating how the program has positively influenced girls from rural areas in Gujarat, Daman, Diu, and Goa.

As a pioneer in educational initiatives promoting gender inclusivity and empowerment, IIT Bombay remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of women leaders in STEM.

We invite you to explore the inspiring journey of WiSE with IIT Bombay below.

Click the link here: WiSE2024 – YouTube

IIT Bombay celebrated Van Mahotsav, an annual green initiative where the entire campus community—staff, faculty, students, and residents—unites to plant saplings. This year, the event took place on Sunday, July 28, at 10 am along the Lake Side Road near the Jal Vihar guest house.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner of the BMC, emphasized the importance of planting indigenous species and preserving mature trees during construction activities. He inspired the students to foster a greener and more sustainable environment.

Distinguished dignitaries from IIT Bombay who attended the event included:

• Prof. Milind Atrey – Deputy Director for Academic and Infrastructural Affairs
• Prof. K.V.K. Rao – Deputy Director for Finance and External Affairs
• Prof. K.P. Kaliappan – Dean of Strategy
• Prof. Vedagiri Perumal – Dean of Infrastructure, Planning, and Support (IPS)
• Prof. Anurag Garg – Associate Dean of IPS – 3
• Prof. Venkata Santosh Kumar Delhi – Associate Dean of IPS – 1

They joined the faculty, staff, students, and the teachers and students of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Campus School in planting 400 saplings.

Cultural performances by students from Campus School and Kendriya Vidyalaya, celebrating the importance of trees, added a lively touch to the event. Organized by the Horticulture section of the Estate Office, IIT Bombay, this initiative underscores the commitment to nurturing the campus’s greenery, especially amidst ongoing redevelopment and expansion.

The Van Mahotsav celebration extended beyond the IIT Bombay campus. The student team of Abhyudaya organized the Green Earth Campaign, a tree plantation drive in Marol, Mumbai, on the same day. With the help of local volunteers, they planted 1,500 saplings of 56 varieties, aiming to promote environmental sustainability, enhance biodiversity, and combat climate change.

IIT Bombay is dedicated to sustainable development, adopting green practices to create an environmentally friendly campus and instill a sense of environmental responsibility among residents. Under the office of the Dean of Infrastructure, Planning, and Support (IPS), several initiatives are ongoing, including:

Environmental Impact:

• Environmental Education
• Environmental Research
• Awareness Programs
• Approaches towards zero carbon emissions (sustainable transport and mobility, water conservation and wastewater recycling, solid waste treatment and recycling, energy conservation, renewable power and net-zero goals, sustainable infrastructure development, road cleaning)
• Creation and maintenance of green cover and landscaping
• Biodiversity management
• Handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes

Social Impact:

• Equity and well-being of campus residents
• Improved housekeeping activities

For more details on IIT Bombay’s new sustainability policy, visit: IIT Bombay Sustainability Policy

The celebration of Van Mahotsav at IIT Bombay not only reinforces the Institute’s commitment to environmental sustainability but also serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect and enhance our natural surroundings. Through active participation in such initiatives, the IIT Bombay community demonstrates the power of unity in fostering a greener future. As the saplings grow and flourish, so does the spirit of conservation and environmental stewardship among all who are part of this vibrant campus. This year’s Van Mahotsav is a testament to the enduring dedication of IIT Bombay towards creating a sustainable and ecologically balanced world for generations to come.

In a transformative educational initiative, IIT Bombay recently brought its renowned school outreach programme, TechTrends, to the enthusiastic students of Filix School of Education in Purulia, West Bengal. Aimed at grades 9-11, this intensive 6-day programme immersed students from Para, a rural village in West Bengal, into the forefront of technological advancements across various disciplines.

TechTrends, meticulously designed to ignite curiosity and foster foundational knowledge, covered a wide array of cutting-edge topics including AI/ML, GIS/GPS, IoT, Robotics, Climate Science, Electric Mobility, Graphic Design, and Animation Design. The programme featured engaging lectures by internationally acclaimed faculty members and hands-on sessions in IIT Bombay’s state-of-the-art laboratories, providing a hands-on learning experience.

For the students of Filix School, many of whom were experiencing such advanced technologies for the first time, TechTrends was more than just an educational endeavour—it was a transformative journey. Expressing their enthusiasm, students described the programme as “a great and enriching experience” that “ignited a spark” in their minds. It was hailed as “totally new and one of the best experiences” they had ever encountered.

Reflecting on the success of TechTrends at Filix School, IIT Bombay will continue to invite students from grades 10-12 and school groups to participate in future editions of the programme. For the Institute, nurturing young innovators and equipping them with cutting-edge skills isn’t just a mission—it’s a commitment to empowering the next generation and contributing to the nation’s development through technology and education.

The Dean ACR office will launch its new social media channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. These platforms will provide exclusive insights and updates directly from the Dean ACR/IITB DRF office.

The new channels are designed to highlight how continued community support enables IIT Bombay to spearhead groundbreaking research, enhance state-of-the-art infrastructure, cultivate exceptional faculty, and support a thriving entrepreneurial environment.

The Dean ACR office invites everyone to join this transformative journey to excellence and help shape the future of IIT Bombay.

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dean-acr-iit-bombay/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deanacriitbombay/

Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/DeanACRIITB

With the launch of these new social media channels, the Dean ACR office is poised to strengthen its connection with the alumni community and showcase the impactful contributions of its supporters. Engaging with these platforms will keep the community updated on IIT Bombay’s journey of excellence and innovation.

In a significant step towards advancing maritime safety, IIT Bombay and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) marking the beginning of a crucial initiative aimed at developing a ship trajectory prediction tool. Mr. P.K. Mishra, Joint Managing Director of IRS, and representatives from IIT Bombay formalized the agreement.

This innovative tool is designed to enhance early warning systems and improve rescue operation planning by accurately predicting the movement of disabled ships and floating objects in the open sea. Understanding and predicting the drift of disabled vessels and floating objects, influenced by location-specific environmental conditions, is crucial for timely and effective response and rescue efforts.

The collaborative project will focus on creating a trajectory prediction tool that enables quick response for locating drifting vessels and rerouting nearby ships to bolster maritime safety. Additionally, the project will develop a computer program with automated report generation capabilities for seamless integration into existing IRS Emergency Response System (ERS) software programs.

Prof. Manas Behera and Prof. V.K. Srineash of IIT Bombay highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating that it underscores IIT Bombay’s commitment to active industry-academia interaction to achieve several national goals. As an Institute of Eminence, IIT Bombay is dedicated to developing ‘Made in India’ software systems that will significantly enhance maritime safety, rescue, and support operations.

This partnership between IIT Bombay and the IRS represents a pivotal moment in maritime safety advancements. By integrating advanced trajectory prediction tools and automated reporting systems into maritime safety protocols, IIT Bombay is not only contributing to national goals but also setting a global benchmark for industry-academia collaboration. This project is a testament to IIT Bombay’s unwavering commitment to enhancing safety, fostering innovation, and driving progress in critical sectors.