campus diary April - M ay - J une 2 0 2 4

campus diary
April - May - June 2024 https://www.iitb.ac.in/campus-diary
I N D I A N I N S T I T U T E OF T E C H N O L O G Y B O M B A Y

Hon’ble President Of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu

Dedicates Anti-Cancer CAR-T Cell Therapy to The Nation

Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu addressing the audience

Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu dedicated the new anti-Cancer CAR-T cell therapy
NexCAR19 to the nation in the presence of the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh Bais, Guest of
Honour; former IIT Bombay Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri; Director of Tata Memorial Centre Prof.
Sudeep Gupta; key contributors led by Prof. Rahul Purwar, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering,
IIT Bombay; Dr. Hasmukh Jain and Dr. (Surg Cdr) Gaurav Narula from the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai,
among many others on April 4, 2024. A few cancer survivors who were successfully treated with CAR-T cell
therapy were also present.
Appreciating the team efforts of IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT in making CAR-T therapy
available to people, the Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in her address said, “CAR-T cell
therapy is considered to be one of the most phenomenal advances in medical science. It has been available in
developed nations for some time, but it is extremely costly and beyond the reach of most patients around the
world. What is new about the therapy being launched today, as I understand it, is that it costs 90 per cent less
than what is available elsewhere. This is the world’s most affordable CAR-T cell therapy. Moreover, it is also
an example of the ‘Make in India’ initiative; a shining example of the Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
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campus diary April - May - June 2024

Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, former Director of IIT Bombay, felicitating Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu

Congratulating the key contributors, the Guest of Honour, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh
Bais in his address said, “In any advanced country, academia-industry collaboration is the key cornerstone.
Academia leads in R&D, especially in basic sciences. These R&D provide potential breakthrough applications

Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, former Director of IIT Bombay, felicitating Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh Bais

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

which need to be translated for commercialization by the industry. The collaboration between the academic
institutes of IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital with industry partners like SINE, Laurus and others is a
sterling example on how this can be achieved with benefits to all parties concerned”.
“Cell and gene therapy will be an important aspect of it from treating cancers, to genetic disorders like sickle
cell anemia and many other challenges that come with the ageing population. Not only do we have to ensure
that we are able to innovate and provide the best technology to our population but also do it in a way where all
segments of the society can access it,” he added.
Speaking on this momentous occasion, the Director of Tata Memorial Centre Dr. Sudeep Gupta said, “The
collaboration between IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Centre to develop the first indigenous CAR-T cell
therapy product has been extremely fruitful and satisfying. This CAR-T cell therapy product will save many
lives at much lower cost compared to the cost of such products available outside India. We hope that in years
to come, our collaboration will lead to the development of other Cell and Gene Therapy products that will help
our patients with various cancers”.
The Institute’s former Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, in his address, said, “The low-cost CAR-T cell
therapy is a huge achievement for our country and cancer patients in India and it places India firmly on the
global map of cell and gene therapy. He said that we can take pride in the fact that India is now one of the
very few countries in the world that can make its own gene therapy for treating cancer. This is a testament to
the efforts of several scientists, doctors, nurses and others who worked together relentlessly over the last
decade to achieve this goal for our patients”.
The programme was attended by IIT Bombay students, faculty members, the team from Tata Memorial Centre,
ImmunoAct and other dignitaries in large numbers.
The entire event was also broadcast live on the YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/IITBombayOfficialChannel
About CAR-T Cell Therapy: NexCAR19 CAR-T therapy is India’s first indigenously ‘Made-in-India’ CAR-T
therapy; borne from the academia-industry partnership. NexCAR19 is the world’s most affordable CAR-T
therapy and it puts India firmly on the global map of advanced cell and gene therapy. The CAR-T cell therapy
has been developed by Prof. Rahul Purwar and his team at the BSBE Department, IIT Bombay in close
association with Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT.
About ImmunoACT: Spun out from IIT-Bombay in 2018, ImmunoACT is India’s pioneer in the development of
the country’s first indigenous Cell & Gene Therapy. With a rapidly expanding pipeline beginning with blood
cancers, our mission is to provide affordable access to novel autologous CAR-T cell therapies.

Dignitaries from IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT with Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu (Center)
and Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh Bais (seated second from Left)

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Holds Commencement 2024

Chief Guest Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran addressing the audience

IIT Bombay held Commencement 2024 at the Institute’s Convocation Hall on May 3, 2024. Mr. Natarajan
Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company and promoter of all Tata Group companies,
graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest and delivered the Commencement address in the presence of the
former Institute Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri.
Commencement, similar to a traditional convocation ceremony, is a special event to be conducted once every
year to gather all students likely to graduate.
The Chief Guest Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran in his address spoke about three fundamental aspects –
Trust, Character and Purpose that determine success in the journey of building a career. He said, “Building
and cultivating trust is very essential to your success. When an organisation and its colleagues trust you, they
not only empower you but also embrace you. Secondly, Character is your capacity to prioritize your values
over your instincts. It will enable you to be true to your principles. While trust and character will help you to be
successful in your career, the purpose that you live for will inspire and guide you and give you fulfillment”.
Presenting the Institute’s Report for the year 2023-24, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, former Director of IIT
Bombay informed that IIT Bombay continues to be the top-ranked university in the country and among the best
in the world.
Wishing the graduating students the best in life, Prof. Chaudhuri said, “The quality of education you have
received at IIT Bombay is second to none in the world but what you have learnt is only a foundation – putting
up a structure on the foundation is your responsibility. Further, please remember that you all were privileged
to have had your education at IIT Bombay and our nation has great expectation from each one of you”.
IIT Bombay introduced a ‘Commencement’ event last year so that the students celebrate their journey through
IIT Bombay along with all their batch-mates and family members while they embark on a new phase in their
lives.

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

Former Director of IIT Bombay Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri addressing the students

In the afternoon session, about 2489 students who are likely to graduate, were invited for a photo opportunity
with the Director on the dais. The students include (approx) 1249 undergraduates, 1005 postgraduates and 235
PhDs.
Members of the Board of Governors attended the Commencement 2024, besides the graduating students and
their parents.
The function was broadcast live on: https://www.youtube.com/c/IITBombayOfficialChannel

Students taking pledge during Commencement 2024

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campus diary April - M ay - J une 2 0 2 4

Prof. Shireesh B. Kedare Takes Charge As The New Director Of IIT Bombay

The Government of India has appointed Prof.

Shireesh B. Kedare, Department of Energy Science
and Engineering, IIT Bombay as the new Director of
IIT Bombay. Prof. Kedare assumed charge as Director
on May 6, 2024.
Prof. Kedare, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, completed
his B.Tech. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in
1985 and 1992 respectively. He is an Institute Chair
Professor in the Department of Energy Science and
Engineering and has served as an Adjunct Professor
from 2001 to 2013 and a Professor since May 2013.
Prof. Kedare has held various significant positions in
the Institute, other institutes and industries, including
the first Professor-in-Chargeship of Centre of
Excellence in Oil, Gas and Energy (CoE-OGE), IIT
Bombay. He currently is a nominated Member of the
Council of IITs, Ministry of Education; a Member of Former Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri (Department of
Board of Governors (BoG), IIT Madras among many Electrical Engineering) handing over charge to Prof. Shireesh
more. Kedare

He has received several awards recognizing his research and teaching excellence, including the Department
Award for Excellence in Teaching and Dr. P.K. Patwardhan Technology Development Award. He is a Life
Member of Solar Energy Society of India (SESI). He has five patents, published 64 journal papers, 50
conference papers and a Scopus h-Index of 23. He has guided 12 PhDs till date.

Celebration Of World Environment Day

On June 5, 2024, IIT Bombay observed World
Environment Day by conducting cleanliness drives
and an awareness campaign in coordination with
Dean (Infrastucture Planning and Support) Office,
Estate Office, Public Health Office, National Service
Scheme (NSS) IIT Bombay, Abhyudaya and Team
Shunya on campus.
KV School students also joined in a nature walk. The
Public Health Officer interacted with the students and
stressed the importance of preserving our
environment. Various initiatives including a zero-food
waste drive in the hostel messes was observed.
The Environmental Science and Engineering
Department (ESED) at IIT Bombay, in collaboration
with the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC),
organised a virtual talk by Dr. Sanat Kumar Saha,
Emeritus Professor at KIIT, a former member of the
West Bengal State Council of Higher Education and a
distinguished environmentalist, educationist and
philanthropist.
Dr. Saha delivered an enlightening presentation on “Energy Security and Environmental Protection: An
Indian Perspective,” emphasizing the need for global cooperation in addressing environmental challenges. He
covered topics such as waste-to-energy conversion, air and water pollution and highlighted the importance of
international environmental policies. The Head (ESED) Prof. Subhankar Karmakar moderated the talk along
with Prof. Indrajit Chakraborty.
Dr. Saha’s presentation underscored the urgency of environmental conservation and energy security at both
national and global level.

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campus diary April - M ay - J une 2 0 2 4

IIT Bombay Ranked 118th Globally In The QS WUR 2025

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has been ranked 1st in
India and has moved significantly up from 149th rank last year to
118th rank in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University
Rankings 2025, with an overall score of 56.3 out of 100. It is for the
first time ever since its participation that IIT Bombay has been ranked
within top 125 in QS rankings. Overall, the Institution improved its
2024 performance by 31 places.
The results were released on June 4, 2024, by QS. The Institute has
a score of 86.0 in employer reputation, 79.1 in citation per faculty,
58.5 in academic reputation, 64.5 in employment outcome, 52.5 in
sustainability, 14.4 in faculty-student ratio, 4.3 in international faculty,
52.3 in international research network and 1.3 in international students,
all scores out of a maximum of 100 points. Among these nine
parameters, Employer Reputation indicated the strongest one for IIT
Bombay with a rank of 63 globally.

IIT Bombay has been ranked 45th in Engineering Following are the parameter-wise scores earned
and Technology with an overall score of 79.1 out of by the Institute:
100 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World
University Rankings by Subject for 2024. The
* Best performance in Mathematics with a score of
79.6 in Academic Reputation
Institute has been ranked in 4 out of 5 broad subject
areas, which include Engineering and Technology, * Best performance in Engineering–Mineral and
Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Management, Mining with a score of 96.2 in Employer
and Arts and Humanities. The Institution improved on Reputation
its 2023 performance by two places in Engineering * Best performance in Engineering–Mineral and
and Technology. The results were released on April Mining earning the highest score-88.0 in
10, 2024, by QS, a British company. Citations per Paper

The Institute has been ranked 64th for Computer * Highest-scoring subject in Engineering–Mineral
Science and Information Technology, 30th in Data and Mining earning score of 80.5 in H-Index
Science and Artificial Intelligence, 42nd for Civil and indicator
Structural Engineering, 64th for Chemical The QS World University Rankings by Subject
Engineering, 63rd for Electrical and Electronics identifies the world’s strongest universities in
Engineering, 57th for Mechanical, Aeronautical and individual subject areas, covering 55 disciplines as
Manufacturing Engineering and 25th for Minerals and of 2024.
Mining.

IIT Bombay Receives INFORMS Franz Edelman Finalist Award

IIT Bombay team and Tata Steel,

India, received the 2024
INFORMS Franz Edelman
Finalist Award during the
Edelman Gala night at INFORMS
Business Analytics Conference
2024, Orlando, USA, held on April
15, 2024.

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Celebrates International Day Of Yoga 2024

Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, felicitating Chief Guest Prof. K. Satya Lakshmi, Director of the National Institute of
Naturopathy, Pune
IIT Bombay organised the global celebration of the The IDY-2024 festivities at IIT Bombay were further
10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) with various elevated by the esteemed presence of Prof. K. Satya
events designed to promote physical, mental and Lakshmi, Director of the National Institute of
spiritual well-being on June 21, 2024. These events Naturopathy, Pune, who graced the occasion as the
witnessed robust involvement from students, faculty, Chief Guest. In the evening, Yogastha hosted their
staff and their families, underscoring IIT Bombay’s flagship event “The Yogathon Challenge” featuring
dedication to fostering a healthy and balanced 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar, marking the
lifestyle. culmination of a series of preparatory Surya
Namaskar sessions that began two weeks before
The day began at 6:30 am with a 45-minute Common June 21.
Yoga Protocol (CYP) drill, a globally renowned yoga
program that consistently remains the core of On this remarkable occasion, the core members of
International Day of Yoga celebrations. The Director of Team Yogastha, the dedicated student body of IIT
IIT Bombay Prof. Shireesh Kedare along with other Bombay, were honoured with Yoga Volunteer
Deans, Registrar and officials attended the certificates from the Ministry of Ayush, Government
programme at the indoor badminton court of of India. Yogastha and Civil Engineering Association
Gymkhana on the IIT Bombay campus. (CEA), IIT Bombay also organised a workshop on

Team Yogastha feliciated during

International Day of Yoga
celebrations at IIT Bombay

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

Participants performing yoga asanas during International Day of Yoga celebrations at IIT Bombay

“Yoga, Spirituality, and Indian Mysticism” by Prof. Swami Vedajnananda-ji Maharaj on June 16, 2024.
On May 2, 2024, Yogastha kicked off a grand 50-day celebration chasing up to the IDY. The festivities
commenced with a mini-Yogathon challenge, where participants were tasked with completing 54 continuous
rounds of Surya Namaskar. This initial event along with the regular morning yoga practices, set the stage for
the subsequent 50 days filled with enriching yoga-related activities.
The International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2024 series featured diverse workshops on topics such as Surya
Namaskar, the sequential flow of stretching, the benefits of stretching before performing asanas, Tratak kriya,
Yog Nidra, pranayama techniques and empowering women through yoga with a focus on hormonal balance.
Additionally, Yogastha hosted a five-day yoga camp to guide participants in establishing a weekly yoga routine.
These meticulously planned activities made the International Day of Yoga 2024 a memorable and impactful
celebration at IIT Bombay.

Two-day Joint Workshop On Quantum Technologies

IIT Bombay and the University

of Chicago held their inaugural
kick-off meeting at the U-Chicago
Center in New Delhi, marking the
beginning of their collaborative
efforts. IIT Bombay is now an
international partner of the
prestigious Chicago Quantum
Exchange (CQE), which is an
intellectual hub for the science
and engineering of quantum
information, anchored by the
University of Chicago, Argonne
National Laboratory, Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory,
the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign, the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and
Northwestern University. Participants during the technical discussions on various quantum technologies
The two-day workshop saw participation from faculty and students at both institutes, along with invited
members from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), industry representatives from companies
like Applied Materials, IBM, C-DoT and TCS and delegates from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The two-day meeting, with a welcome note from the Director of IIT Bombay Prof. Shireesh Kedare, featured in-
depth technical discussions on various quantum technologies and explored potential areas of collaboration.
Participants deliberated on the logistics of their partnership, including the establishment of student exchange
programs, workshops and summer schools. They also addressed the challenges associated with
intercontinental exchanges, proposing potential action items. Additionally, there were discussions on creating a
larger ecosystem in collaboration with industry and government agencies, which included participation from
Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) and Research Park of IIT Bombay.
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campus diary April - M ay - J une 2 0 2 4

SANGAM Conference 2024 Held At IIT Bombay

Prof. Sarthak Gaurav welcoming the guests during the SANGAM conference

IIT Bombay hosted the second edition of the Summit Lt. Gen Madhuri Kanitkar (Retd.), Vice Chancellor,
of Academia Networking with Government, Allied Mumbai University of Health Sciences (MUHS);
Health Workers, and Medical Professionals Prof. Karbhari B. Kale, Vice Chancellor, Dr.
(SANGAM), a two-day International Health Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University,
Conference, during April 20-21, 2024 at the Institute Lonere; Prof. S. Sudarshan, Deputy Director
campus. The event was organized in partnership with (Academic and Infrastructural Affairs), IIT Bombay;
the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Ms. Sujata Saunik, Takemi Fellow and Additional
(MUHS). Prof. Sarthak Gaurav, Shailesh J. Mehta Chief Secretary (Department of Home Affairs),
School of Management, was the Conference Chair. Government of Maharashtra, among many others.

The conference saw the participation of 20 speakers From insightful discussions on Ayurveda’s
and more than 200 registrants from all over the resurgence and the latest advancements in medical
country as well as from international institutions. The devices to thought-provoking talks on mental health
event brought together leading experts, innovators and the integration of AI in healthcare and the
and policymakers from diverse sectors to discuss forefront of vaccine development, every session was
and share ideas on the latest trends and challenges brimming with knowledge and inspiration.
in public health focusing on four key themes: (a)
Medical Devices (b) AYUSH (c) Mental Health and (d) The event concluded successfully with participants
AI and Digital Healthcare. receiving a unique opportunity to engage with
dynamic panels and networking opportunities,
The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest fostering meaningful connections and driving
Mr. Luigi D’Aquino, Chief of Health, UNICEF India; impactful conversations.

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

Inauguration Of Department Of Industrial Engineering And Operations Research

Glimpses of Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research inauguration event

On April 24, 2024, IIT Bombay formally inaugurated The Symposium also featured engaging talks by
the Department of Industrial Engineering and industry stalwarts, including Ms. Goda Ramkumar,
Operations Research and also launched a B.Tech Vice President of Data Science at Swiggy, who
Programme in IEOR as part of IEOR Symposium shared her expertise on the applications of
2024. optimization in business.
Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, former Director of IIT The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony
Bombay, unveiled the new Department’s name board honouring Profs. Prakash G. Awate and A. Subhash
whereas Prof. Avinash Mahajan, Dean (Academic Babu, the founding faculty members of the academic
Programmes) shared his thoughts on the newly area of Industrial Engineering and Operations
launched B.Tech program in IEOR. The event brought Research at IIT Bombay for their invaluable
together faculty, mentors and students both in person contributions to the Department.
and online to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Following the Symposium, attendees had the
The Symposium commenced with a warm welcome opportunity to explore the ongoing research projects
address by HoD Prof. Jayendran Venkateswaran. through poster presentations by PhD and MTech
The highlight of the symposium was the keynote students. The presentations provided a glimpse into
address delivered by Prof. Manoj K. Tiwari, Director the cutting-edge research being conducted within the
of the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai and Department, fostering collaboration and knowledge
Vice Chancellor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences. exchange among the attendees.
Prof. Tiwari’s insightful speech shed light on the The IEOR Symposium 2024 was indeed a confluence
significance of research in industrial engineering and of ideas and innovations, serving as a platform for
operations management, leaving the audience academia and industry to come together and chart
enthralled. the path for future advancements in the field of
industrial engineering and operations research.

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

MoU With BFI To Promote Healthcare Innovation

IIT Bombay signed a

Memorandum of Understanding
with Blockchain for Impact (BFI)
for catalysing and promoting
healthcare innovation to improve
public health in India.
The BFI-Biome network aims to
build conversations, formulate
ideas and partnerships for
collaborative projects in cutting-
edge healthcare solutions in life
sciences as well as enhance the
public healthcare sector in India.
This initiative aims to bridge the
gap between research and
implementation by funding
MoU signing ceremony was held at IIT Bombay
medical research, startups and
training programs under their BFI-Biome Network. The MoU signing event was attended by dignitaries from IIT
Bombay and BFI, including Dr Gaurav Singh, CEO, Blockchain for Impact and Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, Dean
(Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Bombay.
The MoU signing strengthens IIT Bombay’s commitment to support, accelerate and forge multisectoral
collaboration to address the gap between R&D, innovation and implementation in the healthcare and life
science sector.

MoU To Establish WRCB-HiMedia Bioinnovation Centre

Several officials attented the MoU signing ceremony held at IIT Bombay

IIT Bombay and HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. have scientists and researchers to explore their ideas for
signed an MoU to establish the Wadhwani Research commercialization.
Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB) - HiMedia The MoU signing event was attended by Dr. Vishal
Bioinnovation Centre to promote research and G. Warke, Director-HiMedia Laboratories, Dr. Rahul
entrepreneurship in healthcare and life sciences. Joshi, Global Sales Head - HiMedia, Prof. Ravindra
The WRCB-HiMedia Bioinnovation Centre will D. Gudi, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations),
promote impactful translational research projects in Dr. Abdur Rub, CEO - WRCB along with key
healthcare and life sciences at IIT Bombay targeted attendees Prof. Debjani Paul, Professor-In-Charge-
at post-doctoral fellows, graduating PhDs, staff WRCB and Prof. Abhijit Majumder (Department of
Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay).
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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay-Citadel Securities Collaborate For Quantitative Research Lab

IIT Bombay is proud to
announce its collaboration
with Citadel Securities to
establish the IIT Bombay -
Citadel Securities
Quantitative Research
Lab at the Institute’s
upcoming Centre for
Research in Financial
Markets.
The IITB-Citadel Securities
Quantitative Research Lab
will conduct research
across diverse areas of
finance, including the
Dignitaries from IIT Bombay and Citadel Securities during MoU signing ceremony
application of
mathematical and statistical methodologies in finance and risk management, as well as technological
innovation in banking and financial markets. It will also facilitate relevant academic programmes for all
students at the undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral levels along with collaboration with banks and
financial service companies to create tailored educational and research programmes for students to gain real-
world experience and contribute to the field.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, former Director of IIT Bombay;
Mr. Jatin Phutela, Managing Director and COO-India for Citadel Securities; Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, Dean
(Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Bombay; Prof. S.V.D. Nageswara Rao, Head of Shailesh J. Mehta
School of Management, IIT Bombay and Mr. Anand Kumar Sinha, Head of Systematic Business, APAC for
Citadel Securities.

MoU To Establish ‘Arun Firodia Research Floor’

IIT Bombay has signed a

Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with its Distinguished
Alumnus Mr. Arun Firodia
(BTech, Electrical Engineering,
1965), Chairman, Kinetic Group,
for supporting strategic initiatives
as a part of the Institute’s journey
of excellence. The Institute will
utilize these funds to undertake
the expansion of its infrastructure
and research activities.
Additionally, this collaboration will
establish a Chair Professorship
in Mobility and Electronics,
solidifying IIT Bombay’s
leadership in research and
education in this domain. Through
industry collaboration, student
engagement and research
advancements, we aim to drive
Mr. Arun Firodia, Chairman, Kinetic Group (Center) and Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri,
innovation and excellence in
former Director (third from Left) along with IIT Bombay functionaries during the launch of
'Arun Firodia Research Floor' Mobility and Electronics.
Expressing gratitude, the Institute has dedicated ‘Arun Firodia Research Floor’ to furthering research in
Electrical Engineering. Mr. Firodia’s contributions stand as a testament to the pivotal role that alumni continue
to play in the Institute’s pursuit of excellence.
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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Unveils The Nation’s First-Of-Its-Kind GMP Facility

The 10X GMP Facility at IIT Bombay is the first-of-

its-kind in India and will help to manufacture
products for human trials. This facility will encourage
researchers to manufacture breakthrough products in
healthcare which are 10 times cheaper, better or
faster than anything currently available. This will
make treatment of complex diseases like types of
Cancer, much more affordable without any
compromise on quality and efficacy.
IIT Bombay has a strong pipeline of products awaiting
the launch of this GMP. Researchers from IIT Distinguished Alumnus Mr. Raj Nair
Bombay showcased breakthrough treatment solutions The establishment of this facility has been funded
based on their cutting-edge research which have and programme managed by Mr. Raj Nair, a
gone past animal trials. Distinguished Alumnus (B.Tech., 1971, Metallurgical
Engineering) of IIT Bombay and Chairman of Avalon
This technologically sophisticated GMP has many Consulting, Germinait Solutions and AGR Knowledge
unique features. It is flexible enough to accommodate Services
a product change every few weeks. While it provides
top-of-the-line sterility, the biosafety level can also be Sharing his vision for the Centre, he said, “The 10X
flexibly changed to suit the concerned product GMP facility has been set up to encourage brilliant
requirements. As many as four independent products researchers at IIT Bombay to aim for breakthroughs
can be simultaneously manufactured in this GMP that are 10 times cheaper, better, or faster than all
without risk of cross-contamination. It will also be a known treatments. I believe only that can move the
partnership opportunity for small and medium-sized needle for society. The availability of a BSL3 GMP
Pharma companies which can use this facility facility on the campus also helps reduce the cost of
because it may not be viable for them to set up and manufacturing products for human trials and shorten
operate such a complex facility on their own. the time it takes to get life-saving solutions to the
market. I envision a day in the near future when
To learn more about this groundbreaking facility: researchers at IIT Bombay will provide millions of
https://www.youtube.com watch?v=7z9Z4gMoJs0&t=458s people, with a continual flow of solutions to major

Prof. Jayesh Bellare speaking during the symposium

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campus diary April - M ay - J une 2 0 2 4

human problems ranging from Alzheimer’s to cancer, National Chair, Indian Council of Medical Research
from drug-resistant TB to COVID-19, etc., and all that and Dr. G S Bhuvaneswar, Adjunct Professor at IIT
at a fraction of the cost of treatment available in other Madras were among the esteemed dignitaries who
parts of the world”. honoured the occasion with their presence. The
Institute was represented by Prof. Subhasis
Mr. Ajit Jawle, Chairman of Knexir Consultants Pvt Chaudhuri, former Director, Prof. Ravindra D.
Ltd and an esteemed alumnus of IIT Bombay, Gudi, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations) and
deserves special recognition for his unwavering Prof. P. V. Balaji, Head of the Department of
dedication to and huge contribution to designing and Biosciences and Bioengineering.
overseeing every aspect of bringing this unique
facility to fruition. A symposium on “World Class MedTech
Manufacturing through Good Manufacturing
The inauguration ceremony was graced by eminent Practice (GMP) and Quality Management System
personalities from both industry and academia, (QMS)” was also organised on the occasion,
underscoring the significance of this endeavour. Chief providing a platform for health experts from
Guest Dr. C. S. Pramesh, Director of the Tata academia and industry to exchange ideas and
Memorial Hospital; Guest of Honour Padma Shri insights.
Mr. Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, former Dr. CG Pandit

Institute Holds Dhrupad Rudraveena Concert

IIT Bombay, in honour of the late Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, organised a Dhrupad Rudraveena
Concert in honour of his enormous contributions to the field of music education at the Institute on May 11,
2024. A portrait of the late Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar was also unveiled by his nephew and artist Ustad
Mohi Bahauddin Dagar on the occasion.
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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay And TCS To Build India’s First Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager

 The Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager, an advanced

sensing tool for semiconductor chip imaging, will help
reduce chances of chip failures and improve efficiency
of electronic devices
 Collaboration between IIT Bombay and TCS to develop
a quantum imaging platform for the non-destructive
examination of chips is the first such initiative in India
 Project aligned with the Government of India’s National
Quantum Mission – an initiative to position the nation
as a global quantum technology leader

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT will have a transformative impact on various
Bombay) has entered a strategic partnership with industries and society, with applications ranging
the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: from electronics to healthcare and beyond. By
532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, working together, we can drive innovation and create
consulting and business solutions, to develop a brighter future for all”.
India’s first Quantum Diamond Microchip The collaboration between TCS and IIT Bombay is
Imager. This advanced sensing tool will hold the aligned with the National Quantum Mission – an
potential to unlock new levels of precision in the initiative by the government of India to position the
examination of semiconductor chips, reduce chip nation as a global quantum technology leader. An
failures and improve the energy efficiency of indigenous Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager that
electronic devices. integrates quantum diamond microscopy with AI/ ML-
Over the next two years, experts from TCS will powered software imaging will help India leap ahead
work with Prof. Kasturi Saha, Department of in the Quantum Revolution.
Electrical Engineering, IIT Bombay to develop the Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay said,
quantum imaging platform in the PQuest Lab. This “IIT Bombay is happy to announce this collaborative
platform will enable better quality control of initiative with TCS to develop a quantum imaging
semiconductor chips, thereby improving product platform for the non-destructive examination of
reliability, safety and energy efficiency of electrical chips. IIT Bombay has a wide and deep pool of
devices. Semiconductor chips are an essential expertise in different critical domains and we are
component of all modern electronic devices, making keen to collaborate with industry to translate the
them smart and efficient. With the ability to process ideas, innovations and research into the technologies
data and complete tasks, these chips act as the and products through such collaborations as well as
brain of devices across industries such as startups that will take India ahead”.
communications, computing, healthcare, military
As semiconductors continue to shrink in size,
systems, transportation, clean energy and more.
traditional sensing methods lack the precision and
Prof. Kasturi Saha, Department of Electrical capabilities to detect anomalies in the chips. The
Engineering, IIT Bombay said, “PQuest group at IIT Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager can image
Bombay is excited to collaborate with TCS on magnetic fields, enabling a non-invasive and non-
developing a quantum imaging platform for the non- destructive mapping of semiconductor chips, much
destructive examination of chips, leveraging our like an MRI at a hospital. It uses the defects in a
extensive expertise in quantum sensing to drive diamond’s structure, known as Nitrogen-Vacancy
innovation. By working together, we aim to (NV) centers, together with the other hardware and
transform various sectors, including electronics and software for detecting and characterizing anomalies
healthcare and propel India forward through in semiconductor chips. These diagnostic capabilities
groundbreaking technologies and products aligned will have significant implications for failure analysis,
with National Quantum Mission’s Quantum Sensing device development and various optimization
and Metrology vertical”. processes.
Dr. Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, TCS, This project builds on TCS and IIT Bombay’s
said, “The Second Quantum Revolution is dynamic partnership since the 1990s, spanning joint
progressing at an unprecedented speed, making it research projects, collaborative education programs,
imperative to pool our resources and expertise to internships, faculty development programs and more.
build cutting-edge capabilities in sensing, computing Notably, IIT Bombay was the first institute to be
and communication technologies. Our collaboration signed as an academic partner for TCS’ Co
with IIT Bombay is perfectly aligned with the Innovation Network (COIN), a platform driving
National Quantum Mission’s Quantum Sensing and industry-academia collaboration for pioneering
Metrology vertical. We firmly believe this initiative solutions.
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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Launches Gogri Hub For Membranes Research

The launch event was graced by members of the Gogri family and experts from industry and academia

The Gogri Hub for Membranes Research, a Unit of The launch event was graced by members of the
Translational Research Centre - Chemicals and Gogri family and experts from industry and
Materials, IIT Bombay was launched on April 23, academia. In attendance were Chief guest
2024. The Hub has been set-up through the generous Dr. Kannan Srinivasan, Director - CSMCRI, CSIR;
support of the Gogri family, which includes IIT Guest of Honour Dr. S. Sridhar - Chief Scientist,
Bombay alumni Mr. Mirik Gogri (Dual Degree, Membrane Separations Lab; Dr Adil Dhalla,
Metallurgical Engineering, 2013) and Mr. Renil Gogri Managing Director - Start Centre and Singapore
(B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, 2008). The Hub Membrane Consortium; Mirik Gogri and Renil
will focus on developing groundbreaking solutions in Gogri. The Institute was represented by
field of membrane research, science and technology. Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, former Director,
Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, Dean (Alumni and
The Gogri Hub for Membranes Research aims to
Corporate Relations), Mr. Rajesh Gopinathan,
propel the advancement of membrane technologies
Professor of Practice and Head of Translational
from laboratory prototypes to pilot-scale solutions,
Research and Entrepreneurship, Prof. Swatantra
addressing critical global challenges such as
Singh, Environmental Science and Engineering
enhancing access to clean water, improving
Department.
healthcare delivery and promoting sustainable energy
and environmental practices. The Hub hopes to The event also included two panel discussions,
achieve this by fostering active collaboration among where they explored the themes of “Indigenisation
researchers, innovators, industry leaders and and Sustainability of Membranes in Healthcare and
investors, driving the translation of cutting-edge Water” and “Potential of Membrane Technologies in
research into practical, impactful solutions. The key India in the Energy and Separation Sector”.
focus areas of work include technologies for water
and wastewater treatment, biomedical applications Watch the event here:
and the energy sector. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4erDNN7Es0w

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Hosts International Delegates

Prof. Shireesh Kedare met delegates from France

IIT Bombay hosted a delegation from École Polytechnique, France. Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT
Bombay, along with Prof. K.V.K. Rao, Deputy Director (Finance and External Affairs) and Prof. Sudarshan
Kumar, Dean (International Relations) met the Prof. Dominique Rossin, Provost of École Polytechnique,
Ms. Gaëlle Le Goff, Director of International Affairs and Mr. Paul Forien, Deputy Director of International
Affairs.
The positive discussions focused on the development of a collaborative relationship between the two premier
institutes. The delegation also visited Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) and Centre for
Machine Intelligence and Data Science (C-MInDS) in IIT Bombay.

Consulate General of France in Mumbai Dr. Philippe Maurin, Science and Higher Education Attache
visited IIT Bombay on March 27, 2024.
Dr. Maurin met Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean (International Relations) and Prof. Krishna P. Kaliappan,
Dean (Strategy) to discuss steps to enhance cooperation between IIT Bombay and universities in France.

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

University of Houston, USA at IIT Bombay

Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, FCCA, FCSI(Hon) FBCS, Lord Mayor of the City of London 2023-
24 visited IIT Bombay on February 15, 2024. At IIT Bombay, Prof. Prof. S Sudarshan, Deputy Director
(Academic and Infrastructural Affairs); Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean (International Relations) and
Prof. Sachin Patwardhan, Dean (Research and Development) interacted with Prof. Mainelli.
This was an great opportunity for UK and Indian education leaders to deliberate, exchange ideas and
approaches to internationalization and establish research innovation and academic partnerships.

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campus diary Apr il - M ay - June 2 0 2 4

Students News

Ms. Amreen Khan, a Ph.D. student at the Centre for Research in

Nanotechnology and Science (CRNTS), has been awarded for
outstanding research under PhD category by the Society for
Biomaterials, USA 2024. She was selected for her research on
developing innovative biomaterials for cancer theranostics and
wound healing under the guidance of Prof. Rohit Srivastava
(Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering), Prof. Jayesh
Bellare (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Prof. Mayuri
Gandhi (Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science).

Dr. Pravin Varade, a Ph.D. student of Prof. Ajit Kulk arni and
Prof. N. Venkatramani (Department of Metallurgical Engineering
and Materials Science), has been selected for the Best PhD Thesis
Award for his thesis, “Investigation of Piezoelectric Behaviour of
Multifunctional Alkali and Alkaline-earth Ceramics” and Best Oral
Presentation Award at the International Conference on
Advanced Functional Materials and Devices (AFMD-2024), at
SRM University, Chennai in February 2024.

Ms. Sayoni Sarkar, a Ph.D. student of Center for Research in

Nanotechnology and Science (CRNTS), IIT Bombay, has been
awarded the second prize out of 600+ ideas in the flagship New
Generation Ideation Contest for her work on “Hollow 3D
nanostructures of defect-rich ceria quantum dots synthesized via
continuous flow route for solar-driven green H2 production”. The
Contest was organized by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
on March 27, 2024, at HP Green R&D Centre, Bengaluru.
This is anticipated to contribute to the country’s net-zero targets
and aligns with HPCL’s mission of maximizing green energy
generation by 2030. Her supervisors are Prof. Ajit Kulkarni and
Prof. Rohit Srivastava.

Ms. Athira KV, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil Engineering,

has won s econd prize in the student poster competi tion for her
presentation titled “Evapotranspiration Estimation Using Multimodel
Ensemble (abstract number: 435162)” at the 2024 American
Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting 38th Hydrology
Conference. She is the only Indian student and second Asian student to
win in this competition in the last 10 years! Prof. Eswar Rajasekaran is
her supervisor.

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Team Wins At ‘US Solar Decathlon Design Challenge 2024’

Team SHUNYA (Sustainable Housing for an Urbanizing

Nation by its Young Aspirants), a student-driven
technical team at IIT Bombay, representing India, has
secured first place in the Multifamily Housing Division
at the US Solar Decathlon Design Challenge 2024 for
Project Samsara. IIT Bombay students Mr. Ali Khan,
Mr. Varun Padake, Ms. Simran Chaudhury, Ms. Zenab
Kagzi and Mr. Prabhat Sharma, along with
Prof. Gurubalan Annadurai, represented the team in
the competition during April 19-21, 2024 in NREL,
Golden, Colorado, USA.
Project Samsara involved deep retrofitting of a slum rehabilitation housing (SRH) building near Century Mills,
Mumbai, India. The goal of the retrofit is to enhance health and safety within SRH occupants through
architectural and engineering interventions. The team adopted innovative void strategies (creating empty
spaces) based on structural limitation, daylight autonomy, ventilation and energy performance to improve air
circulation and create spaces for community engagement. Additionally, a membrane-based heat pump system
for achieving thermal comfort and a smart demand management system for improved grid interaction were
designed.
After implementing several such interventions, the retrofit proposal increased the habitable area by 60%,
improved daylight autonomy by 35% and introduced two external fire staircases for safety. Also, the building
became Net Positive Energy, IGBC Net Zero Water with Net Positive Carbon over the life span of the building.
Most importantly, all these strategies were planned so that the building could be retrofitted without moving any
tenant out of the building. Continuing the legacy, this is the third trophy won by the team in a row in the US
Solar Decathlon competition.

Notification
Prof. Perumal Vedagiri, Department of Civil Engineering, has been appointed as Dean (Infrastructure
Planning and Support) w.e.f. June 12, 2024
Prof. Venkata Santosh Kumar Delhi, Department of Civil Engineering, has been appointed as the Associate
Dean-I (Infrastructure Planning and Support) w.e.f. June 12, 2024
Prof. Ruchi Anand, has been appointed as the Head, Department of Chemistry w.e.f. May 1, 2024
Prof. Sukumar Srikant, has been appointed as Head, Systems and Control Engineering w.e.f. June 5,
2024
Prof. Prasanna Gandhi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed as the Professor
Incharge of the IITB-Monash Research Academy w.e.f. May 31, 2024
Prof. Snehal S. Awate, Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, has been appointed as the Professor
Incharge of the HDFC-Ergo IIT Bombay (HE-IITB) Innovation Lab w.e.f. May 16, 2024.
Prof. Rakesh Mote, Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed as Warden, Hostel No.17
w.e.f. June 6, 2024
Prof. Rajbabu Velmurugan, Department of Electrical Engineering, has been appointed as Chairperson of
GATE-JAM 2025.
Prof. Arpita Sinha, Systems and Control Engineering Group, has been appointed as Vice Chairperson of
GATE-JAM 2025.
Prof. Pradeepkumar P. I., Department of Chemistry, has been appointed as Vice Chairperson of GATE-
JAM 2025.
Dr. Nayan Dabholkar, Chief Hospitality Manager (Scale-C), Hospitality Section, has been designated as
Additional Registrar w.e.f. June 4, 2024
Mr. Yogesh S. Patil, Deputy Registrar (Hostel Coordinating Unit), has been designated as the Central
Public Information Officer (CPIO) of IIT Bombay w.e.f. June 6, 2024

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

IIT Bombay Hosts Annual CSR Conclave 2024

IIT Bombay concluded its much-anticipated 3rd

Annual CSR Conclave on June 14, 2024. The theme
of this year's conclave, 'Unlocking CSR for Impactful
Research', brought together domain experts, industry
heads and corporate leaders to explore the pivotal
role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in
propelling research initiatives and technological
advancements, that have the potential to empower
both the society and the nation. Over 200 corporate
delegates attended the event.
Reflecting IIT Bombay’s legacy of innovation and
excellence, the conclave underscored the Institute's
leadership in societal advancement and nation-
building. The Institute has employed a comprehensive
three-pronged approach to drive impactful research Distinguished Alumnus Mr. Adil Zainulbhai addressing the
audience during Annual CSR Conclave 2024
and technological advancements. Consequently, IIT
Bombay has invested in areas of strategic national
importance such as defence, quantum technology, AI Prof. Kedare expressed his optimism for the
and cybersecurity. It continues to drive economic conclave stating, “I encourage each of you to think
growth and societal progress in critical sectors like about how you can contribute to or enhance these
semiconductors, green energy and pharmaceuticals. initiatives. The path to a sustainable and equitable
Finally, innovations emerging from the Institute future requires collective effort and shared wisdom. It
significantly impact key domains like healthcare, is up to us, as leaders in our respective fields, to
sanitation and education. All these research projects' ensure that our actions today create a positive and
outcomes align with the Sustainable Development sustained effect on the generations to come”.
Goals (SDGs). He also elaborated on the Institute’s robust
The Conclave commenced with a warm welcome technological ecosystem, saying, “At its heart are the
from Prof. Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Centres of Excellence and state-of-the-art labs that
Bombay, who set the tone for the day's discussions are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in
and activities. Prof. Kedare emphasized the Institute's science and technology. We look forward to further
commitment to innovation for societal impact and its collaborations and breakthroughs that will shape the
role as a leader in driving research and technological future of science and technology, both nationally and
advancements that address pressing societal globally”.
challenges.

Panel discussion during Annual CSR Conclave 2024

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

The event witnessed the convergence of eminent Corporate Partnerships through CSR to Advance
personalities, including Distinguished Alumnus Mr. Research in Areas of Technology’ highlighted the
Adil Zainulbhai (B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, need to foster a collaborative environment, where new
1977), Chairman of the Capacity Building ideas and strategies can emerge to fuel technological
Commission, Government of India, who presided as innovations for the progress of society and the nation.
the Chief Guest. Mr. Zainulbhai, with his wealth of In the second panel titled ‘Simplifying Decisions on
knowledge and experience from his tenure as the CSR Partnerships with Academia’, panelists
Chairman of McKinsey India and the Quality Council explored the transformation of Corporate Social
of India, enriched the event’s discussions and Responsibility (CSR) from a peripheral activity to a
inspired innovative approaches to CSR partnerships. core strategic function. Additionally, the panelists
Additionally, Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Ganesh delved into how leveraging partnerships with
Natarajan (PhD, School of Management, 2005), academic institutions can yield valuable research and
Executive Chairman and Founder of 5F World, innovative solutions, ultimately leading to impactful
engaged in an insightful Fireside Chat with Mr. Adil CSR outcomes.
Zailnulbhai. Their collective experience offered an in-
depth understanding of the art of building corporate Other highlights of the conclave included the ‘Tech
partnerships. Showcase’ where faculty members from IIT Bombay
showcased cutting-edge innovations and research
Mr. Zainulbhai reflected on the significance of CSR initiatives through a diverse array of presentations.
partnerships in his address stating, “The theme These provided valuable insights into addressing
'Unlocking CSR for Impactful Research' serves as a critical societal issues, demonstrating the Institute's
clarion call for industry and academia to join forces dedication to translating research into tangible and
and leverage corporate social responsibility (CSR) in meaningful results. The Tech Exhibition stalls
propelling innovation and societal progress. As an highlighted technologies developed by various
alumnus of this esteemed Institute, it is my profound centres, including the Koita Centre for Digital Health
honour to witness the impactful legacy being forged (KCDH), the Wadhwani Research Centre for
by my alma mater through endeavours such as this Bioengineering (WRCB), the Biomedical Engineering
Conclave. By strategically investing CSR resources and Technology Innovation Centre (BETIC), the Trust
into innovative research, we can drive technological Lab, the EV Lab and more.
advancements that not only address societal needs
but also catalyse sustainable development”. The event also marked the launch of the ‘Annual
CSR Catalogue, 2024,’ which highlighted several
Mr. Zainulbhai's thought-provoking address was research projects at the Institute across sectors such
followed by Mr. Ravi Gedela, CEO of the IIT Bombay as education, healthcare, nutrition, rural development,
Development Relations Foundation, who highlighted entrepreneurship and women empowerment. The
the Institute’s commitment to fostering impactful catalogue provided detailed information on ongoing
collaborations and leveraging CSR initiatives for projects and opportunities for partnerships, fostering
societal progress. The conclave also featured a collaboration and transparency and enhancing the
fireside chat featuring Mr. Zainulbhai and moderated impact of contributions.
by Mr. Ganesh Natarajan, another esteemed IIT
BOMBAY alumnus, who provided further insights into The day culminated with the Strategic Partnership
the significance of CSR partnerships and Awards ceremony that recognised and honoured IIT
collaborative efforts in driving societal impact. Bombay’s leading partner organisations for their
outstanding contributions to driving positive change
The conclave featured two impactful panel and societal impact. These ranged from setting up
discussions. The first panel titled ‘Impact of centres of excellence, establishing hubs and labs,
providing chair professorships to faculty members
and supporting various initiatives.
As the Annual CSR Conclave at IIT Bombay drew to a
close, it underscored the critical role of CSR
partnerships in fostering innovation, advancing
research and addressing pressing societal
challenges, toward a future defined by progress,
inclusivity and resilience.

From (L-R) Mr. Ravishankar Gedela - CEO, Development and

Relations Foundation, IIT Bombay, Prof. Ravindra Gudi, IIT
Bombay Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), Distinguished
Alumnus Dr. Ganesh Natarajan and Mr. Adil Zainulbhai during the
launch of the Annual CSR Catalogue 2024

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campus diary April - M ay - J une 2 0 2 4

Study Reveals How New Species Evolve Without

Research in focus
Geographic Barriers

Bird beaks have evolved differently based on what they feed. Credit: L. Shyamal

Researchers at II T Bombay geographic barriers. Traditionally, it Bombay and the lead researcher
discover the role of is believed that speciation largely of this study, as the motivation
environmental resources, genes occurs when populations of a behind this study.
and mating in species in the species are isolated from each
development of new species in other by geographical barriers such The researchers used a genetic-
the same area, challenging the as mountains or bodies of water. based model to investigate the
traditional view that new species This is called allopatric speciation. factors that contr ibute to
can develop only in distinct However, the new IIT Bombay speciation when populations live
geographies. research suggests that speciation in the same geographic area. This
can happen even when populations theoretical study focused on a
The evolution of life on Earth from population of birds using
live in t he same area without
around 3.5 billion years ago to simulated data and specifically
geographical barriers. This mode of
today has shaped the planet’s looked at how three aspects that
speciation is called sympatric
biodiversity. This has included the encourage speciation, namely,
speciation .”W hile there is
transition from organic molecules disrupt ive selection, sexual
ecological evidence in favour of this
to single-cell organisms, to selection, and genetic
(sympatric) hypothesis, there is no
multicellular organisms, and architecture play a role in driving
experimental evidence. And in the
finally, complex life forms (like and maintaining sympat ric
absence of a laboratory model in
mammals and birds). Yet, how speciation.
which t o study sympat ric
new species come into being
speciation, it is diff icult to Disruptive speciation
remains a mystery!
understand it as a process. The
A new study conducted by mot ivat ion of our work is to “In sympatric speciation, the
scientists from the Indian Institute understand how the environment “divide” in the population can be
of Technology Bombay (IIT and the underlying genetics can created due t o non-unif orm
Bombay), Mumbai published in lead to sympatric speciation and resources present in the
NPJ Systems Biology and design biologically insight ful environment, and geography has
Applications, has shed light on experiments,” remarks Pr o f . no role to play here. This is called
the process of speciation, Sup reet Sain i, Professor at the ecological disruptive selection,”
meaning the formation of new Depar tment of Chemical explains co-aut hor Pavi thra
species, in t he absence of Engineering and DBT/ Wellcome Venkataraman, PhD student & a
Trust (India Alliance) Fellow at IIT Prime Minister’s Research

24
campus diary April - May - June 2024

Fellow at IIT Bombay. In other two types of feathers - blue and red. populations, where a bias based
words, disruptive selection is a If a bias evolves among the blue on the beak size is expected to
process by which individuals with birds to only mate with their kind, evolve. It is also possible for the
extreme traits have a higher sympatric speciation would occur birds of the two groups to evolve
fitness than those with because the red birds don’t mix with distinct markers that help
intermediate traits. Pavithra their genes with the blue ones,” them distinguish their “kind” from
adds, “Disruptive selection is explains Pavithra. In other words, the other.”
necessary for speciation to occur this could lead to populations with
in sympatry because it (a) favours Nevertheless, this study provides
distinct blue and red traits.
heritable differences in the valuable insights into the
population, and (b) ensures that “The drawback of this hypothesis conditions and mechanisms that
the offsprings produced by the is that there is no basis for such a can lead to sympatric speciation.
mating of individuals belonging to bias to evolve unless there is a It challenges the traditional view
two different groups do not fitness benefit. In other words, why that speciation can only occur in
survive. These two factors are does a blue bird mate only with a geographical isolation and
extremely important for blue one, reducing its mate pool is highlights the impor tance of
maintaining biodiversity in not clear,” questions Pavithra. genetic architecture and
sympatry.” ecological selection in driving the
The researchers then also formation of new species.
In this study, the researchers incorporated the ability of the bird
focused on a physical trait of the to utilise resources in the “A large part of our research effort
birds - the beak size. The birds environment into their model. is to take lessons from theory and
in the population had to adapt their Surprisingly, the researchers found to design experiments for
beak size to best utilise two that sexual selection based on understanding how reproductive
types of food resources, A (say, special traits did not contribute to barriers evolve between
nuts) and B (flower nectar). Birds speciation in sympatry. Instead, members of the population in
with small beaks will be better at they found that the preference for sympatry. Towards this, we work
utilising resource A, while those mates based on a relevant trait that with yeast to demonstrate &
with longer beaks will be more helps in utilising the environmental establish a laboratory model to
efficient at utilising resource B. resources better (in this case, beak study speciation in sympatry,”
size), was the driving force behind adds Prof. Saini while indicating
Role of sexual selection speciation. The study also the path ahead.
Sexual selection, on the other acknowledges the possibility of
By unravelling the mysteries of
hand, is a type of natural selection lower fitness of the offsprings due
speciation, scientists are gaining
driven by competition for mates. to sexual selection.
a deeper understanding of the
It can lead to the evolution of Genetic architecture has a key incredible diversity of life on our
elaborate traits that are attractive role planet and the processes that
to potential mates. In this study, generate it. By demonstrating
the researchers looked at how Further more, the researchers how sympatric speciation can
female mating preference, based discovered that genetic occur, even with relatively low
on a male’s intensity of the trait architecture, or how genes control levels of disruptive selection,
(unique character), could play a the trait under selection, was a theresearchers have provided a
role in speciation. crucial factor in determining the framework for future experimental
likelihood of sympatric speciation. studies on biodiversity. This
“Sexual selection has been If the genetic architecture allowed knowledge could open up new
thought to be one of the main, or changes in beak size, then a new avenues for research and help
often, the sole driver of sympatric species could develop even with a scientists better understand the
speciation. Essentially, it was weak role of disruptive selection. mechanisms behind the
thought that some members of
biodiversity on Earth. With the
the populations could evolve a On the limitations of the study, Prof.
Saini mentioned, “In our model, we imminent threat of climate
‘bias’ towards a trait like feather
assume that birds from the two change, perhaps this can also
colour, and a difference in this
groups mate without any bias and shed light on the impacts of
bias could lead to sympatric
that this bias does not change with climate change on biodiversity at
speciation.For example, consider
time. This may not be true in natural large.
a bird population where there are

Article written by: Sudhira H.S.

Link to published work: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41540-024-00332-w

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campus diary April - May - June 2024

Institute Colloquium / Lectures

Prof. Michael L. Klein, Laura H. Carnell Professor of Adv. Niranjan Mundargi, Criminal Counsel,
Science and Director of the Institute for Bombay High Court, other Special Criminal Courts,
Computational Molecular Science, College of delivered an Institute talk titled ‘Three new Criminal
Science and Technology at Temple University in Laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya
Philadelphia, US, delivered Prof. N. R. Kamath Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya
Distinguished Institute Lecture titled “Knots in Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023)’ on April 30, 2024
Polymers” on April 16, 2024

In the
Wilderness

Photo Credit :
@natureiitb
@pranadhprabhakar

26
campus diary April - May - June 2024

Economist Award at the 64th Prof. Amartya Mukhopadhyay,

Awards and Indian Society of Labour Department of Metallurgical
Distinctions Economist Annual Conference Engineering and Materials
Prof. Debabrata Maiti, held at Central University of Science, along withformer PhD
Department of Chemistry, has Hyderabad during March 29-31, students Bachu Sravan Kumar
joined as the Editor-in-Chief for 2024. This is a prestigious award and Anagha Pradeep, received
Thieme Chemistry journal conferred for conducting the Bharat Petroleum
SYNLETT, starting January 2024. innovative studies in the areas of Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)
Prof. Maiti is the first Editor-in- labour economics/ studies. Innovation Award for the
Chief from India in the history of ‘Development of High Sodium
The research paper titled”Power containing high performance
Thieme Chemistry journals. efficient Analog Assisted
https://www.wrcb.in/news/prof- P2-structured ‘Layered’ Sodium
Digital Voltage Regulator for Transition Metal Oxide-based
debabrata-maiti-is-synlettes-new- implantable medical devices” by
editor-in-chief/ Cathode for Na-ion Batteries’.
Prof. Rajesh Zele, Department of
Prof. Rohit Srivastava, Electrical Engineering,co- Prof. Rajiv O. Dusane and Prof.
Department of Biosciences and authored with his PhD students Amartya Mukhopadhyay,
Bioengineering, has been awarded Mr. Shubham Jain and Mr. Sumit Department of Metallurgical
the highly esteemed Shri Om Khalapure, won the Best Paper Engineering and Materials
Prakash Bhasin Award under the award at IEEE conference ‘Latin Science, along with Rashmi
Health and Medical Sciences American Symposium on Tripathi (former PhD student)and
category for the year 2018 in New Circuits and Systems (LASCAS) Vaishali Chauhan (PhD student),
Delhi. The award carries a prize of 2024’ held in Uruguay. received the Bharat Petroleum
one lakh Indian rupee, a plaque Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)
Prof. Souvik Mahapatra, Innovation Award for the
and a citation. Department of Electrical ‘Development of Silicon
https://www.wrcb.in/news/prof- Engineering,has developed a nanostructures on Copper for
rohit-srivastava-receives-the- “Mahapatra Model” in application as anode in Li-ion
prestigious-shri-om-prakash- collaboration with the R&D team battery’.
bhasin-award/ of Synopsis, a leading Electronic
Design Automation (EDA) Prof. Vikram Vishal, Department
Prof. Santanu Banerjee, company, that will be using the of Earth Sciences, has been
Department of Earth Sciences, name in their S-Device User awarded as the INSA
has joined as a Member of the Guide and other official Synopsys Distinguished Lecture
Editorial Review Board of the materials to refer to the IIT- Fellowship 2024 award.
Journal Sedimentary Geology- Bombay reliability model. This
Elsevier work would enable co- Prof. Swatantra Pratap Singh,
optimisation of Power Environmental Science and
Prof. Juzer Vasi, Department of Engineering Department, has
Performance Area and Reliability
Electrical Engineering, has been been elected as INSA Young
(PPAR) in Design Technology Co-
honoured with the Lifetime Associate 2024.
Optimisation (DTCO) efforts.
Achievement Award for his
pioneering contributions to India’s Prof. Subimal Ghosh, Prof. Subrato Banerjee,
micro/nanoelectronics, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Economics, has
photovoltaics and electron has been awarded the prestigious joined as the Editorial board
Devices Society ecosystem by Alexander von Humboldt Medal member of “Nature - Humanities
IEEE Electron Devices Society at by the European Geosciences & Social Sciences
the 8th IEEE EDTM Conference Union for his significant Communications”.
held at Bangalore during March 3- contributions in hydrometeorology, Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya,
6, 2024. climate services, climate Department of Computer Science
education and societal impacts and Engineering, has been
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/
related to the complex South appointed as the Chairman of the
udayan-ganguly-
Asian Summer Monsoon System. National Committee on”Indian
b851ab6_professor-juzer-vasi-
He is the second Indian to receive Language Standards” by the
was-honored-by-ieee-activity-
this Medal. Ministry of Electronics and
7172766805009154048-
Z7Ma?utm_source=share&utm_ Prof. Kasturi Saha, Department Information Technology to
medium=member_desktop of Electrical Engineering, has examine the encoding, font,
been awarded the APL- search performance and language
Prof. Rahul Sapkal, Ashank technology applications for all 23
sponsored Young Applied
Desai Centre for Policy Studies, official languages of the country.
Physicist Award at the National
has been awarded the Best Paper
Physicists’ Conclave 2024.
and Rudra Dutta Young Labour
27
campus diary April - May - June 2024

Prof. Rajesh Zele, Department of

Electrical Engineering, along with Workshops Appointments
his Ph.D. students Shubham Jain
and Sumit Khalapure, has been The Behavioural Lab at Shailesh Dr. Saket Kumar
awarded the ‘Best Paper Award’ J. Mehta School of Management Choudhary, has
at IEEE conference LASCAS (SJMSOM),IIT Bombay been appointed
2024. organised a one-day workshop on as Assistant
Prof. S. Shankaranarayanan, Consumer Neuroscience on May Professor Grade
Department of Physics, along with 2, 2024. The speakers were I in the Koita
his Ph.D. student Mahesh marketing stalwarts Prof. Arvind Centre for Digital
Chandran has received the Sahay, MDI Gurgaon and Health w.e.f.
honorable mention for their Ms. Sunila G. Benjamin, March 28, 2024
essay in the Gravity Research Director, Neuro and Design,
Foundation essay competition APMEA, NIQ BASES. Prof. Mahendra
(75th edition). A hands-on training with eye- Shahare, has
tracking methodology led by been appointed
Prof. Milind Atrey, INOX Chair as Assistant
Prof. Arti D. Kalro, Prof. Dinesh
Professor of Cryogenics, Professor Grade
Sharma, Prof. Mayank Pareek
Department of Mechanical I in the
and Ms. Shruti Trehan was also
Engineering, has been elected as Department of
conducted following the workshop.
the Member of the International Humanities and
This workshop was supported by
Academy of Refrigeration (IAR). Social Sciences
the Institute of Eminence funding,
Prof. Atrey is the first member w.e.f. April 16,
Sanki Machine Tools Pvt. Ltd.,
from India of this Academy. 2024
and Tiden Technologies.

Conferences The Department of Humanities Dr. Neha

and Social Sciences, IIT Chatterji, has
Bombay, organised a two-day been appointed
The BiOME Lab at the
workshop on Pali Buddhist as Assistant
Department of Mechanical
Literature: An Overview on May 3, Professor Grade
Engineering, organised BiOMEx
2024. Mr. Wimal Hewamanage, I in the
‘24, a two-day international
Professor in Pali and Buddhist Department of
symposium on Musculoskeletal
Studies, Department of Buddhist Humanities and
Biomechanics in Engineering and
Studies, University of Colombo, Social Sciences
Medicine during May 3-4, 2024.
Srilanka was the speaker. w.e.f. May 13,
The symposium was in
Prof. C.D. Sebastian was the 2024
collaboration with the Biomedical
Engineering and Technology convenor.
Dr. Vivek
Innovation Centre (BETIC) and Kumar, has
the Wadhwani Research Centre The Department of Humanities
been appointed
for Bioengineering (WRCB). and Social Sciences, IIT
as Assistant
Prof. Darshan S. Shah was the Bombay, organised a two-day
Professor Grade
convener for this symposium. workshop on Self and Society
II in the
during June 1-2, 2024. The event
The Department of Humanities Department of
was in collaboration with Institute
and Social Sciences, IIT Earth Sciences
of Eminence, IIT Bombay. Prof.
Bombay, organised a National w.e.f. May 13,
Ranjan Panda was the convenor.
Conference on Agency and 2024
Value during June 3-4, 2024. The The Department of Energy
event was in collaboration with Prof. Uditendu
Science and Engineering, IIT
Institute of Eminence, IIT Bombay, Mukhopadhyay,
Bombay in association with
Tattvanveshi Philosophical has been
University of Groningen
Society: Forum for Philosophy and appointed as
organised a two-day joint
Professor Geeta Ramana’s Assistant
workshop on Biohydrogen and
Memorial Research Scholar Professor Grade
Fuel Cell systems during June 3-
Forum, Department of Philosophy, I in the
4, 2024.
University of Mumbai. Prof. Department of
Ranjan Panda was the convenor. Physics w.e.f.
June 18, 2024

28
campus diary April - May - June 2024

Mr. Vivek G. Bhadange, Sr. Mr. Shantilal M. Solanki,

Retirements on
Administrative Multiskilled
April 30, 2024 Superintendent Assistant C, IIT
Prof. P. Vellaisamy, Department (P), Materials Hospital, retired
of Mathematics, Management after 22 years of
retired after 33 Division, retired service
years of service after 33 years of
service
Ms. Shirley Stanley, Multiskilled
Assistant B,
Retirements on Hostel No-11,
Prof. Shyam R. Asolekar,
May 31, 2024 retired after 32
years of service
Environmental Mr. Vasant J. Vandurkar,
Science and Technical Officer
Engineering (Scale-II)-A(P),
Department, Department of
retired after 31 Mechanical
years of service Engineering, Retirements on
retired after 34 June 30, 2024
Prof. Devang V. Khakhar, years of service
Department of Dr. Nayan S. Dabholkar,
Mr. Vilas B. Ghanekar, Sr.
Chemical Additional
Multiskilled
Engineering, Registrar, Guest
Assistant,
retired after 37 House, retired
Department of
years of service after 29 years of
Mechanical
service
Engineering,
retired after 37
Mr. Sunil L. Dhiwar, Sr. Assistant years of service Dr. Vinodkumar R. Prasad, Sr.
Registrar, Legal
Mr. Raghunath D. Adhav, Sr. Assistant
and Right to
Security Guard, Registrar,
InformationUnit,
Security Section, Industrial
retired after 33
retired after 32 Research and
years of service
years of service Consultancy
Centre, retired
after 38 years of
Mr. Mohan M. Waidande, Sr. Lab
service
Assistant, IIT Mr. Manohar M. Mane, Sr.
Bombay Campus Security Guard, Ms. Nafisa G. Kazi,
School and Security Section, Administrative
Junior College, retired after 32 Superintendent
retired after 36 years of service (P), IIT Hospital,
years of service retired after 36
years of service
Mr. Mangesh V. Khale, Sr.
Mr. Ramesh H. Boke, Sr. Security
Mechanic,
Guard, Security
Electrical Mr. Vasant K Birare, Multiskilled
Section, retired
Maintenance Assistant C,
after 31 years of
Division, retired National Cadet
service
after 37 years of Corps, retired
service after 33 years of
service
Ms. Anita B. Hiregange, Sr. Mr. Vijay N. Gawade,
Primary Administrative
Teacher,IIT Assistant (P),
Bombay Campus Central Library,
School and retired after 32
Junior College, years of service
retired after 34
years of service
29
campus diary April - May - June 2024

CEP courses scheduled during July, August, September 2024

No Course Title Course Coordinator/ Department Duration
Open Programmes : (July 2024)

1 Design, Construction And Recent Prof. Dharamveer Singh, July 3, 2024

Developments On Concrete Pavements Department of Civil Engineering (3 days)
2 Financial Analytics Prof. Piyush Pandey July 8, 2024
(For IIT Bombay Alumni only) Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (2 days)
3 Next-Gen Innovation: Prof. Sandesh Ramu, July 15, 2024
AI And Design Thinking IDC School of Design (20 days)
4 Electric Mobility Prof. Prashant Date, July 17, 2024
Department of Mechanical Engineering (4 days)
5 Lean and Six-Sigma Techniques For Prof. Manoranjan Sahu, July 26, 2024
Process Improvement In Industries Environmental Science and (3 days)
Engineering Department
In-House Programmes:

6 TechTrends Prof. Siddhartha Ghosh, July 1, 2024

Department of Civil Engineering (6 days)
7 Interaction Design Driven Innovations Prof. Anirudha Joshi, July 11, 2024
IDC School of Design (2 days)
8 Bituminous And Concrete Pavements Prof. Dharamveer Singh, July 19, 2024
For Runway Department of Civil Engineering (2 days)
In-House Programmes: (August 2024)

9 Service Design Driven Innovations Prof. Anirudha Joshi, August 22, 2024
IDC School of Design (2 days)
Open Programmes: (September 2024)

10 Prompt Design In Chatgpt, Prof. Sandesh Ramu, September 1, 2024

Dall-E and Midjourney For Entrepreneurs IDC School of Design (2 days)
11 Machinery Vibration And Noise Prof. Dhanesh Manik, September 25, 2024
Department of Mechanical Engineering (3 days)
In-House Programmes:

12 Product Design Driven Innovations Prof. Anirudha Joshi, September 19, 2024
IDC School of Design (2 days)

campus diary April - May - June 2024

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