Connections IIT Gandhinagar 2014-2015, Volume VII, Issue III Connectionsconnections Is the Quarterly Newsletter for Friends of IIT Gandhinagar Jan - Mar 2015

Connections IIT Gandhinagar 2014-2015, Volume VII, Issue III ConnectionsConnections is the quarterly newsletter for friends of IIT Gandhinagar Jan - Mar 2015

Institute News IITGN Foundation Appoints USAID support Executive Director A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed on IIT Gandhinagar Founda- Jan 23, 2015, ahead of President Obama’s In- tion, a US-based charitable dia visit, between the Ministry of Human Re- trust, announced the appoint- source Development (MHRD) and the United ment of Mr Ravi Mistry as States Agency for International Development its first Executive Director. (USAID) for providing support to Indian In- Mr Mistry will primarily be responsible for stitutes of Technology. The declaration calls designing and managing the Foundation’s for intensifying collaborations in Research and worldwide capital campaign with primary fo- Development (R&D) and entrepreneurship and identifies IIT Gandhinagar as the initial IIT cus on the US. He will also serve as a liaison for support. A team of three USAID representatives, comprising Mr Mitch Kirby, senior between donors and IITGN on important education advisor; Dr Sheila E Desai, India senior science and technology advisor; and Dr initiatives supported by the donors. Mr Mis- Eric M Johnson, senior research economist with RTI International, visited IITGN on Feb try was previously a member of the founding 10, 2015 to assess institutional needs and discuss strategies with senior IITGN administrators. team of Virident Systems, a technology Their discussions covered a wide range of possible areas of support including strengthen- startup based in the Silicon Valley. ing research capabilities, student and faculty exchanges, leadership development, networking, communication strategies, and entrepreneurship. Visits Academic Advisory Council The 4th Academic Advisory Council meeting was held on Jan 5, 2015. The agenda included improving faculty research productivity, support for postgraduate students, moving to the permanent campus, and developing strategic relationships with foreign universities. • A delegation of four members from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Leadership Conclave th Technology visited IITGN during Jan The 5 Leadership Conclave was held on Jan 6, 2015 to guide the Institute in its short-term 16-17, 2015 to explore opportunities and long-term strategies. The conclave discussed ideas on fund raising initiatives by the Insti- of collaboration. Prof Tetsuo Asano, tute, engaging with professional bodies and organizations, and the creation of a research park President, JAIST said, “We are planning at IITGN’s permanent campus. to send a team of students to study at IITGN and also look at its interdisci- plinary studies.” Other members included Prof Hiroyuki Iida, Prof Shungo Kawanishi, and Prof Ryo Maezono. • Prof Luís Antero Reto, Rector, ISCTE, Univer- sity Institute of Lisbon visited the institute during Feb 15-20, 2015 to strengthen academic and research rela- tions between the two institutes. Faculty News Awards and Recognition • IIT Gandhinagar has been selected for Pratik Mutha, Biological Engineering. • Prof Anirban Dasgup- the prestigious Visvesvaraya PhD Fel- • Computational aero-elastic assess- ta has been selected for lowships in the areas of Electronic ment of transonic compressor rotor the Google Research System Design and Manufacturing, In- blades sponsored by Gas Turbine En- Award. The Google formation technology and IT-enabled abling Technology Initiative, Ministry Research Awards aim services. of Defense. Principal investigator: Prof to identify and support world-class, full- Murali Damodaran, Mechanical Engi- time faculty pursuing cutting-edge re- Professional Activities neering. search in computer science, engineering The launch of Prof Rajmohan Gandhi’s and related fields. new book Prince of Gujarat: The Ex- Consultancy Projects • Prof Pratik Mutha traordinary Story of Prince Gopaldas De- • Understanding surface properties of has received the presti- sai (1887-1951), published by Aleph Book fine powders for DPI application for gious DBT - Wellcome Company was held on Jan 7, 2015. The book WOCKHARDT. Principal investigator: Trust Fellowship, an launch was accompanied by a conversation Prof Chinmay Ghoroi, Chemical En- early career award for between Prof Gandhi, Scholar-in-Residence gineering. mentoring Dr Neeraj Kumar, one of at IITGN and Mr Aakar Patel, writer and • Development of downscaled and the first two PhD students to have grad- columnist. bias corrected projection for columns uated from IITGN. in Nicaragua and Colombia for DTU • Prof Srinivas Reddy Sponsored Projects Management Engineering. Principal in- was invited to be the • Motor adaptation and skill learning vestigator: Prof Vimal Mishra, Civil Contributory Editor in in Parkinson’s disease sponsored by Engineering. Sanskrit for the literary Science and Engineering Research Board e-journal Muse India. (SERB). Principal investigator: Prof

New Faculty The following faculty joined IITGN during this quarter: Name Designation Discipline PhD/Last Degree Date of Joining Rosa Maria Perez Visiting Professor HSS ISCTE, Lisbon, 1992 01.01.15 Manuel Ramos Visiting Professor HSS ISCTE-IUL, 1995 01.01.15 Sudarshan K Bahl Visiting Professor Mechanical Engineering Santa Clara University, 1997 05.01.15 H B Hablani Visiting Professor Mechanical Engineering IISc Bangalore, 1978 05.01.15 Bhaskar Bhatt Adjunct Faculty Design NID Ahmedabad, 2003 08.01.15 Prof Amit Sheth Adjunct Faculty Design NID Ahmedabad, 1988 16.02.15 Ramesh Gaonkar Visiting Professor Electrical Engineering Syracuse University, 1975 04.03.15 Scholars-in-Residence Name Affiliation Date of Joining Rajmohan Gandhi Research Professor at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA 05.01.15 Marjorie Greene Earthquake Engineering Research Institute 04.02.15

Activities at IITGN

Short Courses/ Workshops/ Panels Ms Meenaskhi Kirtane, Psychothera- Dr Gordon Flockhart, University of • Short course on Fiber-reinforced Poly- pist and behavioural trainer, Jan 10-11, Strathclyde, Glasgow; Prof Bishnu Pal, mer Matrix Composite Materials by 2015. Ecole Mahindra, Hyderabad, Shri Arup Prof Rajendra Bordia, Clemson Uni- • Workshop on Adding Sustainability Banerjee, Space Applications Centre, versity, USA, Jan 5-16, 2015. to Engineering Courses by Prof Cliff ISRO, Ahmedabad. The event was coor- • Short course on Mechanics in Engi- Davidson, Syracuse University and Prof dinated by Prof Arup Lal Chakraborty. neering by Prof Chandrakant Desai, Ted Russell, Georgia Tech, Jan 14, 2015. • Short course on Soil-Structure Inter- Regents Professor Emeritus, University • Indo-UK Workshop on Photonics for action: Computer Applications and of Arizona & Distinguished Scholar-in- Health, Atmosphere, Safety and Edu- Material Models by Dr Chandrakant Residence, IITGN, Jan 6-13, 2015. cation (PHASE 2015) Jan 16-17, 2015. S Desai, University of Arizona; Prof • A self-development workshop on Be The speakers included Prof Walter Dhiman Basu, Prof Gaurav Srivas- Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken by Johnstone, Dr Michael Lengden and tava and Prof Amit Prashant, IITGN, Jan 19-23, 2015. by the IITGN Archaeological Science • Short course on Introduction to Com- • Short course on Entrepreneurship: Talk- Centre during Jan 30-Feb 1, 2015. The puter Networking by Dr Amit Saha, ing Sharp by Ms Rachel Shalom, Visiting inaugural and valedictory lectures were Cisco, March 14-15, 2015. Faculty, IITGN, Jan 20-Feb 3, 2015. delivered by eminent historians Dr Up- • Symposium on Mathematical and • One-day workshop titled Maritime Gu- inder Singh and Dr Nayanjot Lahiri, Computational Biology in association jarat and the Western Indian Ocean: University of Delhi. with National Network for Mathematical Cultural Routes Through Time in col- • Padayatricks, a brainstorming session and Computational Biology (NNMCB), laboration with Project Mausam, fea- centered on the ‘Pedestrian in the City’ Pune node, March 21-22, 2015. tured a keynote address by Prof Michael was organized by the Safety Center of • Short course on Intersections of Law Pearson, University of New South Wales, IITGN. On this occasion, Prof Manuel & Technology by Ms Kelly Dhru, Re- Australia, Jan 19, 2015. Ramos introduced his co-edited book, search Foundation for Governance in • Workshop on IP Awareness by Mr ‘The Walker and The City’ and discussed India (RFGI), March 21-22, 2015. Gouraj Yadav and Mr Ojas Sabnis, “A charter for pedestrians in the city”. • A workshop titled The Modern, the Hourglass Research, Mumbai, Jan 24, 2015. • Short course on Language Contact in Colonial, and Beyond included talks by • Short course on Dream Interpretation South Asia by Dr Hugo C Cardoso, Dr Pooja Sancheti and Dr Aditi Deo, by Prof Frederick Coolidge, Scholar- University of Lisbon, Feb 14-15, 2015. IISER Pune, March 27, 2015. in-Residence, IITGN, Jan 24-25, 2015. • Short course on Vector Spaces and Ap- • Short course on Social Entrepreneur- • Short course on Electron Microscopy plications by Prof Ravi Banavar, IIT ship by Mr Ketan Deshpande and Mr by Prof T Ramachandran, formerly Bombay, Feb 19-20, 2015. Santosh Huralikoppi, FUEL, March 28- with IIT Kanpur, Jan 28-Feb 10, 2015. • Workshop on Variational Analysis and 29, 2015. • Workshop on the History and Archae- Optimization organized by Prof Jag- ology of Ancient India was organized mohan Tyagi, March 2-8, 2015.

• Reporting the other India by Mr Jaideep Har- Lectures dikar, The Telegraph, Jan 23, 2015. Wide bandgap (WBG) power electronics by Dr • • Urdu calligraphy by Prof Kalamuddin, Urdu Krisha Shenai, Vice President, LoPel Corpora- calligrapher, Jan 23, 2015. tion, Naperville, Illinois, USA, Jan 1, 2015. • Growth of carbon nanostructures by catalyt- • Construction of gender by Prof Lina Fruzzet- ic chemical vapor deposition by Prof Subrata ti, Brown University, Jan 5, 2015. Ray, IIT Mandi, Jan 23, 2015. • A formalization of the role of uncertainty in • Silicon photonics for fiber optic commu- services and their embodiment in goods by nications, and Journey of a physicist as a Mr Arun M H E Mr François Prof Devanathan Sudharshan, University of technology entrepreneur by Dr Kal Shastri, Kumar Richier Cisco, Jan 30, 2015. Kentucky, Jan 6, 2015. An interactive session with Mr Arun M Ku- • A country of our own: Imagining India, 1915- • • Stone beads of the Indus civilization: technol- mar, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Jan ogy and trade by Prof Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, 2015 by Dr Ananya Vajpeyi, Centre for the Study University of Wisconsin, Madison, Jan 8, 2015. of Developing Societies, New Delhi, Feb 3, 2015. 10, 2015. Creative writing by Prof William Herbert, Brit- • Shear localization in three-dimensional amor- • • Leveraging the climate change challenge: phous solid by Dr Pankaj Kumar Mishra, ish poet and author, Feb 3, 2015. new technologies and opportunities for Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, Jan 8, 2015. • Working with head and heart aligned: my sustainable growth by H E Mr François experiences with starting 108 emergency ser- Understanding consumers for ‘behavioral in- • vices project by Dr Sudhakar Varanasi, founder Richier, Ambassador of France to India, terventions’ by Prof Raghunath Singh Rao, of Emergency Management Research Institute March 25, 2015. University of Texas, Jan 8, 2015. (EMRI), Feb 5, 2015. • Change of norms and creativity: a cognitive • Fourier transforms and application to signal perspective on normativity by Prof Bipin In- processing by Prof V D Pathak, formerly with Vashistha, Accenture India, March 10, 2015. durkhya, International Institute of Information M S University of Baroda, Feb 12, 2015. • East of Suez - glass beads, bangles, mirrors and Technology, Hyderabad, Jan 9, 2015. • Disaster management- understanding disas- more from India by Prof Jan Kock, Aarhus Univer- • Advances in nano-modified, multifunctional ters, the uncommon Do’s and Don’ts and an sity, Denmark, March 12, 2015. fiber reinforced concrete materials for sustain- insight of Indian Air Force relief operations • Religion, culture and technology by Prof able infrastructure by Dr Nemkumar Banthia, by Wing Commander Dinesh Vaswani, IAF, Feb Braj Sinha, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, University of British Columbia, Jan 12, 2015. 13, 2015. March 13, 2015. • “All that Jazz”: jazz music through the blues • Do I love you, or the ‘Me’ in you? by Ms Sarita • Solar Impulse: the world flight powered by the by Prof Hao Huang, Scripps College, Claremont, Shah, psychotherapist and behavioral trainer, Feb sun by Mr Michael Pietig, ABB Solar Impulse Jan 13, 2015. 14, 2015. technology alliance, March 13, 2015. • American art music for violin and piano by • Music of India and Europe: connections and • Monetization of IP by Mr Akash Bhavsar, Sky- Prof Rachel Vetter Huang, Scripps College, Cla- parallels by Stephen Bull, violinist, Feb 18, 2015. Quest Technology Group, March 14, 2015. remont, Jan 15, 2015. • Exploring and explaining the diversity of • Prior-art search by Ms Mita Sheikh, Krishna and Saurastri Associates, March 21, 2015. • Is India’s Northeast a ‘different’ cultural cate- Indo-Portuguese and The impact of the Por- gory? by Prof Samir Das, University of Calcutta, tuguese language in South Asia by Dr Hugo • Data based decision making in small and Jan 15, 2015. Cardoso, University of Lisbon, Feb 18-19, 2015. medium enterprises by Dr Arvind Saraf, Entre- preneur, March 24, 2015. • Gravitational wave astronomy: opening new • The quantum and the continuum: Einstein’s windows to the universe by Dr Sanjit Mitra, dichotomous legacies by Prof Parthasarathi • Solar fuels: splitting water and Natural photo- synthesis: Chemistry of food and cooking IUCAA, Pune, Jan 16, 2015. Majumdar, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda by • Science learning, spatial cognition and repre- University, Kolkata, Feb 19, 2015. Dr Siddharth Dasgupta, NSF Center for Chemi- sentation by Dr Shamin Padalkar, University of • Tectonic, climatic, and surface processes cal Innovation: Solar Fuels at Caltech, USA, March Pune, Jan 16, 2015. at orogenic plateau margins by Dr Rasmus 27-28, 2015. • Engineering education: curriculum, teaching Thiede, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sci- • Estimating India’s future needs of electricity and learning by Prof Subrata Ray, IIT Mandi, ence, University of Potsdam, Germany, Feb 24, 2015. by Prof S P Sukhatme, Distinguished Honorary Jan 21, 2015. • IT in India: trends and patterns by Mr Avinash Professor, IITGN, March 30, 2015. Student and Staff Activities Awards and Recognition hai J Chauhan, guest house attendant; Ms more flagship eventsThe Prom, Live Angry • S Chandrasekaran, a PhD student in K Naga Mouli, executive officer; and Mr Birds and Mehfil-e-Jashn. It also featured Electrical Engineering received Posoco Dineshji S Thakor, office attendant. Staff an art expo with the theme ‘Dreams’. The and students who secured medals during title for MuSTY (Musical Sensation of the Power System Award (PPSA-2015) for Inter-IIT Sports Meet were also honoured. Year) went to Khyati Relhan while the run- his doctoral research work. The award Based on the performance during Semester ner-up was Ankita Joshi. The events were carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs I of Academic Year 2014-15, a total of 82 organized by Mudit Rathor, Sanket Shah, 60,000. BTech students featuring in the Dean’s List Vishvendra Singh in association with Vivek • Sneha N Ved, a PhD student in Elec- were felicitated with a letter of appreciation Prakash and the Arts Club. trical Engineering has been awarded the and a topical book (Serious Men by Manu Intel PhD fellowship. Joseph). The programme concluded with a Halla Bol 15 cultural programme organized by students. Halla Bol, an all-night intra-college annual sports festival aimed at increasing interac- Ignite 1.0 tion among the institute body was organized IIT Gandhinagar’s first ever intra-college sci- during March 20-29, 2015. The games played ence and technology fair Ignite 1.0 show- with modified rules included Futsal, Tug of War, Frisbee, Touch Rugby, Foot Volley, Gul- cased a wide spectrum of applications of ly Cricket, 7 Stones, 3-a-side Baddy, Basky, science and technology used in daily life on Dodge ball and Kho-Kho. Feb 7, 2015. Around 50 students showcased their products ranging from a foldable bridge ONGC Cambay Visit Gandhian Young Technological to illusion based items to driver-less car ro- Twenty five students visited the ONGC Cam- Innovation Award bot prototype. bay site along with Prof Rajagopalan Srini- Dhyey Shah, Eepsit Tiwari and Rajesh Pa- vasan and Prof Abhay Gautam, March 13, tidar received the Gandhian Young Tech- 2015. The students got an opportunity to wit- ness activities conducted in ONGC and in- nological Innovation Award by Biotech- teract with senior ONGC officials. They also nology Industry Research Assistance Council visited the Lunej Musuem, ONGC drill site (BIRAC) SRISTI Award for the design of a and the ONGC production installation site. spill proof spoon for patients of advanced Parkinson’s disease. Other Events Mehfil-e-Adab, an evening of Urdu Poetry, Student Council Election by Ms Hamida Banu Chopra, University The following students were declared elected of California, Berkeley and her students was as office bearers for the academic year 2015-16: organized at IITGN on Feb 19, 2015. General Secretary : Vishvendra Singh Blithchron-15 th Technical Secretary : Shubham Malav The 7 edition of Blithchron, the annual cul- IITGN Essay Competition tural festival of IIT Gandhinagar held on Jan Sports Secretary : Aditya Shah The IITGN essay competition announced 17-18, 2015 included a laser-themed EDM Academic Secretary : Akhilesh Gotmare in Jan 2014, invited entries to describe the Cultural Secretary : Palak Sadani Nite featuring internationally acclaimed art- ist, DJ Nucleya and a foot-tapping Coke Stu- journey of IITGN from its inception till the dio Nite featuring leading Indo fusion-rock year 2035. A total of 44 entries was received. Republic Day Celebrations Among them, eight entries were selected for th band Swarathma. Apart from a group of 50 The 66 Republic Day celebrations on Jan 26, students coming from Mumbai, the fest saw the reading session. The authors presented Prof Sudhir 2015 began with flag hoisting by participation from IIMA, NID, NIFT, CEPT, their ideas in the short interactive sessions K Jain, director, IITGN and Dr R K Gaj- PDPU and HL College. Technical events of held on Jan 16, 2015. We are Infinite by jar, principal, VGEC. On this occasion Ex- Blithchron this year included Laser Assassins, Harsh Gupta, BTech, IITGN; and Towards cellence Awards for Non-Teaching Staff Robo Sumo, Race and Kabbadi. for the year 2014 were given to Mr Shreejit light- vision 2035 by Nitesh Pandey, B Menon, junior superintendent; Mr Rohit- researcher, IARC Mumbai were adjudged kumar B Chaudhary Jashn the best essays and the authors received a , junior technical su- th perintendent; Mr Sanjaykumar K Kachiya, The 4 edition of Jashn, the intra-college cul- MacBook Air each. junior laboratory assistant; Mr Upendrab- tural festival held on Jan 2-5, 2015 added three

Sports News Petroleum Cup 2015 bronze medal in javelin throw; Aditya and bronze medal in shot put; and Sampada Taruna Yadav won gold medal in discus Shah won gold medal in triple jump; Pradeep Gharpure won silver medal in javelin throw throw, silver medal in shot put and Diwakar won silver medal in discus throw at PDPU, Gandhinagar, Feb 5-6, 2015.

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