National Conference on Virtual Labs
Experience Report
Attending the National Conference on Virtual Labs was a
thrilling and insightful experience. Listening to such prolific
and knowledgeable speakers gave me a deeper
understanding of how virtual labs are shaping the future of
education. I gained knowledge about innovative tools,
educational platforms, and the wide implementation of
virtual labs across India. The exposure to real-life success
stories and technical details broadened my perspective and
inspired me to explore this domain further.
Day 1 – May 2, 2025
Prof. Rajan Bose (IIIT/IIT Delhi)
Prof. Bose began his presentation by emphasizing the
importance of learning by doing, and how virtual labs
help make this possible. He introduced different types of
virtual labs—remote-triggered, measurement-based, and
simulation-based labs. He also shared impressive data:
over 1,700 nodal centers, 20,000 workshops conducted,
and more than 150 lakh usages recorded for virtual labs.
Dr. Ashutosh Tiwari (AKTU)
Dr. Tiwari, a Physics Associate at AKTU, described how
virtual labs were initiated at the university. He
demonstrated the virtual lab portal on the AKTU website
([Link] which hosts labs
across various subjects. He also proposed incorporating
virtual labs in Hindi and regional languages.
Dr. Anupam Vyas (Bundelkhand University)
Dr. Vyas shared how students from Bundelkhand
University are actively participating in internships at IIT
Kanpur, using virtual labs as a key resource for learning
and practice.
Speeches by Coordinators from Nodal Centers
Panel Discussion Highlights.
a. Exploring the idea of a Digital University by MHRD
b. Virtual labs as a significant engineering challenge
c. Variations in data leading to improved evaluations
d. The importance of user creation and engagement
e. India’s contribution to global education through
virtual labs
f. The potential of virtual labs as mobile apps
a. Dr. Venkatesh Choppella (IIIT Hyderabad)
Dr. Choppella emphasized interaction as the key to
exploration and experimentation. He shared statistics
from January 2020 17.7 million users, 128.2 million page
views, and an average session duration of 7 minutes 15
seconds. He also spoke about VLEAD, the virtual labs club
at IIIT Hyderabad.
My Question:
In some experiments, the results involve physical
sensations like fragrance or temperature. How can virtual
labs address this?
Answer:
The goal of virtual labs is to make science more
accessible. While physical sensations are not currently
replicable, advancements in technology may allow virtual
reality to trigger neural responses that simulate such
experiences in the future.
[Link]. K.V. Gangadharan (NIT Surathkal)
Prof. Gangadharan's engaging talk stressed that
identifying the problem is as important as finding a
solution. He shared innovations by NIT Surathkal
students, including SARV—a Semi-Autonomous Research
Vessel.
c. Second Panel Discussion
Focused on the synergy between industry, academia, and
technology.
[Link] Poster Presentations
We present our poster on the topic of “Computing
Module on Virtual Labs”.
e. Prof. Kantesh Balani
With his talk titled "Find the Leader in You", he outlined
a path to leadership built on Passion, Vision, and Action.
a. Developing vision into action.
b. While sustaining Intrigity.
“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how
far they can go.”
-[Link]
Day 2 – May 3, 2025
Prof. Radhey Shyam Anand (IIT Roorkee)
He proposed organizing development activities around virtual
labs and exploring fields like EV labs and Image Processing
Labs.
Prof. Rahul Swarup (Dayalbagh Educational Institute)
He introduced an evaluation methodology designed
specifically for virtual labs.
Prof. Sudhir Agashe (CDET Technical University, Pune)
Through an engaging story of a black cat, Prof. Agashe
illustrated how our thinking is often confined to familiar
patterns, encouraging more open-minded approaches.
My Question:
Virtual labs support one-on-one evaluation. Why do some
teachers still hesitate to use them?
Answer:
While initial setup may seem time-consuming, evaluations
typically take only 10–15 minutes, making the process efficient
and convenient for educators.
Presentations by Nodal Coordinators
Student Poster Presentations
Prof. Shyam Diwakar (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham)
He described virtual labs as platforms for experimentation,
collaboration, and adaptation. Using a metaphor comparing
marriages to virtual labs, he emphasized using multiple
feedback mechanisms over binary ones. He said, “Virtual labs
are the interactive books of the future.”
Prof. J. Ramkumar (IIT Kanpur)
His talk focused on Frugal Engineering and innovation. He
stressed principles such as:
• Keep it simple
• Don’t reinvent the wheel
• Think and act horizontally
He also introduced the 4 Ps of innovation: Paradigm, Product,
Position, and Process. He noted, “No two people are the same,
but they are similar.”
Certificate Distribution:
Report by:
Astha kumari ( [Link] 2nd year CSE)
Anjali kumari ([Link] 1st year ECE)
