Solan, September 9
Shoolini University’s Student Research Council (SRC) in collaboration with iHUB, organised a Student Research Conclave and a one-day symposium on “Advanced Technology Impacting the Social Economy.” Supported by iHUB DivyaSampark @IIT Roorkee, the event aimed to promote innovation and research among students, featuring expert discussions, keynote addresses, and student showcases.
The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Pankaj Vaidya, Head of the Yogananda School of AI and Engineering. Mr. Anitya Gupta, Ramanujan Research Associate and founder of the SRC, delivered the keynote address and shred the insights on the council’s mission to cultivate a research-driven environment since its establishment in 2023.
Prof. Deepak Kumar, Coordinator at iHUB Shoolini and Professor at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, presented an overview of iHUB Shoolini’s progress. He highlighted key technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), and drone technology. Dr. Kumar also expressed his gratitude to the leadership at Shoolini University, including Chancellor Prof. P.K. Khosla, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Atul Khosla, President Innovation Prof. Ashish Khosla, and Mr. Manish Anand, CEO of iHUB DivyaSampark, for their consistent support.
In his address, Chancellor Prof. P.K. Khosla spoke on the importance of innovation and translational research, particularly in healthcare. Prof. Khosla announced a reward of INR 1 lakh for students publishing research papers in Nature journal, and for mentors INR 25,000.
The symposium featured expert talks, including one by Prof. Sujit Banerjee, former Senior Director at the Department of Science and Technology (DST), on funding opportunities for students and universities. Prof. Harish Sahu from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) gave insights into the evolution of quantum technologies.
A key highlight was the panel discussion on “Advanced Technologies Impacting the Social Economy,” moderated by Mr. Piyush, Assistant Professor. The panel included Prof. Sujit Banerjee, Prof. Harish Sahu, Prof. Manju Khari from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Mr. Sushant, and Dr. Ankit Agarwal. They discussed the societal and economic impact of technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT, addressing both the opportunities and challenges, including digital upskilling and job displacement.
Students and research scholars showcased their innovative business ideas and research during the conclave. Mr. Anmol Malhotra, a third-year B.Sc. Biotechnology student, won first prize for his business model on “Stem Cells from Menstrual Blood.” Mrs. Monika, a research scholar from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, secured second place for her oral presentation on “Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Rumex Nepalensis Spreng.” Ms. Bhawna Gautam, a second-year MBA student, earned third place for developing an app providing localized information to tourists.
Mr. Anitya Gupta Mr. Anitya Gupta, Ramanujan Research Associate and founder of the SRC at Shoolini University said, we are in communication with DRDO, led by Dr. Gaurav Gupta, to secure internships for selected students and several ideas from the symposium have been shortlisted for refinement before submission to DRDO and DST.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. M.S. Thakur, Professor, Core Engineering.
