Monthly Coverage Dossier January 2019

Prepared by

IIT Madras is a campus of choice for high ranking JEE students

Date: 11th January 2019 Publication: The Indian express Edition: Online Journalist: NA Student: Niranjana Prasad Moleyar Headline: CAT 2018 topper aspires to be like Mukesh Ambani URL: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cat-2018-topper-from-udupi-wants- to-be-next-ambani-5532445/ CAT 2018 topper aspires to be like Mukesh Ambani Karnataka-born Niranjana Prasad Moleyar has scored 100 percentile in Common Admission Test 2018 in his first attempt itself. Unlike many management aspirants, he prefers self-studies over coaching. Moleyar shares the first rank with 10 others engineering students and is the only one from Karnataka to secure 100 percentile score. Currently, he is pursuing B.Tech-M.Tech integrated course at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Madras. This 22-year-old finds inspiration in the work of business tycoon and chairman of RIL, Mukesh Ambani as he believes he has brought telecom revolution in India.

“I want to pursue finance and do something which can disrupt the Indian economy for good just like Mukesh Ambani did with Jio. I want to see myself as a CFO of a company so that I can do something which can benefit Indians,” Moleyar told indianexpress.com.

The CAT topper aspires to join the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad because he believes that the institute has a case-study based curriculum which is unique. He has already received a call letter from IIM-Calcutta.

He prepared for the Common Admission Test (CAT) only during December 2017 and January 2018 and secured a perfect score. “The CAT dates coincided with my college tests so I prepared for it well in advance and then revised it a week before the exam. In the last 2-3 days before the entrance exam, I practised previous year papers,” he said.

The Udupi-born enjoys playing chess and solving puzzles during free time. “After appearing for competitive exams like JEE, I have realised the core of every test is time management and subject knowledge. I had a hang of the subject knowledge as I opted for finance and economics classes during my course, I worked on time management skills,” he said. “I started by identifying my weak areas. Instead of blindly solving the questions one needs to see how different is the approach taken by others, it would enhance your subject knowledge and also feel rewarding,” suggests Moleyar.

In his case, told Moleyar, re-touching base with calculations for the data interpretation section was the tough part. The avid reader and thriller novel enthusiast found verbal abilities and logical reasoning to be his strong points. “Our school encouraged reading which inculcated the habit of reading books in me since childhood. Because of it, I have always been good at verbal abilities and logical reasoning. I had to practice to gain speed in the quantitative ability section. I found it to be relatively difficult than other sections and wished to have been faster in solving it,” he said.

Date: 17th January 2019 Publication: Help Biotech Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: IIT Madras Biotech Summer Fellowship Program-2019 for Final Year Students URL: http://www.helpbiotech.co.in/2019/01/iit-madras-biotech-summer-fellowship.html

IIT Madras Biotech Summer Fellowship Program-2019 for Final Year Students

The IITM - Summer Fellowship Programme of two months with stipend is designed to enhance awareness and interest in high quality academic research among young Engineering, Management, Sciences and Humanities students through a goal oriented summer mini-project undertaken at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Eligibility:Candidates pursuing 3rd year of B.E./B.Tech./B.Sc. (Engg) or 3rd or 4th year of Integrated M.E./M.Tech. programme, 1st year of ME/M.Tech/M.Sc./M.A, MBA with outstanding academic background in terms of high ranks in university examinations are encouraged to apply, highlighting their academic performance and achievement including papers presented at seminars, projects executed, design contests participated, score/rank in Mathematics Olympiad and any other awards/distinctions obtained. [IIT students are not eligible to apply]. Period of the Project: Duration of the programme may commence from 20th May 2019 to 19th July 2019. (Schedule may be flexible to suit student’s convenience.) Stipend: A sum of Rs.6000/- per month will be given as a stipend for a maximum period of 2 months. Bonafide :Letter from the Institute: Should certify that you are a bonafide student issued by the Head of Institution (download template of UG/DD bonafide and PG Bonafide Participating Departments: Engineering Departments: Aerospace Engineering Applied Mechanics Bio Technology Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Science & Engineering Engineeing Design Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Ocean Engineering Science Departments: Physics Chemistry Mathematics Humanities & Social Sciences Management Studies How to apply: Application should be submitted online in this portal. There is no need to send hard copy to IIT Madras. Generate a pdf file and keep it for your reference. Please ensure that all the relevant data and enclosures are uploaded online. Incomplete applications will be rejected. For any clarification, send mail to [email protected]

Date: 21st January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: Venkatesh Ramakrishanan Headline: IIT Madrasa sterling institute that attracted the finest in academics

Date: 25th January 2019 Publication: English Matrubhumi Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Summer Fellowship Programme of IIT Madras: Apply by February 28 URL: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/education/news/admissions/summer-fellowship- programme-of-iit-madras-apply-by-february-28-1.3510709

Summer Fellowship Programme of IIT Madras: Apply by February 28

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai-600036, has invited applications for admission to the IITM Summer Fellowship Programme 2019. The IITM-Summer Fellowship Programme is a two months Program with stipend, designed to enhance awareness and interest in high quality academic research among young Engineering, Management, Sciences and Humanities students through a goal oriented summer mini-project undertaken at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras The participating departments are the following: Engineering Departments: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Bio Technology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Ocean Engineering Science Departments: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics; Humanities & Social Sciences & Management Studies Eligibility: Those pursuing 3rd year of B.E./B.Tech./B.Sc. (Engg) or 3rd or 4th year of Integrated M.E./M.Tech. programme, 1st year of ME/M.Tech/M.Sc

Period of the Project: Programme is likely to commence on 20th May 2019 ad may continue till 19th July 2019. Schedule may be flexible to suit student’s convenience. Stipend: A sum of Rs.6000/- per month will be given as a stipend for a maximum period of 2 months Application: Applications are to be submitted online at https://sfp.iitm.ac.in/ latest by 5 pm on 28.2.2019 All the relevant data and enclosures are to be uploaded online. Letter from the Institute should certify that applicant is a bonafid.

For any clarification, send mail to [email protected]

Date: 28th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India -Education Times Edition: Hyderabad/Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: Rajlakshmi.Ghosh Professor: Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: IIT-M to have 2000 courses by 2020 URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/by-2020-iit-m-is- expected-to-have-700-strong-faculty-and-2000-courses/articleshow/67722688.cms

IIT Madras is a multi-cultural campus

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Mid day Edition: Online Journalist: Snigdha Hasan and Shunashir Sen Headline: Looking Ahead 2019: Here's How The Stage Is Set For Music And Dance URL: https://www.mid-day.com/articles/looking-ahead-2019-heres-how-the-stage-is-set- for-music-and-dance/20182197

Looking Ahead 2019: Here's How The Stage Is Set For Music And Dance

For someone who straddles the worlds of Bollywood and indie music with equal élan, Benny Dayal's debut album with his band, Funktuation, has been a long time coming. But he's announced a January release for the record, titled Funk Katcheri. Dayal has stuck to his Tamil roots, since all the lyrics are in his native language. What's more, the band will be launching the album at Saarang, the annual festival at IIT Madras, on January 13.

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: The Times Of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Headline: Innovation sports to be hot topics at Shaastra 2019

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: The Hindu - Tamil Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT Madras Tech-Fest Shaastra to begin from Jan 2019

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Deccan Chronicle Edition: Chennai Page No: 3 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Prof. Sivakumar Srinivasan, Prof. Vamsi Krishna Mula Headline: Discussing Shaastra

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Edition: Chennai Page No: 3 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: Shaastra 2019 to focus on experiential learning

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: Tech test of IIT-M to begin on January 3

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: IIT M shaastra from January 3

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Hindustan Times Edition: Mumbai Page No: 11 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-Madras Tech Fest to begin on January 3

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: News Today Edition: Chennai Page No: 3 Journalist: NA Headline: Shaastra from 3 Jan

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Daily Thanti Edition: Chennai Page No: 10 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurth Headline: IIT Madras Tech-Fest Shaastra to begin from Jan 2019

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Rajasthan Patrika Edition: Online Journalist: Santosh Tiwari Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Prof. Sheikh Farooq Ali Headline: Tech Fest Shaastra from 3 Jan URL: https://www.patrika.com/chennai-news/techfest-shashtra-in-iit-madras-3912878/

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Education Times Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: IIT Madras tech-fest ‘Shaastra’ to begin on January 3 URL: https://www.educationtimes.com/article/1/201812312018123115275146318bfad3b /-IIT-Madras-techfest-Shaastra-to-begin-on-January-3.html

IIT Madras tech-fest ‘Shaastra’ to begin on January 3

IIT Madras’ technical festival ‘Shaastra’ will begin on January, 3, 2019. The four-day event is set to host a wide range of events across the spectrum. Many influential personalities will be delivering lectures in areas as diverse as science, technology, policy and sports through its spotlight lecture series. Shaastra 2019 will see five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand, Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and renowned computer scientist and pioneer of artificial intelligence Jürgen Schmidhuber, among others. The theme for this year's Shaastra is ‘Breakthrough’ which aims at celebrating and appreciating the numerous path-breaking discoveries and inventions that humanity has come across ever since it set foot on the planet. Addressing a press conference, professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras, said, “Shaastra 2019 will be an eye opener to school students on what are the possible opportunities that await them. This event is an experiential learning one for school students. Shaastra is going on for 20 years now and features many interesting events. Besides technical events, it has workshops on ‘hot topics’ such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. Further, this year we are also taking participants and school students to IIT Madras Research Park and giving them an exposure on how a startup is set up.” Shaastra 2019 covers as diverse fields of impact as technology can endure. Technology has brought about several transformations in the field of Sports. Consequently, Shaastra presents the SportsTech Summit 2019, a four-day conference on Sports Technology, from January 3-6. The summit will host many experts such as Ramky (Former Performance Analyst Indian Cricket Team), Ramji Srinivasan (Former S&C Coach of the Indian Cricket team), and J Krishnan (ex-CEO, Deccan Chargers), demos, workshops and also competitions such as a Mock IPL Auction. Yet another attraction this time, is the LawTech Conference on January 4. The conference will bring out how technological advancements are influencing the field of law and also topics such as governance where laws affect new technologies. These events are ideal for students, professionals, inventors and entrepreneurs.

Date: 1st January 2018 Publication: Life 365 Edition: Pune Page No: 1 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT students up-cycle cardboards into desks

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: Tech test of IIT-M to begin on January 3

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Infodea Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: One of the largest in South India Tech-Fest Shaastra begins on 3rd Jan in IITM URL: http://www.infodea.in/one-of-the-largest-in-south-india-tech-fest-shaastra-begins- on-3rd-jan-in-iitm/

One of the largest in South India Tech-Fest Shaastra begins on 3rd Jan in IITM

IIT Madras’ Shaastra, one of the largest technical festivals in South India, will begin on 3rd January 2019. The four-day event is set to host a wide range of events across the spectrum

Shaastra welcomes many influential personalities to deliver lectures in areas as diverse as science, technology, policy and sports through its Spotlight Lecture Series. Shaastra 2019 will see five-time world Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, Nobel Laureate Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and renowned computer scientist and pioneer of artificial intelligence Dr. Jürgen Schmidhuber, among others.

Addressing a Press Conference today (31st Dec 2018) on salient features of Shaastra 201,9 Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Shaastra 2019 will be an eyeopener to school students on what are the possible opportunities that await them. This event is an experiential learning one for school students. Shaastra is going on for 20 years now and features many interesting events. Besides technical events, it has workshops on ‘hot topics’ such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. Further, this year we are also taking participants and school students to IIT Madras Research Park and giving them an exposure on how a startup is set up.”

Every year, Shaastra rolls out unique, impactful and lasting social campaigns, aimed at bettering the life of common people. This year’s initiative – ReACH – converted discarded cardboard boxes into desks for school students studying in government schools. ‘ReACH’ is aimed at improving the conditions of rural schools in an eco-friendly manner. Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, first Indian to travel in space Rakesh Sharma and others were impressed by the idea and extended their support to the campaign.

Every edition of Shaastra features a wide variety of events encompassing the entire spectrum of innovation which keeps getting better.

Speaking later, Prof. S.M. Sivakumar, Dean (Students), IIT Madras, said, “Shaastra has grown to be one of the largest national student run festivals that is also ISO certified. What is exciting is that the Shaastra team has concocted a recipe that combines fun, entertainment and technology to cater to not just the geeks but to everyone who wishes to come taste the feel. With so much happening in the Insti research and outreach, open house is sure to trigger inspiration and interest in many who visit this year, the Diamond Jubilee Year of IIT Madras.

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: Dinamani Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Headline: Woman Ph.D scholar ends life in IIT-Madras

Date: 3rd December 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Headline: Shaastra to begin today at IIT-Madras

Date: 4th January 2019

Publication: The Hindu Edition: Online Journalist: R. Sujatha Headline: IIT-M’s tech fest begins URL: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/iit-ms-tech-fest-begins- venkitesh-ramakrishnan-and-scientist-and-former-head-of-the-defence-research-and- develpment-organisation-vk-aatre-will-interact-with-the-students-today-kerala- governor-p-sathasivam-and-geneticist-k-vijayragha/article25903773.ece

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 5 Journalist: NA Headline: How tech masters are playing new cricket on Shaastra ground URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tech-masters-play-new-cricket- on-shaastra-ground/articleshow/67373116.cms

Date: 4th December 2019 Publication: The Times Of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 5 Journalist: R Ramesh Shankar Headline: Taking Wing (Photo Only)

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: India Today Edition: Online Journalist: Ms. Megha Chaturvedi & Ms. Tanya Saihgal, Headline: IIT Madras Tech Fest Shaastra features a host of innovations URL: https://www.facebook.com/indiatodaygroupeducation/videos/380750479364900/ ?fref=gs&dti=127345920611332&hc_location=group

IIT Madras Tech Fest Shaastra features a host of innovations

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: Deccan Chronicle Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Headline: Chess teaches you life skills in a fun way

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: India Today Edition: Online Journalist: Ms. Megha Chaturvedi & Ms. Tanya Saihgal Headline: Third day of IIT Madras Tech Fest Shaastra features hover crafts made by students URL: https://www.facebook.com/indiatodaygroupeducation/videos/1674465805987156 /?notif_id=1546675108925449¬if_t=live_video_explicit

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai/Kochi Page No: 4 Journalist: Ram Sundaram Student: Aneesh Jaganath Headline: Gadgets for differently abled wow viewers at tech fair

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT Madras and Phoenix Market City to conduct car race for tech enthusiasts

Date: 6th January 2019 Publication: News 18 Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Shaastra 2019 URL: https://tamil.news18.com/videos/tamil-nadu/students-established-their- performances-in-technical-festival-held-at-iit-madras-91679.html

Date: 7th January 2019 Publication: Swarajya Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-M College Fest 2019: Schoolkids Now Wield The ‘Bot’; Challenge Engineering Students To ‘Match Up’ If They Can URL: https://swarajyamag.com/insta/iit-m-college-fest-2019-schoolkids-now-wield-the- bot-challenge-engineering-students-to-match-up-if-they-can

IIT-M College Fest 2019: Schoolkids Now Wield The ‘Bot’; Challenge Engineering Students To ‘Match Up’ If They Can

A group of school kids from Kerala are ‘feared ones’ in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras’ four-day technical fest Shaastra 2019.

While hundreds of students from technical colleges are ready for the competition, these school students from Choice School in Kochi have marked their presence amongst ‘big brothers and sisters’ from colleges. The school kids won the event last year, dominated Day 1 of the event on 3 January (Thursday) and are expected to emerge the winners, reports Times Of India.

Choice School allows students from Classes III to IX to study robotics for one hour a week and is among the 2,400 schools to set up an Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) - an initiative by the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry in 2015. The teachers from the private school attributed this to dedicated innovation and their design lab and the fact that robotics was introduced in the primary curriculum from Class III.

Three years since, 50 students from this lab have participated in robotics competitions worldwide, and many have made their own robots.

The kids, who made an impact at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut and Road Rave, India, and are now at IIT-M. Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-Madras cultural fest Saarang to get underway on January 9 http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/jan/08/iit-m-cultural-fest- saarang-to-get-underway-on-jan-9-1922116.html

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: Infodea Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: वि饍या셍थियⴂ 饍िारा, वि饍या셍थियⴂ का और वि饍या셍थियⴂ के लिए ही है सारंग: भाकर रामम셍ु त ि URL: https://goo.gl/nSp4WE

वि饍या셍थियⴂ 饍िारा, वि饍या셍थियⴂ का और वि饍या셍थियⴂ के लिए ही है सारंग: भाकर रामम셍ु त ि

आईआईटी मद्रास का सा車स्कृ तिक महो配सव सार車ग वव饍यार्थियⴂ 饍वारा, वव饍यार्थियⴂ का और वव饍यार्थियⴂ के लिए महो配सव है। यहा車 आयोजिि एक स車वाददािा स륍मेिन को स車बोर्िि करिे हुए आईआईटी मद्रास के तनदेशक प्रोफेसर भास्कर राममतु ि ि ने कहा कक सार車ग के आयोिन के लिए 1,200 से 煍यादा वव饍यार्थियⴂ ने काम ककया है िो उनके लिए एक बेहिर अनभु व रहा है। यह कायिक्रम वव饍यार्थियⴂ 饍वारा, वव饍यार्थियⴂ का और वव饍यार्थियⴂ के लिए ही है। इस कायिक्रम का आयोिन वर्ि 70 के दशक से ही ककया िा रहा है।

बिािे चिᴂ कक 9 िनवरी से श셂ु होने वािे इस कायिक्रम मᴂ 100 से 煍यादा कायिक्रम हⴂगे जिसमे 500 कॉिेिⴂ से िकरीबन 70 हिार िोगⴂ का इस कायिक्रम मᴂ शालमि होना िय माना िा रहा है। ववददि हो की कनािटक के मशहूर स車गीिकार तन配याश्री महादेवन के स車गीि से 9 िनवरी को कायिक्रम की श셂ु आि होगी। उक्ि आयोिन मᴂ शालमि आईआईटी मद्रास की सा車स्कृ तिक सिाहकार प्रोफेसर न車ददिा दास गप्ु िा ने बिाया कक हर साि वव饍याथी अपने 셁र्च के दहसाब से इसके आयोिन और कायिक्रम मᴂ बदिाव करिे हℂ।

कायिक्रम मᴂ ववलभन्न क्षेत्रो से प्रमखु हजस्ि, र配न पाठक शाह, िुरՍ व सेहगि, अजववन स車घी, एस. सौ륍या, प्रिक्िा कोलि, अन ु अग्रवाि और लशप्रा खन्ना िैसे नाम शालमि हℂ। ज्ञाि हो आईआईटी मद्रास अपने िकनीक के बारे जिस प्रकार से ववख्याि है उसी प्रकार से इस कायिक्रम 饍वारा स車स्थान के वव饍यार्थियⴂ के किा व किाकार को भी ख्यािी लमििी है। दक्षक्षण भारि का इ車टर कॉिेजिएट, सेमी प्रोफेसनि डा車स काज륍पदटशन 10 िनवरी को आयोजिि ककया िाएगा।

वही आℂआईटी मद्रास के डीन एमएस लशवकु मार ने कहा कक सार車ग बैनर के अ車िगिि प्र配येक साि हम इस कायिक्रम के दौरान बाि क쥍याण, कℂसर िाग셁किा, िि स車रक्षण आदद समेि सामाजिक अलभयान भी चिािे हℂ। इस साि भी हम ितनिग ए車ड एिुके शन एक्सेलसजलिदट प्रोिेक्ट चिा रहे हℂ जिसका मकसद उन गरीब और असहाय ब楍चⴂ को लशक्षा स車ब車र्िि उन सवु विाओ車 को पहु車चाना है जिससे वह अबिक व車र्चि रहे हℂ।

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Headline: More than 100 events lined up for IIT-M’s cultural fest

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: Deccan Chronicle Edition: Chennai Page No: 5 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT Madras cultural fest to begin on January

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Marthrubhumi Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: ‘Saarang’, annual cultural fest of IIT Madras to commence on 9th January 2019 URL: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/education/news/news-updates/saarang- annual-cultural-fest-of-iit-madras-to-commence-on-9th-january-2019-1.3462957

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: News Today Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Saarang: 5-day cultural extravaganza at IIT-M from tomorrow URL: https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2019/01/08/saarang-5-day-cultural- extravaganza-at-iit-m-from-tomorrow/

Saarang: 5-day cultural extravaganza at IIT-M from tomorrow

Saarang, the annual cultural fest of IIT Madras with the theme for this year ‘Lost Cities’ promises to be fresh and phenomenal.

The five-day festival kicks off with the Classical Night tomorrow. The show will begin with an electrifying performance by the Indian Jam Project, leading the way for the enthralling voice of award-winning Carnatic singer Nithyasree Mahadevan.

Addressing at a press conference here Monday, IIT-Madras Director Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi said, “More than 1,200 students are working on this event. It is a great learning experience for them. It is a festival by, of and for students.”

Another feather in Saarang’s cap is the spotlight lectures, for which the line-up includes illustrious names in a variety of fields like Ratna Pathak Shah, Dhruv Sehgal, Ashwin Sanghi, S Soumya, Prajaktha Koli, Anu Aggarwal and Shipra Khanna to name a few. Saarang is also venturing into new avenues; Vernacular Fest, India Fest and the Film Fest.

The night of 10 January will witness the largest inter-collegiate, semi-professional dance competition in south India, the Choreo Night. On 12 January, there will be homegrown band Parikrama taking the lead and 13 January night will see Benny Dayal’s band Funktuation entertaining the students.

Every year students run a social campaign. This year, the Saarang team has undertaken a Social Responsibility Campaign named LEAP – Learning and Education Accessibility Project which aims to create awareness about the stark reality of inequalities in access to education as a first step and to eradicate illiteracy and empower the underprivileged by bridging this gap through sustained efforts.

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Chennai Page No: 8 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-Madras conducts Shaastra Relaunch for women URL: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/jan/09/iit-conducts- shaastra-relaunch-for-women-1922568.html

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: The Quint Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-Madras Cultural Fest Saarang to Get Underway on 9 January URL: https://www.thequint.com/news/india/latest-chennai-news-sc-refuses-to-stay-ngt- order-to-reopen-sterlite

IIT-Madras Cultural Fest Saarang to Get Underway on 9 January Saarang, the annual cultural fest of IIT Madras, in which the institute hosts more than 100 events, will start on Wednesday, 9 January according to a statement issued by the institute on Monday.

The festival, which will see a range of technology, cultural and literary events, will go on until Sunday night.

The theme for this year’s Saarang is ‘Lost Cities’. The festival will kick off with the ‘Classical Night’ on Wednesday with a performance by the Indian Jam Project and award-winning Carnatic singer – Nithyasree Mahadevan.

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Rajasthan Patrika Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: More than 100 culture fest in SAARANG URL: https://www.patrika.com/chennai-news/cultural-festival-sarang-will-be-organized- in-iit-madras-3948318/

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 5 Journalist: NA Headline: Music masti at Saarang 19

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 8 Journalist: NA Headline: Fresh theme for Saarang

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Dinamalar Edition: Chennai Page No: 15 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-Madras cultural fest Saarang to get underway on January 9

Date: 11th January 2019 Publication: DD Pdhighai Edition: Electronic Journalist: NA Professor: Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi (C), Director, IIT Madras, On Saarang 2019

Date: 13th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Headline: In A Trance

Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: Deccan Chronicle Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: What IIT Madras kids imbibed from SHAASTRA URL: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/130119/what-iit- madras-kids-imbibed-from-shaastra.html

What IIT Madras kids imbibed from SHAASTRA

SHAASTRA 2019, one of the largest annual technical festivals in India, hosted a mega exhibition called ‘U.S. – India Campus Tech Connect’.

It showcased U.S. India collaboration in science, technology, innovation and research and development from 3 different perspectives – Academic, Government and Business. Various research projects in healthcare, environment, sanitation among others were a part of the exhibition.

Some of the projects which garnered attention included Ultra-Thin Wires Drag Enhancement System (UWDES) (Design and development of systems for space debris mitigation), Multiplex biomarker assay for detection of all forms of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (a platform for detecting tuberculosis using blood sample in the shortest time possible) and Cognizant Technological Solutions (Handheld Quantum Wireless Solution for Secure Financial Transactions and sensitive information) PES University and Tuskegee University, under the guidance of Dr. Sharan Asundi, have come up with a novel research idea on mitigating the space debris.

“We are trying to address the space debris problem, like we are trying to address the environment problem. Unlike environment, if space debris become too much, the space will be unusable. We want every satellite being launched with a payload like this, which will bring it down and create space for more satellites,” he said.

Mr Puneet Gupta, CEO of NextGen Invitro Diagnostics, says his company has developed a platform for detecting tuberculosis using blood sample in the shortest time possible and is affordable, in collaboration with University of California as well as AIIMS. The main objective is to ensure that it reaches to the smallest village possible and to the places where there is no proper system to detect tuberculosis.

Similarly, under business collaboration, Cognizant presented the project on their ground- breaking work on quantum cryptography. Anand Kumar, Senior Manager of Global technology office, Cognizant Technology Solutions says: “When you try and do a transaction in an ATM, you enter an ATM Pin and that sends a certain encryption to the back end bank server, which then decrypts it and authorises you. With a quantum computer, this kind of AES encryption is very easy to break it down and any hacker with a quantum computer can easily break-in. The system being developed gives an advanced level of hack proof encryption. The key area of focus is the quantum key distribution.”

Exhibitors from Universities in India and America such as IIT Madras – UC San Diego, MG University – Caltech, PES University – Tuskegee, eminent researchers and scientist working on US- India jointly funded projects such as 21st Century Knowledge Initiative and IUSSTF’s Endowment Fund awards, and American companies such as GE, Cognizant, ETS, showcased their projects at SHAASTRA. Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 11 Journalist: NA Headline: At the fest ends on a high note!

Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: Deccan Chronicle Edition: Chennai Page No: 22 Journalist: NA Headline: What IIT Madras kids imbibed from SHAASTRA URL: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/130119/what-iit- madras-kids-imbibed-from-shaastra.html

Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 11 Journalist: NA Headline: Chennai gets grooving at IIT-Madras

Date: 15th January 2019 Publication: Trinity Mirror Edition: Chennai Page No: 7 Journalist: NA Headline: US-India campus tech connect hosted at IIT Madras ‘Shaastra

Date: 17th January 2019 Publication: India Today Edition: Online Journalist: Tanya Saihgal Headline: World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand answers 5 questions at a fireside chat during Shaastra, IIT Madras URL: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/how-i-made-it/story/viswanathan- anand-interview-1432988-2019-01-17

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand answers 5 questions at a fireside chat during Shaastra, IIT Madras

Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan 'Vishy' Anand participated in a fireside chat during Shaastra, the annual technical festival of IIT Madras on January 3, 2019. Vishy, as we like to call him, is not only an inspiration for every budding chess player out there, but also for every ambitious youngster who needs a relatable idol to look up to. The conversation at IIT Madras titled 'The Madras Tiger: From Prodigy to King' was with student coordinator Sai Krishna, at the jam-packed Central Lecture Theatre inside the green- capped campus. 1. Did you face any confusion about which career to choose during your high school years Success came to me at the right moments. I received the International Master norm when I was 15 and became the national chess champion when I was 16, which was right before the time I hesitated the most. If these successes came a year later I would have hesitated more. Also, my parents were very supportive throughout my journey. 2. What is the most important skill for someone who wants to pursue chess as a career? There used to be a time when one would read chess books, spend a lot of time studying numerous games present in the database. But now, with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, one can easily and quickly find the most accurate move. Since getting to know the right answer has become easier, it is important for one to have the interest to analyze and understand why that is the right answer. A computer might, in today's time, give you all that books could give you -- or even more. But the most important skills of all is whether or not can you execute something on the board better than your opponent. Therefore, practice is the most important. 3. Few words of wisdom for someone who wants to become a successful chess player? Continuous practice and the willingness to adapt to new styles is the key to become successful if one wants to pursue a career in chess. 4. You became the first grandmaster to represent India in international chess, which was dominated by the Russians. How did you feel at that moment, were you hesitant or confident that you will make it bigger than the Russians? I had no idea how life was going to shape up, for me it was just an exciting journey -- I remember it very fondly. I didn't know or think that I was going to overcome the Russians; you don't think that way at the time. I simply had my goal set and thought let me see how far I can go, I didn't plan too much. Obviously, you want to be successful in what you do. Though I wanted to become World Champion, I wouldn't have necessarily been able to define success at that point. Also, just when I became a candidate, Soviet Union had broken up. But yes, everybody had a name ending with an 'O-V' or an 'S-K-Y' -- so anybody would be careful and scared! 5. 100 years later, who would you rather play with: The then World Chess Champion, or Bobby Fischer? Even though playing against the World Chess Champion 100 years from now is a very exciting thing to do, I would still go with Bobby Fischer. We all grew up watching him play and he has been a very big inspiration to me.

Date: 29th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Edition: Chennai Page No: 3 Journalist: NA Headline: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and The Office of International and Alumni Relations,IIT Madras

Date: 30th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof Swarnalatha Rangarajan and Prof R Sreejith Varma ,Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula Headline: Biography on tribal leader Mayilamma now in English URL: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/jan/30/biography-on- tribal-leader-mayilamma-now-in-english-1931755.html

Date: 30th January 2019 Publication: Skill Outlook Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Prof. Swarnalatha Rangarajan and Prof R Sreejith Varma Headline: IIT Madras Professor translates ‘Mayilamma: The Life of a Tribal Eco-Warrior’ book into English URL: http://skilloutlook.com/alert/iit-madras-professor-translates-mayilamma-the-life-of- a-tribal-eco-warrior-book-into-english

IIT Madras Professor translates ‘Mayilamma: The Life of a Tribal Eco-Warrior’ book into English

Indian Institute of Technology Dean (International and Alumni Relations) Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, released a book today, 29th January 2019 titled ‘Mayilamma: The Life of a Tribal Eco-warrior,’ which was translated from Malayalam into English by Dr. Swarnalatha Rangrajan, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, and Dr. Sreejith Varma R., Assistant Professor, Department of English, VIT Vellore. Dr. Sreejith Varma was also a former research scholar at IIT Madras. Speaking during the release of the book, Prof. Mahesh V. Panchagnula said, “I have always believed that humanities is the pursuit of research of humanities, it is the culmination of all efforts towards creating and perfecting technology. The quest for understanding who we are and what the society around us is, are questions central to the pursuit of this group of faculty.”

Providing a brief overview of the book, Dr. Swarnalatha Rangarajan and Dr. Sreejith Varma R. said, “The English translation, Mayilamma: The Life of a Tribal Eco-Warrior, seeks to bring a very important regional text in Malayalam – Mayilamma: Oru Jeevitham (2012) (transcribed by Jyothibai Pariyadath) into the domain of international environmental justice writing. In a typical Goliath-David kind of struggle, Mayilamma- the frail, fifty-year- old adivasi widow, who fought for the cause of the small village of Plachimada on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border became the symbol of the global resistance against Coca- Cola. The book maps the rise of environmental activism in Kerala and it also weaves into its rhetoric the realities of consumption, globalisation, widening socio-economic inequalities and rising ecological burdens borne by the marginalised poor.”

During the occasion, Dr. Rajendra Singh, eminent water conservationist and environmentalist known as the ‘The Waterman of India’ delivered a lecture on ‘Global Warming and Climate Change Solutions via Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems’

Mayilamma’s life narrative simply put is that of an earth carer from the fringes of the pan- Kerala struggles, who was intensely involved in the protection of livelihoods and local neighbourhoods. This life-story translates the mantra of ecology (everything is connected) into a web of concrete relations that includes not only the ecological, but also the cultural, economic and political processes.

The manner in which an Adivasi woman’s life is rhizomatically enmeshed in the rich cultural material of oral lore and tradition as well as the politics of water wars throws open a more expansive understanding of the word ‘environment.’ The ecological thought that we see in this text is contextual thinking since explaining things in terms of their contexts is really about explaining them in terms of their environment. Mayilamma’s life narrative stands testimony to the fact that the subalterns can indeed speak and that when they do so, they come into possession of an angelic strength that can defeat behemoths and giants.

Dr. Swarnalatha Rangarajan is a Professor of English at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras. She is the founding editor of the Indian Journal of Ecocriticism. Her work includes the co-edited volumes Ecocriticism of the Global South and Ecoambiguity, Community and Development: Toward a Politicized Ecocriticism, Ecocriticism: Big ideas and Practical Strategies and the forthcoming Routledge Handbook of Ecocriticism and Environmental Communication.

Dr. Sreejith Varma R. is an Assistant Professor at the Department of English, School of Social Sciences, VIT Vellore. He was a former PhD research scholar at IIT Madras. His English translations of three short stories by Narayan, the tribal fiction writer from Kerala, have appeared in the reputed journals Postcolonial Text, Muse India and eDhvani. He has also presented research papers at several national and international conferences.

Date: 30th January 2019 Publication: DD Podhighai Edition: Electronic Journalist:NA Headline: IIT Madras Professor translates ‘Mayilamma: The Life of a Tribal Eco-Warrior’ book into English URL: https://we.tl/t-GQMwCj3S6t

Date: 31st January 2019 Publication: Infodea Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Mahesh V. Panchagnula, Prof Swarnalatha Rangrajan and Prof Sreejith Varma R. Headline: Humanities is the pursuit of research of humanities URL: http://www.infodea.in/humanities-is-the-pursuit-of-research-of-humanities/

Humanities is the pursuit of research of humanities

I have always believed that humanities is the pursuit of research of humanities, it is the culmination of all efforts towards creating and perfecting technology. Speaking during the release of the book, Prof. Mahesh V. Panchagnula said, The quest for understanding who we are and what the society around us is, are questions central to the pursuit of this group of faculty.”

Indian Institute of Technology Dean (International and Alumni Relations) Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, released a book on Tuesday titled ‘Mayilamma: The Life of a Tribal Eco- warrior,’ which was translated from Malayalam into English by Dr. Swarnalatha Rangrajan, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, and Dr. Sreejith Varma R., Assistant Professor, Department of English, VIT Vellore. Dr. Sreejith Varma was also a former research scholar at IIT Madras.

IIT Madras is an industry friendly Institute Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Win TV Edition: Electronic Journalist: NA Professor: Thillai Rajan Headline: Policy analysis of WASH by Prof. Thillai Rajan of IIT Madras URL: https://wetransfer.com/downloads/1059ecc92c214273cd0fa63c23d640a72019010 2065425/06793bb8605a1b7c9fb754f655faf97520190102065425/13f698

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Editio: Bangalore / Chennai Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Krishnan B, Prof. SR Chakravarthy & Prof. L S Ganesh Headline: ‘From Space-tech to waste management, IIT-M incubation cell firms are solving real-world challenges’ URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/from-space-tech-to- waste-management-iit-m-incubation-cell-firms-are-solving-real-world- challenges/articleshow/67341477.cms

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: Hindustan Times Edition: Delhi / Faridabad / Noida Page No: 19 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: Alumni contribution for IIT Madras

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 8 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Prof Mahesh Panchagnula, Headline: 300 IIT-M alumni contribute to research fund

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: 3D Grenzenlos Magazine Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Saudi Arabia prints its first house with a 3D printer in just two days URL: https://www.3d-grenzenlos.de/magazin/3d-objekte/saudi-arabien-erstes-haus-aus- 3d-drucker-27471553/

Saudi Arabia prints its first house with a 3D printer in just two days

The project serves to demonstrate the feasibility of 3D printing houses and to encourage private companies to invest in technology. According to Minister Majed bin Abdullah Al- Hogail, the experiment would give you an idea of the future of construction over the next few years and the role of the Kingdom in using modern technologies to bring prosperity to its citizens.

From the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Madras early November 2018 was within three days printed a detached house with 30 square meters. An overview of 110 other 3D printing projects in the construction industry and houses from the 3D printer offers our topic page " 3D printing in house building ", as well as free and regularly updated our 3D printer newsletter . Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 1 Journalist: Ram Sundaram Headline: These ‘robot kids give jitters to big brothers URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/these-robot-kids-give-jitters-to- big-brothers-at-iit-m/articleshow/67373688.cms

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: Deccan Chronicle Edition: Chennai Page No: 2 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Jurgen Shmidhuber Headline: Al will exceed humans in solving problems

Date: 4th December 2019 Publication: Nyoooz Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: ‘Robot’ kids give jitters to big brothers at IIT-M URL: https://www.nyoooz.com/news/chennai/1295115/robot-kids-give-jitters-to-big- brothers-at-iitm/

‘Robot’ kids give jitters to big brothers at IIT-M

“The credit should go to the teachers and school for training us on these lines from a young age,” he said. The interested get to spend more time working on scientific themes of their choice. “They are taken to various local competitions before bringing them to IITs and NITs. Asked how the young ones had managed to gain an edge over their college counterparts, Sunil Paul, a teacher, said they allowed the children to fail and learn from it. CHENNAI: While hundreds of students from the country’s top technical institutions are ready for battle at Shaastra 2019, IIT Madras’s four-day technical fest, a group of school kids from Kerala are the ‘feared ones’.Students of Choice School in Kochi, who won the event last year, dominated Day 1 of the event on Thursday and expect to emerge the winners.

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: R. Sujatha Headline: Aerial robotics on display at fest URL: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/aerial-robotics-on-display-at- fest/article25915860.ece

Date: 6th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Online Journalist: Ram Sundaram Headline: Smart city challenges, ways to tackle them dominate ideation contest URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/smart-city-challenges-ways-to- tackle-them-dominate-ideation-contest/articleshow/67401631.cms

Date: 7th January 2019 Publication: Moovefy Edition: Online Journalist: Edward Rupert Headline: Smart city challenges dominate ideation contest URL: https://moveefy.com/2019/01/06/smart-city-challenges-dominate-ideation- contest/

Smart city challenges dominate ideation contest

College students from Tamil Nadu dominated the challenge, an ideation and prototype development contest introduced for the first time in Shaastra, IIT-M’s annual technical fest.

As part of the contest, five different problem statements involving various aspects of the smart city mission, the central government’s urban renewal and retrofitting programme, were given to participants.

Of the 99 students who registered from across the country, 19 were shortlisted by experts from Honeywell, a private software firm, and IIT faculty based on the feasibility, cost effectiveness and project description, said A Ajiynka, a student-organiser from IIT.

All the teams presented their ideas and a prototype at Shaastra on Friday and six teams shared the top three positions. Of them, five teams were from Tamil Nadu. IIT (BHU) Varanasi was the only team from another state to win a prize. A team from Trichy shared the first place with them.

The Trichy team, from Saranathan College of Engineering, developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based intelligent transportation system. This device was aimed at assisting government and other agencies in transport and traffic management on a real-time basis, said N Muthu Karuppan, one of the students from the team.

Another interesting project which caught the attention of visitors was a water leak prevention system developed by , . S Suvetha, one of the project developers, said a typical home can lose 7,500 litres to 75,000 litres of water a year due to leaky faucets. Though taps fitted with sensors to detect human presence are available, they are costly and can’t detect or stop leaks.

“Our device can detect leaks and fix it by closing the gate valve in the tap,” she added.

The winners were awarded with cash prizes worth 80 lakh. Date: 7th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: U.Tejonmayam Headline: Students ready plan to remove space debris

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Business Line Edition: Online Journalist: (Authored article by Prof RK Amit and Mr Shankar Venugopal Professor: Prof RK Amit Headline: India and the economics of ideas URL: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/india-and-the-economics-of- ideas/article25942476.ece

India and the economics of ideas

Why do some nations grow faster than others? This question has motivated generations of economists. The initial research on economic growth started with two seminal papers in the 1950s by Robert Solow, Nobel Prize winner for Economics in 1987, who had focussed on capital-based theories of economic growth. The relevance of technology was emphasised but was not modelled.

In 1990, Paul Romer published a paper, ‘Endogenous Technological Change’, in the Journal of Political Economy that brought ideas as an engine of economic growth. Ideas improve the technology of production. For this research, Romer shared the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2018 with William Nordaus.

There are multiple examples where ideas had propelled economic growth. The idea of economies of scale — mass production and assembly lines — changed manufacturing in the US. Similarly, lean manufacturing methods made Japan, with minimal natural resources, as one of the richest nations. Japan’s per capita converged to the US level within three decades after the usage of Just-in-Time in manufacturing.

The objective of this article is to decipher the research of Paul Romer on economics of ideas and its relevance to India.

In ‘Endogenous Technological Change’, Romer characterised ideas as “non-rivalrous” and “excludable” goods. Non-rivalrous means that the use of an idea by one will not reduce the value of idea to others. For example, lean manufacturing ideas developed in Japan have been adopted across the globe. An idea has spillover effects on the industry and economy.

Excludable means that the owner of an idea can restrict the use of the idea through patents or copyrights. These characteristics of ideas lead to increasing returns to scale and imperfect competition. Excludability incentivises the firms to invest in R&D.

Paul Romer’s theory has substantial impact in the age of “exponential technologies” for emerging economies like India. The twentieth century saw a slow evolution of technology through a series of incremental innovations spread over many decades. Many of these technologies have crossed their initial linear growth phase and have entered the exponential growth phase at the advent of the twenty-first century.

The technologies are exponentially growing in performance and their cost is falling non- linearly. The convergence of such exponential technologies can disrupt entire industries. These exponential technologies, if they are recognised and leveraged appropriately, can lead to exponential economic growth.

India is expected to grow to be the third largest economy by 2030 only after the US and China. Disruptive technologies and innovative ideas will be the key enablers for this economic growth. The convergence of exponential technologies such as mobile internet, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, renewable energy, energy storage batteries, etc., can create abundance of resources that would fuel the economic growth of India.

Growth enablers Innovative ideas at the intersection of these domains will further accelerate economic growth. Let us look at the three key growth enablers for India: mobility, urbanisation, and agriculture.

Mobility: Moving people and goods around, in an efficient and sustainable manner, is at the heart of any high growth economy. Clean, safe and convenient mobility will be soon within the reach of all Indians. This is enabled by the rapid progress in electric, autonomous and connected vehicles. The adoption of shared vehicle ownership model extends the reach of these technologies even to those at the bottom of the pyramid.

Urbanisation: Large-scale movement of people from rural to urban regions is commonly observed in fast growing economies. Urbanisation leads to the emergence of smart cities that are powered by smart and connected technologies. Energy self-sufficiency of smart cities is enabled by distributed power generation, advances in renewables (especially solar PV), battery energy storage, etc. Digital technologies such as data analytics and IoT are key to, among others, water resource management and solid waste management for these smart cities.

Agriculture: A growing economy has to feed growing populations and keep its workforce healthy and fit. The shift from improving farm productivity to increasing the farmer’s income is a crucial step. The deployment of precision farming, farm automation (including autonomous tractors), smart agricultural implements, etc., will improve the penetration of technology into traditional Indian agriculture.

Analytics and IoT can also help reduce the wastage of food during its journey from the farm to the consumer.

Disruptive technologies and innovative ideas will be at the heart of the new economic growth model. Growing economies like India can greatly benefit by proactively recognising the disruptive potential of new technologies and by investing in innovative ideas.

To achieve this, India needs to provide the right institutions for innovation and knowledge transfer. To align the social and private benefit of innovation, collaborative mechanisms for innovation of ideas should be encouraged.

The writers are Associate Professor, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, and Vice-President (Innovation) at Mahindra & Mahindra, respectively.

Date: 12th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 8 Journalist: Ram Sundaram Headline: IIT-Madras ties up with Italian company Sotacarbo for research in Sustainable Energy URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/iit-madras-ties-up-with-italian- company-sotacarbo-for-research-in-sustainable-energy/articleshow/67492240.cms

Date: 12th January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 5 Journalist: NA Headline: IIT-M ties up with Italian firm for research on sustainable energy

Date: 13th January 2019 Publication: NDTV Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Underwater Robotics Team From Chennai Joins Meghalaya Mine Rescue Ops URL: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/underwater-robotics-team-from-chennai-joins- meghalaya-mine-rescue-ops-1977037

Underwater Robotics Team From Chennai Joins Meghalaya Mine Rescue Ops

A team sent by a Chennai-based company that specialises in submersible robotic inspections joined the operation to rescue the 15 miners trapped for a month now, inside a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya.

The company, Planys Technologies, is an IIT Madras-incubated company that provides submersible robotic inspections and survey solutions using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV). One ROV and a six-member team of the firm have joined the operation, a company official said.

"The team joined the rescue operation on Sunday. They are working with the Navy," he told news agency PTI.

The miners have been trapped inside a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district since December 13, 2018 after water from a nearby river gushed in, puncturing the mine wall.

Even as a multi-agency effort to rescue them is underway, the Supreme Court is hearing a plea in the matter for urgent action.

The Centre on Friday told the top court it has to "believe in miracles" and see if the miners come out alive. The Indian Navy and planes and helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the rescue operations.

Date: 13th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Submersible robotic inspection firm joins Meghalaya mine rescue operation URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/submersible-robotic-inspection-firm-joins- meghalaya-mine-rescue-operations/articleshow/67511709.cms

Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: Eastern Mirror Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Month after mishap, NGT asks Meghalaya police to crack whip on illegal mining URL: http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/month-after-mishap-ngt-asks-meghalaya- police-to-crack-whip-on-illegal-mining/

Month after mishap, NGT asks Meghalaya police to crack whip on illegal mining

A month after 15 miners were trapped in a coal mine, search operations for which are still underway; a three-member committee of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Meghalaya Police to investigate into nearly 1200 cases of illegal quarrying across the state.

The green tribunal had imposed a blanket ban on coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya in 2014, citing unscientific methods and absence of safety measures.

The three-member NGT committee, constituted in August last year, is currently studying the environmental aspects of rat-hole mining in the state.

An official said the police have been told that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking into account all 1200 cases of illegal rat-hole mining in East Garo Hills, South-West Khasi Hills and West and East Jaintia Hills districts.

Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed “rat-holes”, as each just about fits one person.

On December 13, water from nearby Lytein river flooded a network of tunnels in a coal mine in Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills, trapping 15 men and prompting a rescue attempt that has failed to yield any result so far.

That mining goes on unabated in the state can be gauged from the fact that heaps of freshly dug coal is dumped on both sides of the road that approaches Lumthari from Khliehriat, the district headquarters of East Jaintia Hills.

Meanwhile, official sources said the NGT committee, which has sought police investigation into the registered cases of illegal mining, is set to visit the state by January- end.

The committee, headed by retired judge Justice (Retd) B P Katakey, will conduct a field visit to South Garo Hills on January 30-31 to study the ground-level situation, they said.

Katakey told PTI that 98 cases of illegal quarrying have been registered in East Jaintia Hills district alone since the ban.

The committee, after a thorough study, will prepare a report and present it before the tribunal by March 31, he said.

“We have directed investigation into nearly 1200 cases of illegal mining and transportation of coal since the 2014 ban. In East Jaintia Hills, the SP has been asked to submit a report at the earliest in connection with the 98 cases recorded in the district,” Katakey added.

An official in the state mining and geology department said Meghalaya does not maintain statistics on mining and mishaps.

“As there is no study or statistics on the prevalence of mining in the state, the three- member NGT panel has asked district deputy commissioners to furnish all available data in connection with the illegal practices,” he added.

Submersible robotic inspection firm joins Meghalaya mine rescue operation

A team of a city-based company that specialises in submersible robotic inspections on Sunday joined the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped for a month now inside a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya.

According to the website of the company, Planys Technologies, it is an IIT Madras incubated company that provides submersible robotic inspections and survey solutions using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV).

One ROV and a six-member team of the firm have joined the operation, a company official said.

“The team joined Sunday. They are working with the Navy,” the official, who did not want to be named, told PTI.

The miners have been trapped inside a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district since December 13, 2018

Even as a multi-agency effort to rescue them is underway, the Supreme Court is hearing a PIL in the matter for urgent action.

The Indian Navy and planes and helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the rescue operations.

Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: Dinamalar Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: கல்லுாரி முாணவர்க쿁க்埁 ப뾿ற்殿 (Training for college students) URL: https://www.dinamalar.com/news_detail.asp?id=2191345

கல்லுாரி முாணவர்க쿁க்埁 ப뾿ற்殿 (Training for college students)

தே殿ய தேொ펿ல்ꏁட்ப கல்ힿ நி쟁வனமொன, தென்னன, ஐ.ஐ.羿., ெொர்ꮿல், ஐ.ஐ.羿., அல்லொே கல்ힿ நி쟁வனங்களில் ப羿க்埁ம் மொணவர்க쿁க்埁, தகொனட கொல ஆரொய்ெ்殿 மற்쟁ம் ப뾿ற்殿 வ埁ப்ꯁகள் அ잿ힿக்கப்பட்翁 உள்ளன. இந்ே வ埁ப்ꮿல், அ鎿கபட்ெம் இரண்翁 மொேங்கள் பங்தகற்கலொம்; மொேம், 6,000 쏂பொய் உேힿே் தேொனக வழங்கப்ப翁ம்.ꮿ.இ., - ꮿ.தடக்., 믂ன்றொம் ஆண்翁, ஒ쏁ங்垿னணந்ே, எம்.இ., - எம்.தடக்., 믂ன்றொம் ஆண்翁, எம்.ꮿ.ஏ., - எம்.எஸ்殿., - எம்.ஏ., ப羿ப்ꯁகளில், 믁ேலொம் ஆண்翁 ப羿க்埁ம் மொணவர்கள் ힿண்ணப்ꮿக்கலொம்.தம쯁ம் ힿபரங்கனள, https://sfp.iitm.ac.inஎன்ற, இனணயேளே்鎿ல் தேரிந்鏁 தகொள்ளலொம்.

Date: 14th January 2019 Publication: DNA Edition: Delhi/Mumbai Page No: 12/14 Journalist: NA Headline: Crack whip on illegal mining, NGT tells Meghalaya Police- Tamil Nadu firm joins rescue operations

Date: 15th January 2019 Publication: The Economic Times Edition: Delhi/Mumbai/Pune/ Bangalore / Hyderabad / Chennai /Kolkata Page No: 1 Journalist: Rica Bhattacharya Headline: IIT alumni loosening up purse strings for alma mater URL: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/iit-alumni- loosening-up-purse-strings-for-alma-mater/articleshow/67534655.cms

Date: 15th January 2019 Publication: India Today Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: IIT Madras ties up with Italian company for sustainable energy research URL: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/iit-madras-ties-up-with- italian-company-for-sustainable-energy-research-

IIT Madras ties up with Italian company for sustainable energy research

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has entered into Research collaboration on sustainable energy with Italian company, Sotacarbo - Società Tecnologie Avanzate Carbone SpA. As part of this tie-up, researchers from both the organizations will take up three main projects: Biomass Gasification, catalysts for CO2-to-methanol and syngas-to- methanol and Combustion and Oxy-Combustion.

Research groups from Department of Chemical Engineering, National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) and the National Centre for Catalysis Research (NCCR), IIT Madras, already visited the Sotacarbo campus in Italy and interacted with their team. The agreement is expected to spearhead extensive collaborative research projects that will explore synergies between the groups.

A Joint Development Agreement between IIT Madras and Sotacarbo Società Tecnologie Avanzate low Carbon SpA was signed recently, aimed at fostering collaborative research work between the two institutions in the areas of biomass and coal energy.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Gianni Serra, Sotacarbo Director of International Relations, said, “It was a no brainer to begin working together (with IIT Madras)as we have so many areas of interest in common. It’s early stages to say but the first signs are all promising. This JDA will be beneficial to both sides, paving the way for new projects and exchange of both young researchers and students.”

Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, is coordinating this tie-up. The agreement and meetings were facilitated by Dr. Bhima Sastri, an IIT Madras Alumnus.

Highlighting the importance of this collaboration, Prof Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras, said, “Energy is an important focus of research in IIT Madras, and we welcome this opportunity to collaborate on the various identified areas on sustainable energy. We are grateful for your time, and confident that our faculty teams will work very well and deliver beyond expectations.”

Through this collaboration, the two organizations will also look at some additional areas such as other energy technologies and carbon capture and storage.

Sotacarbo is a public owned limited company based in Sardinia, Italy, which has been working in the area of sustainable energy research and has been a vibrant contributor to the landscape for the past several decades. IIT Madras faculty from various departments have wide expertise in biomass and coal gasification, combustor design and diagnostics and catalysis.

Dr. Alberto Pettinau, Sotacarbo Scientific Director said, “We picked IIT Madras because we appreciate their high level of experience in the same fields of research that are strategic for Italy and the Sardinian Region. This research needs a multidisciplinary approach and Sotacarbo and IIT Madras bring to the table different expertise and know- how, which can easily complement themselves.”

Date: 15th January 2019 Publication: Swarajya Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: IIT Madras To Enter Into Research Collaboration With Italian Company; Will Work On Sustainable Energy Projects URL: https://swarajyamag.com/insta/iit-madras-to-enter-into-research-collaboration- with-italian-company-will-work-on-sustainable-energy-projects

IIT Madras To Enter Into Research Collaboration With Italian Company; Will Work On Sustainable Energy Projects

In a boost, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has entered into a research collaboration on sustainability with Sotacarbo - Società Tecnologie Avanzate Carbone SpA, which is an Italian company. Researchers from both organisations will take up three projects: Combustion and Oxy-Combustion, Biomass Gasification, catalysts for CO2-to- methanol and syngas-to-methanol, as part of this tie-up, reports India Today.

Research groups from the National Centre for Catalysis Research (NCCR), the Department of Chemical Engineering and the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD), IIT Madras, have already visited the Sotacarbo campus in Italy and interacted with their team.

"Energy is an important focus of research in IIT Madras, and we welcome this opportunity to collaborate on the various identified areas on sustainable energy. We are grateful for your time and are confident that our faculty teams will work very well and deliver beyond expectations," said Ravindra Gettu, a professor at IIT Madras, while highlighting the importance of this collaboration.

"It was a no-brainer to begin working together (with IIT Madras) as we have so many areas of interest in common. It's early to say, but the first signs are all promising. This JDA will be beneficial to both sides, paving the way for new projects and exchange of both young researchers and students," said, Dr Gianni Serra, Director of International Relations, Sotacarbo.

"We picked IIT Madras because we appreciate their high level of experience in the same fields of research that are strategic for Italy and the Sardinian Region. This research needs a multidisciplinary approach, and Sotacarbo and IIT Madras bring to the table different expertise and know-how, which can easily complement themselves,", said Dr Alberto Pettinau, Sotacarbo Scientific Director, while explaining why IIT Madras was selected for this project. Date: 19th January 2019 Publication: The Indian Wire Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof Mitesh M Khapra and Prof Pratyush Kumar Headline: IIT Madras’ One Fourth Lab to let Non-IITians have opportunity to study AI at PadhAI portal URL: https://www.theindianwire.com/education/iit-madras-one-fourth-lab-let-non- iitians-opportunity-study-ai-padhai-portal-95521/

IIT Madras’ One Fourth Lab to let Non-IITians have opportunity to study AI at PadhAI portal

The Indian Institute of Madras faculty has launched a start-up to prepare the eligible Indian students interested in studying Artificial Intelligence by training students at minimal cost. Their startup called ‘One Fourth Labs’ has launched an online school ‘PadhAI’ that offers affordable India-specific courses on AI.

Every year, the top performing students from courses on the portal will be invited to a “summer garage”, an AI residency program at IIT-Madras Research Park where they can work on research, tackle problems of societal impact, or find solutions to commercial value.

The four-month course comprises 80 hours of lecture content. The course will begin on February 1, 2019. The registrations for the course are open until January 24, 2019. Interested candidates can apply at padhai.onefourthlabs.in Further, the start-up will also create AI-driven apps by collaborating with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the industry. The startup has been founded by Mitesh M Khapra and Pratyush Kumar, assistant professors in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Madras, and incubated by the IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

“Candid will learn monthly contests and a capstone challenge that trains participants to build an app that works like Google Lens for a few Indian languages. The mathematical and programming know-how for solving the complex capstone challenge will be sequentially built up with simplified explanations and interactive tools through the course,” said the IIT-faculty in a statement. Participants will receive scores based on their performance on these contents and certificates on successfully completing the course. The course is open to all students, faculty, and professionals with a basic background in mathematics and Python. The fee for students and faculty is Rs 1000 and for working professionals, Rs 5000.

Date: 22nd January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Business Line Edition: Kolkata Page No: 2 Journalist:( Authored Article by Prof Thillai Rajan A ) Professor: Prof Thillai Rajan A Headline: What should start-ups go after for better venture returns URL: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/emerging-entrepreneurs/what- should-start-ups-go-after-for-better-venture-returns/article26052752.ece

Date: 24th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Chennai Page No: 3 Journalist: NA Headline: Australia institute to partner with IIT-M, help India draft cyber security policy URL: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/jan/24/aus-institute-to- partner-with-iit-m-help-india-draft-cyber-security-policy-1929268.html

Date: 25th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 5 Journalist: NA Headline: City hosp, IIT-M to hold engagement programme

Date: 29th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof Mitesh Khapra and Prof Pratyush Kumar Headline: AI Training Startup

Date: 31st January 2019 Publication: The Mint Edition: Delhi / Mumbai / Pune / Bangalore / Hyderabad / Chennai / Kolkata / Ahmedabad / Chandigarh Page No: 15 Journalist: (Authored article by Prof Thillai Rajan) Professor: Prof Thillai Rajan Headline: Opinion | How funding from multilateral agencies aids road projects URL: https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/opinion-how-funding-from- multilateral-agencies-aids-road-projects-1548613444238.html

IIT Madras is a research-focused Institute

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 7 Journalist: Praveen Paul Joseph Headline: IIT-Madras experts studying possibility to deepen VOC Port

Date: 1st January 2019 Publication: Chennai Patrika Edition: Online Journalist: Santosh Tiwari Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Prof. Sheikh Farooq Ali Headline: Tech Fest Shaastra from 3 Jan URL: https://www.patrika.com/chennai-news/techfest-shashtra-in-iit-madras-3912878/

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: Infodea Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Prof H N Mahabala Headline: IITM Winter course on Machine Intelligence and Brain Research begins URL: http://www.infodea.in/iitm-winter-course-on-machine-intelligence-and-brain- research-begins/

IITM Winter course on Machine Intelligence and Brain Research begins

The Center for Computational Brain Research (CCBR) at Indian Institute of Technology Madras is conducting a Winter Course on Machine Intelligence and Brain Research from 2nd to 9th January 2019. This course is at the intersection of Neuroscience and Artificial intelligence.

The course aims to educate students in the interdisciplinary area by combining lectures from neuroscientists as well as computational researchers working across disciplines. It is open to students outside IIT Madras for auditing. IIT Madras students are offered credits for this course. It also focusses on understanding the inner workings of the Human Brain and Intelligent Machines and understand the common underlying principles.

Addressing the inaugural session, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures and Co-Founder, Infosys, said, “This is an area that has tremendous scope and opportunity to impact our lives. I believe in using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to address several problems that hitherto were unsolvable. We should look at issues such as understanding the use of AI and ML, which problems should be addressed, where do we use these tools, can we create the capacity and capability in these fields in India, can we create global partnerships and can we bring unique Indian views in this area.”

Further, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan added, “AI and ML are the next wave of computing as they allow us to address a different set of problems, just like the advent of earlier digital computing. It is a new paradigm in computing. We have huge amounts of data and unless we have the tools, we cannot make sense of the data. it is humanly impossible to look at the data and draw inferences. We throw the computer at it and see what patterns it can make out. Cloud computing provides an almost infinite amount of computing and storage space. The workshop should also discuss issues surrounding privacy and algorithmic bias.”

The course was initiated in January 2018 and has seen strong growth in demand. Registrations for this year course topped 400 including 30 students from IIT Madras (out of 200 applications). This number is expected to increase during the coming years.

Addressing the Winter Course, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, said, “This is an area in which a lot of capacity building is required in the country and these workshops are one way to build this capacity. Eminent researchers from across the world are attending this workshop and students can learn from them. In a short period of next few years, we will have good results to show from our work here. We have people who are becoming experts in this cutting-edge field.”

This year’s event maintains continuity with the last year’s format and consists of a broad spectrum of international lecturers, who are world-renowned experts in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. The CCBR Chair Professors (Prof Partha Mitra from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA, Prof Mriganka Sur from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and Prof Anand Raghunathan from Purdue University, USA) along with world-renowned will deliver lectures on brain science and Artificial Intelligence.

Speaking about the Winter Course, Prof. Partha Mitra, Crick-Clay Professor of Biomathematics at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, H N Mahabala Chair Professor, CCBR, IIT Madras, said, “The way we have set up this course is to pair the engineering lectures with the biological side so that we can look at them side by side. These two communities must interact with each other.”

In addition to free registration for the workshop, CCBR also offered travel and housing scholarships to 20 students from other cities.

CCBR at IIT Madras is supported by Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan and aims to provide a two- way interface between the growing fields of artificial intelligence and neuroscience. The centre fosters collaboration between the various faculties within IIT Madras and the leading eminent scientists around the world.

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: NDTV Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Alumni: Kris Gopalakrishnan Headline: IIT Madras Winter Course On Machine Intelligence And Brain Research Begins URL: https://www.ndtv.com/education/iit-madras-winter-course-on-machine- intelligence-and-brain-research-begins-1971713

IIT Madras Winter Course On Machine Intelligence And Brain Research Begins

The Center for Computational Brain Research (CCBR) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is conducting a Winter Course on Machine Intelligence and Brain Research from January 2 to 9, 2019. This course is at the intersection of Neuroscience and Artificial intelligence, said a statement from the Institute.

The course aims to educate students in the interdisciplinary area by combining lectures from neuroscientists as well as computational researchers working across disciplines. It also focuses on understanding the inner workings of the Human Brain and Intelligent Machines and understand the common underlying principles. "This is an area that has tremendous scope and opportunity to impact our lives. I believe in using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to address several problems that hitherto were unsolvable. We should look at issues such as understanding the use of AI and ML, which problems should be addressed, where do we use these tools, can we create the capacity and capability in these fields in India, can we create global partnerships and can we bring unique Indian views in this area," Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures and Co-Founder, Infosys said while addressing the inaugural session.

The course was initiated in January 2018 and has seen strong growth in demand. Registrations for this year course topped 400 including 30 students from IIT Madras (out of 200 applications).

This number is expected to increase during the coming years, the statement said. Addressing the Winter Course, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, said, "This is an area in which a lot of capacity building is required in the country and these workshops are one way to build this capacity. Eminent researchers from across the world are attending this workshop and students can learn from them. In a short period of next few years, we will have good results to show from our work here. We have people who are becoming experts in this cutting-edge field." CCBR at IIT Madras is supported by Kris Gopalakrishnan and aims to provide a two-way interface between the growing fields of artificial intelligence and neuroscience. The centre fosters collaboration between the various faculties within IIT Madras and the leading eminent scientists around the world.

Date: 2nd January 2019 Publication: The Indian Express Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Alumni: Kris Gopalakrishnan Headline: IIT-Madras winter course on machine intelligence and brain research begins URL: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/iit-madras-winter-course-on-machine- intelligence-and-brain-research-begins-5519914/

IIT-Madras winter course on machine intelligence and brain research begins

The Center for Computational Brain Research (CCBR) at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras is conducting a winter course on machine intelligence and brain research from January 2 to January 9. This course is at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

The course aims to educate students in the interdisciplinary area by combining lectures from neuroscientists as well as computational researchers working across disciplines. It is open to students outside the institute for auditing. IIT Madras students are offered credits for this course. It also focusses on understanding the inner workings of the human brain and intelligent machines and understand the common underlying principles.

Candidates register for the workshop for free and CCBR also offers travel and housing scholarships to 20 students from other cities.

This year’s event will consist of international lecturers, who are world-renowned experts in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. The CCBR Chair Professors (Partha Mitra from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA, Mriganka Sur from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and Anand Raghunathan from Purdue University, USA) along with world-renowned will deliver lectures on brain science and Artificial Intelligence.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, chairman, Axilor Ventures and co-founder, Infosys, said, “This is an area that has tremendous scope and opportunity to impact our lives. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to address several problems that hitherto were unsolvable. We should look at issues such as understanding the use of AI and ML, which problems should be addressed, where do we use these tools, can we create the capacity and capability in these fields in India, can we create global partnerships and can we bring unique Indian views in this area.”

Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras, said, “This is an area in which a lot of capacity building is required in the country and these workshops are one way to build this capacity. Eminent researchers from across the world are attending this workshop and students can learn from them. In a short period of next few years, we will have good results to show from our work here. We have people who are becoming experts in this cutting-edge field.”

Date: 3rd January 2019 Publication: The Economic Times Edition: Delhi / Mumbai / Pune / Bangalore / Hyderabad / Ahmedabad / Kochi Journalist: Mr. Hari Pulakkat Alumni: Anant Raheja Headline: Entrepreneurs born under the microscope URL: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/features/entrepreneurs- born-under-the-microscope/articleshow/67359180.cms

Date: 3rd January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 8 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: Machine Intelligence course under way at IIT Madras

Date: 3rd January 2019 Publication: Dinamani Edition: Chennai Page No: 4 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: IIT Madras Winter Course On Machine Intelligence And Brain Research Begins

Date: 3rd January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 16 Journalist: Sindhu Hariharan Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Alumni: Kris Gopalakrishnan Headline: Registrations double for IIT-M brain research course URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/registrations-double- for-iit-m-brain-research-course/articleshow/67355827.cms

Date: 3rd January 2019 Publication: Your story Edition: Online Journalist: Sutrishna Ghosh Professor: Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan Headline: IIT innovations that made headlines: from detecting breast cancer to curing chikungunya URL: https://yourstory.com/2019/01/iit-breakthroughs-research-2018/

IIT innovations that made headlines: from detecting breast cancer to curing chikungunya

Usually, the idea behind most of these innovations is to develop something novel or find a solution to a persistent problem. While AI and machine learning are certainly the newest subjects on the block, researchers also dedicated their time towards the treatment of viral diseases like chikungunya last year. Transmitted via infected mosquitos, the disease saw an outbreak in 2005-2006 and later in 2016, which prompted scientists and researchers to come up with something more substantial to treat this disease.

Incidentally, there are no drugs or vaccines for chikungunya at the moment. However, the biotechnology laboratory at IIT-Roorkee may have discovered a possible solution – a molecule exhibiting antiviral activity against the disease. Carried out in collaboration with local pathologies, the research - in developmental phase – is expected to be an advance in this field in the future.

Another chronic illness plaguing India is diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, by 2040, the number of people with this condition would rise to a staggering 123 million. Given these dire figures, students at IIT Madras focussed towards an inexpensive wound dressing material, specially designed to help diabetic patients heal faster.

The dressing material was developed using a carbon allotrope and psyllium husk. According to Vignesh Muthuvijayan, assistant professor at IIT-M and the researcher associated with the project, the aim is to cut down the cost of these fast-healing materials 50-60 fold and bring it to around Rs 1,000.

Overall, the year was particularly fruitful, if all the novel ideas and innovations are taken into account. While the older and more established institutes continued to make progress across disciplines, the newer ones also made their presence felt in 2018, one breakthrough idea at a time. Date: 3rd January 2019 Publication: Franchise India Education Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Headline: IIT-Madras Starts Winter Course On Machine Intelligence And Brain Research URL: https://news.franchiseindia.com/education/iit-madras-starts-winter-course-on- machine-intelligence-and-brain-research.n17529

IIT-Madras Starts Winter Course On Machine Intelligence And Brain Research

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ (IIT-M) Center for Computational Brain Research (CCBR) is conducting a winter course on machine intelligence and brain research from January 2-9.

The course is targeting at educating students in the interdisciplinary area by combining lectures from neuroscientists as well as computational researchers working across disciplines. It is also open for the students outside the institute for auditing.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures, and Co-Founder, Infosys, said, "This is an area that has the tremendous scope and opportunity to impact our lives. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to address several problems that hitherto were unsolvable. We should look at issues such as understanding the use of AI and ML, which problems should be addressed, where do we use these tools, can we create the capacity and capability in these fields in India, can we create global partnerships and can we bring unique Indian views in this area."

Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, stated, "This is an area in which a lot of capacity building is required in the country and these workshops are one way to build this capacity. Eminent researchers from across the world are attending this workshop and students can learn from them. In a short period of the next few years, we will have good results to show from our work here. We have people who are becoming experts in this cutting-edge field."

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: Teles Relay Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Rajnish Kumar Headline: India: Only 10 Indians on the list of the world's 4,000 most eminent scientists URL: https://teles-relay.com/inde-seulement-10-indiens-sur-la-liste-des-4-000- scientifiques-les-plus-eminents-au-monde-inde-nouvelles/

India: Only 10 Indians on the list of the world's 4,000 most eminent scientists

India boasts of prominent institutes of science and social sciences such as IISc, IIT, TIFR, JNU and Tiss. Yet only 10 Indians are among the top 1% of researchers in the world (HCR) in both fields. To top it all, some of the 10 do not come from the main institutes of the country. The list, which has over 4,000 of the world's most influential researchers, was published by Clarivate Analytics.

An eminent scientist and former head of the Prime Minister's scientific council, CNR Rao, is on the list. More than 80% of the names in the list, which covers more than 60 countries, come from only 10 countries. Remarkably, 70% come from just five countries. Among the institutions, Harvard University is the most represented on the list, with 186 names.

While the representation of India is negligible, China with 482 names is the third on the list. The United States tops the list with 2639 names and the United Kingdom comes in second with 546 names.

Dinesh Mohan of the UNJ, who is on the list, said that until last year, fewer than five Indians would be on the list. "This year, they added an extra category of" cross-field ", bringing the number to 10," he said. Rao said India needed to improve the quality of its research, as well as its quantity to improve the citations. "About 15 years ago, China and India were at the same level. But China contributes 15-16% of the world's science and ours only represents about 3-4%, "he said. Ashok Pandey, of the Institute of Toxicology Research of the CSIR, is the only UNHCR of the CSIR, with a network of 5,000 scientists. "This is a concern that needs to be addressed by the government and stakeholders, including scientists, "he said. Avinash Agarwal, a professor at IIT-Kanpur, who is on the list, said applied research was not sufficiently respected in a country like India, obsessed with basic research. "We need to improve our research ecosystem ... Predatory journals, in which you pay and publish, must be penalized. "

The other Indian names on the list are: Alok and Jyoti Mittal (a married couple, Jyoti is the only female researcher on the list) from NIT Bhopal; Rajnish Kumar of IIT-Madras; Sanjeeb Sahoo, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar; Rajeev Varshney of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad; Sakthivel Rathinaswamy from Bharathiar Coimbatore University .

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: The Times Of India Edition: Delhi / Faridabad / Gurgaon / Noida / Pune /Bangalore / Chennai / Kolkata Page No: 8 Journalist: Yogita Rao Professor: Prof. Rajnish Kumar Headline: Only 10 Indians on list of worlds 4000 top scientists URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/only-10-indians-on-list-of-worlds-4000-top- scientists/articleshow/67374084.cms

Date: 4th January 2019 Publication: Nav Bharat Times Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Rajnish Kumar Headline: Only 10 Indians on list of worlds 4000 top scientists URL: https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/only-10-indians-on-list-of-worlds-4000- top-scientists/articleshow/67376139.cms

Only 10 Indians on list of worlds 4000 top scientists

भारि मᴂ कई प्रख्याि साइ車स और सोशि साइ車स इ車जस्ट絍यटू हℂ, िैसे आईआईएससी, आईआईटी, टीआईएफआर, िेएनय ू और टीआईएसएस। इसके बाद भी दतु नया के बेहिरीन एक प्रतिशि ररसचिसि की लिस्ट मᴂ भारि के महि 10 िोग ही अपना नाम दिि करा सके हℂ। यहा車 िक कक इनमᴂ से भी कु छ देश के टॉप इ車जस्ट絍यटू से नही車 हℂ। क्िैररवेट एनालिदटक्स 饍वारा दतु नया के सबसे प्रभावी 4000 ररसचिसि एक लिस्ट िारी की गई है।

प्रलस饍ि वैज्ञातनक और पीएम की वैज्ञातनक सिाहकार सलमति के पवू ि प्रमखु प्रतिशि नाम लसफि 10 देशⴂ से हℂ। वही車 70 प्रतिशि नाम लसफि 5 देशⴂ से हℂ। इ車जस्ट絍यटू की बाि करᴂ िो लिस्ट मᴂ 186 नाम ऐसे हℂ, िो हाविडि यतू नवलसटि ी से िा쥍िकु रखिे हℂ।

िहा車 भारि का प्रतितनर्ि配व बेहद कम है, वही車 लिस्ट मᴂ 482 नाम के साथ HYPERLINK "https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/topics/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A8" चीन तीसरे नंबर पर है। 2,639 नाम के साथ HYPERLINK "https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/topics/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A 4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE" अमेररका टॉप पर है, वहĂ 546 नामⴂ के साथ यूके दसू रे नंबर पर है।

जेएनय ू के ददनेश मोहन, दजनका नाम इस दिस्ट में है, ने कहा दक दपछिे साि तक इस दिस्ट में 5 से भी कम नाम भारत सेे थे। उन्हⴂने कहा, 'इस साि उन्हⴂने 'क्रॉस फी쥍ड' नाम की एक और कैदटगरी शादमि की है, दजसके बाद ये नाम आगे हℂ।' राव ने कहा दक भारत को उद्धरणⴂ को बेहतर बनाने के दिए मात्रा के साथ, अपनी ररसचच की क्वॉदिटी पर काम करने की ज셂रत है। उन्हⴂने कहा, 'करीब 15 साि पहिे, भारत और चीन एक स्तर पर थे। िेदकन चीन ददु नया भर के दवज्ञान में 15-16 प्रदतशत भागीदारी करता है, वहĂ भारत दसफच 3-4 प्रदतशत करता है।' आईआईटीआर के अशोक पांड े ने कहा दक यह दचंता का दवषय है, सरकार और भारत के वैज्ञादनकⴂ को इस पर ध्यान देने की ज셂रत है। आईआईटी कानपरु के प्रफेसर अदवनाश अग्रवाि का नाम भी इस दिस्ट में है ने कहा दक अꥍिाइड ररसचच को भारत जैसे देशⴂ में 煍यादा मह配व नहĂ दमिता है। उन्हⴂने कहा दक हमें अपना ररसचच इकोदसस्टम बेहतर करने की ज셂रत है।

इस दिस्ट में एनआईटी भोपाि के अिोक दमत्ति और 煍योदत दमत्ति (आिोक और 煍योदत पदत-प配नी हℂ, दिस्ट में 煍यादत अकेिी मदहिा ररसचचर हℂ), आईआईटी मद्रास के रजनीश कु मार, इदं स्टट्यूट ऑफ िाइफ साइसं भवु नेश्र के संजीब साहू, इटं रनैशन कॉपच ररसचच इदं स्टट्यूट के राजीव वार्ष्णेय और कोयंबटूर की भारदतयार यूदनवदसचटी के सदक्थवेि रादथनास्वामी का नाम शादमि है।

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: The Times of India Edition: Chennai Page No: 13 Journalist: NA Headline: India-US researchers develop drought monitoring system

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: The Asian Age Edition: Delhi/Mumbai Page No: 10 Journalist: NA Headline: ‘Robots will soon become more intelligent than humans’

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: Haribhoomi Edition: Delhi Page No: 14 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Rajnish Kumar Headline: Only 10 Indians on list of world’s 4000 top scientists\

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: The Quint Edition: Onlin Journalist: NA Headline: Metro water Plans to Use Recycled Water for Supply URL: https://www.thequint.com/news/india/latest-chennai-news-thiruvarur-dmk-ttv-hiv- election-velumani-corruption

With freshwater resources becoming scarce in the wake of a failed monsoon, Chennai Metrowater plans to use tertiary treated waste water for city water supply on a trial basis. It may not happen this summer though. The agency has called for bids to construct 10 mld capacity tertiary treatment plants each in Nesapakkam and Perungudi and release the recycled waste water into the Porur and Perungudi lakes.

The project is being implemented based on the IIT-Madras model use of reclaimed water. The government recently sanctioned ₹79 crore for various projects to augment water resources infrastructure, officials said. Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: International Business Times Edition: Online Journalist: Ashish Shukla Professor: Prof. Rajnish Kumar Headline: Eye opener: Only 10 Indians feature in the list of world's Top 4,000 scientists URL: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/eye-opener-only-10-indians-feature-list-worlds-top-4000- scientists-789364

Eye opener: Only 10 Indians feature in the list of world's Top 4,000 scientists Only 10 Indians feature among the world's top 4,000 scientists, according to a shocking report published by Clarivate Analytics, an academic research firm. The interesting part about the list is that not all of the scientists who have managed to make a cut belong to the prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs, JNU, IISC etc. The list shows how the research is confined to a few nations, globally.

English daily, The Times of India reported that more than 80 percent of the scientists come from only 10 countries. Interestingly, 70% are from just only five countries. With 186 names, Harvard University has the highest number of representation on the list among the institutions. The list highlights India's sorry performance in the field of research. In contrast, China is on the third position with 482 names in the list. Scientists from the United States of America have dominated the list with 2,639 names followed by the UK that comes second with 546 names. Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna, CNR Rao is one of the few Indians to have featured on the list. JNU scholar, Dinesh Mohan, who is also on the list, said that there has been an improvement in the presence of Indians on the list as till last year less than 5 scientists would feature on the list. Ashok Pandey, from CSIR's Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, called for greater attention from government and other stakeholders. "It is a matter of concern and needs to be addressed by the government, and stakeholders, including scientists," he said. The other Indian scientists who have been featured on the list includes Avinash Agarwal, IIT-Kanpur professor, Alok and Jyoti Mittal from NIT Bhopal; Rajnish Kumar from IIT-Madras; Sanjeeb Sahoo from Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar; Rajeev Varshney from International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad and Sakthivel Rathinaswamy from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: Loktej Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Rajnish Giri Headline: Only 10 Indians feature in the list of world's Top 4,000 scientists URL: http://www.loktej.com/india/four-thousand-scientists-of-the-world-only-10-of-india- 48596

वि�ि के नामचीन चार हजार िैज्ञा셍नकⴂ मᴂ भारत के मात्र 10 ही

भारिीय मेिाए車 वैसे िो वववव मᴂ देश की कातिि पिाकाए車 फहरािी रहिी है पर ववज्ञान और अनसु ि車 ान के क्षेत्र मᴂ हम अभी भी वपछडे हℂ। हािा車कक, भारि मᴂ कई प्रख्याि साइ車स और सोशि साइ車स इ車जस्ट絍यटू हℂ, िैसे आईआईएससी, आईआईटी, टीआईएफआर, िेएनय ू और टीआईएसएस। इसके बाद भी दतु नया के बेहिरीन एक प्रतिशि अनसु ि車 ानकिाओि 車 की सचू ी मᴂ भारि के केवि 10 िोग ही अपना नाम दिि करा सके हℂ। यहा車 िक कक इनमᴂ से भी कु छ देश के टॉप इ車जस्ट絍यटू से नही車 हℂ। क्िैररवेट एनालिदटक्स 饍वारा दतु नया के सबसे प्रभावी 4000 अनसु ि車 ानकिाओि 車 की एक सचू ी िारी की गई है। प्रलस饍ि वैज्ञातनक और पीएम की वैज्ञातनक सिाहकार सलमति के पवू ि प्रमखु सीएनआर राव को इस सचू ी मᴂ शालमि ककया गया है। सचू ी मᴂ 80 प्रतिशि नाम लसफि 10 देशⴂ से हℂ। वही車 70 प्रतिशि नाम लसफि 5 देशⴂ से हℂ। इ車जस्ट絍यटू की बाि करᴂ िो सचू ी मᴂ 186 नाम ऐसे हℂ, िो हाविडि यतू नवलसटि ी से िा쥍िकु रखिे हℂ। िहा車 भारि का प्रतितनर्ि配व बेहद कम है, वही車 सचू ी मᴂ 482 नाम के साथ चीन िीसरे न車बर पर है। 2,639 नाम के साथ अमेररका टॉप पर है, वही車 546 नामⴂ के साथ यकू े दसू रे न車बर पर है।

िेएनय ू के ददनेश मोहन, जिनका नाम इस सचू ी मᴂ है, ने कहा कक वपछिे साि िक इस सचू ी मᴂ 5 से भी कम नाम भारि से थे। उन्हⴂने कहा, ‘इस साि उन्हⴂने ‘क्रॉस फी쥍ड’ नाम की एक और कैदटगरी शालमि की है, जिसके बाद ये नाम आगे हℂ।’ राव ने कहा कक भारि को उ饍िरणⴂ को बेहिर बनाने के लिए मात्रा के साथ, अपनी ररसचि की क्वॉलिटी पर काम करने की ि셂रि है। उन्हⴂने कहा, ‘करीब 15 साि पहिे, भारि और चीन एक स्िर पर थे। िेककन चीन दतु नया भर के ववज्ञान मᴂ 15-16 प्रतिशि भागीदारी करिा है, वही車 भारि लसफि 3-4 प्रतिशि करिा है।’ आईआईटीआर के अशोक पा車डे ने कहा कक यह र्च車िा का ववर्य है, सरकार और भारि के वैज्ञातनकⴂ को इस पर ध्यान देने की ि셂रि है। आईआईटी कानपरु के प्रोफेसर अववनाश अग्रवाि का नाम भी इस सचू ी मᴂ है ने कहा कक अप्िाइड ररसचि को भारि िैसे देशⴂ मᴂ 煍यादा मह配व नही車 लमििा है। उन्हⴂने कहा कक हमᴂ अपना ररसचि इकोलसस्टम बेहिर करने की ि셂रि है। इस सचू ी मᴂ एनआईटी भोपाि के अिोक लमत्ति और 煍योति लमत्ति (आिोक और 煍योति पति- प配नी हℂ, सचू ी मᴂ 煍योति अकेिी मदहिा ररसचिर हℂ), आईआईटी मद्रास के रिनीश कु मार, इ車जस्ट絍यटू ऑफ िाइफ साइ車स भवु नेश के स車िीब साहू, इ車टरनेशन कॉपि ररसचि इ車जस्ट絍यटू के रािीव वार्ष्णेय और कोयब車 टू र की भारतियार यतू नवलसटि ी के सजक्थवेि रार्थनास्वामी का नाम शालमि है।

Date: 5th January 2019 Publication: Navbharat Times Education Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof. Rajnish Kumar Headline: Know who all are from India in the list of 4k world's top scientists URL: https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photomazza/education-career/know-10- indian-scientists-secured-position-in-top-4000-scientists/photoshow/67378994.cms

Know who all are from India in the list of 4k world's top scientists

ग्‍िोबि ऑगिनाइजेशन clarivate analytics ने दतु नया के सबसे काबबि 4000 वैज्ञातनकⴂ की लिस्‍ट िारी की है। इस लिस्‍ट मᴂ भारि के भी 10 वैज्ञातनकⴂ ने अपना स्‍थान बनाया है। वपछिे साि इस सचू ी मᴂ भारि के महि 5 वैज्ञातनक ही अपना नाम दिि करवा सके थे। इस साि यह स車ख्‍या डबि होकर 10 हो गई है। हािा車कक इस मामिे मᴂ भारि का र्चर प्रति饍व車饍वी पडोसी देश चीन काफी आगे तनकि गया है। चीन ने 482 वैज्ञातनकⴂ के साथ अमेररका और बिटेन के बाद िीसरा स्‍थान प्राप्‍ि ककया है। अमेररका के सवािर्िक 2639 वैज्ञातनक और बिटेन के 546 वैज्ञातनक इस सचू ी मᴂ शालमि ककए गए हℂ। आइए िानिे हℂ भारि की ओर से कौन हℂ वे 10 वैज्ञातनक, जिनको इस सचू ी मᴂ िगह दी गई है प्रलस饍ि वैज्ञातनक और पीएम की वैज्ञातनक सिाहकार सलमति के पवू ि प्रमखु सीएनआर राव (84) को इस लिस्ट मᴂ शालमि ककया गया है। सवो楍‍च नागररक स륍‍मान 'भारि र配‍न' से नवािे िा चुके राव केलमस्‍री मᴂ सराहनीय कायि के लिए कई देशⴂ की 60 यतू नवलसटि ीि से भी डॉक्‍टरेट की उपार्ि लमि चुकी है। उनके अभी िक 1600 ररसचि वकि और 51 पस्ु ‍िकᴂ पजलिश हो चुकी हℂ। मौिाना आिाद नैशनि इ車स्‍टी絍यटू ऑफ टेक्‍नॉििी, भोपाि मᴂ कायिरि आिोक लम配‍िि को भी इस सचू ी मᴂ शालमि ककया गया है। 52 वर्ीय आिोक ने आईआईटी 셁ढ़की से पीएचडी की है। उन्‍हⴂने इन्वाइरनमᴂटि साइ車स, वाटर रीटमᴂट, सरफेस केलमस्‍री और कफजिकि केलमस्‍री मᴂ सराहनीय कायि ककया है। 煍‍योति भी आिोक लम配‍िि के साथ मौिाना आिाद नैशनि इ車स्‍टी絍यटू ऑफ टेक्‍नॉििी, भोपाि मᴂ कायिरि हℂ। 48 वर्ीय 煍‍योति ने रािीव गा車िी टेजक्नकि यतू नवलसटि ी से पीएचडी की है। उनका स्‍पेशिाइिेशन भी इन्वाइरनमᴂटि साइ車स, वाटर रीटमᴂट, सरफेस केलमस्‍री और कफजिकि केलमस्‍री मᴂ है। आईआईटी कानपरु के 46 वर्ीय अववनाश कु मार अग्रवाि ने आईआईटी-दद쥍‍िी से पीएचडी की है। इसके साथ ही इन्‍हᴂ wisconsin university से भी डॉक्‍टरेट की उपार्ि प्राप्‍ि है। इनका स्‍पेशिाइिेशन इ車िन कॉ륍‍बस्‍टन इन्‍वेजस्टगेशन, अ쥍‍टरनेदटव फ्यिू , बायोडीिि डडवेिवमᴂट आदद है। Date: 6th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Edition: Delhi/Bangalore/Hyderabad/Chennai/Kolkata/Kochi Page no.: 12 Journalist: Dr. R. Prasad Professor: Prof. T. Pradeep Ph.D student: Papri Chakraborty Headline: Silver atoms of nanoparticles are mobile, IIT Madras team finds URL: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/silver-atoms-of-nanoparticles-are- mobile-iit-madras-team-finds/article25920352.ece

Date: 7th January 2019 Publication: Campus Varta Edition: Online Journalist: NA Headline: Only 10 Indian making in the rundown of top 4,000 Scientist URL: https://www.campusvarta.com/youth-mauka/only-10-indian-making-in-the- rundown-of-top-4000-scientist/

Only 10 Indian making in the rundown of top 4,000 Scientist

With just 10 Indian researchers making in the rundown of 4,000 exceedingly specialists over the globe, the nation falls a long ways behind China in new commitments towards science and development, said an ongoing report by Clarivate Analytics — an organization that names individuals with numerous papers positioning in the best 1% by references for their field and year.

Curiously, the vast majority of the science specialists recorded don’t originate from exceptionally positioned foundations in India that are continually making buzz for their logical development. In any case, an educator from each IIT-Kanpur, IIT Madras, JNU, and NIT-Bhopal are on the worldwide rundown.

In the mean time, China is among the main three nations with 482 science specialists. India couldn’t influence it to up to the best 10 nations. Sweden (53%), Austria (53%), Singapore (47%), Denmark (47%), China (43%) and South Korea (42%) are among the countries that have 40% of their Highly Cited Researchers chose in the cross-field classification.

India and China used to be in agreement regarding commitment around 15 years back however now China represents about 16% This could be viewed as a triumph for India since the quantity of researchers on the rundown has multiplied since 2017. In any case, Dinesh Mohan, one of the researchers on the rundown, says that is simply because the report incorporates an extra class of ‘cross field’ analysts.

The rundown features the need to enhance the exploration environment in India and manage issues like ruthless diaries. As indicated by specialists, Indian academicians need center around quality research. Ashok Pandey, a scientist highlighted on the rundown, guarantees that poor portrayal in science involves national concern and should be tended to by administrators, government and other individual partners. Experts include that India has an insignificant portrayal on the planet’s exceedingly refered to scientists essentially in light of the fact that the idea of research is hypothetical.

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Edition: Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore/Hyderabad/Chennai/Kolkata/Kochi Page No: 18 Journalist: R Prasad Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: IIT Madras team produces gas hydrates under ‘space’ conditions URL: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/iit-madras-team-produces-gas- hydrates-under-space-conditions/article25934300.ece

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: The Hindu Business Line Edition: Chennai / Delhi / Mumbai / Pune / Bangalore / Hyderabad / Kochi / Ahmedabad / Chandigarh/Kolkata Page No: 1 Journalist: T V Jayan Headline: Mimicking space, IIT-M scientists cage methane in water URL: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/mimicking-space-iit-m-scientists- cage-methane-in-water/article25934012.ece

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: Deccan Herald Edition: Bangalore Page No: 9 Journalist: Kalyan Ray Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: Gas hydrates offer new window at the origin of life URL: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/gas-hydrates-offer-new-window- 711925.html

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: NDTV Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: Methane Can Exist In Interstellar Atmosphere: IIT Madras Researchers URL: https://www.ndtv.com/science/methane-can-exist-in-interstellar-atmosphere-iit- madras-researchers-1974819

Methane Can Exist In Interstellar Atmosphere: IIT Madras Researchers

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) have formed clathrate hydrates in an environment similar to that of interstellar medium (ISM), according to a statement issued by the institute. According to IIT-M, such hydrates, especially that of methane, are thought to be the future sources of fuel. Many nations across the world, including India, have programmes to explore hydrates in the ocean bed.

Gas hydrates such as methane hydrate can release combustible gases which could be used as a fuel, the IIT-M said.

Clathrate hydrates are molecules like methane, carbon dioxide...trapped in well-defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline solids," said the statement, adding these are formed at high pressures and low temperatures at places such as the ocean floor, hundreds of metres below the sea level. They are also found in glaciers such as in Siberia.

This discovery of hydrates is highly unexpected at extremely low pressures and ultra-cold temperatures and may have several implications for the chemistry of such atmospheres, the statement said.

Detailing the discovery, IIT-M said, an experimental UHV was specially built for such studies, which housed several spectroscopic probes.

"Nanometre thin layers of ice and methane were prepared by condensing a mixture of the gases on a specially made single crystal of ruthenium metal. The ruthenium metal surface was cooled to low temperatures initially," IIT-M said.

According to IIT-M, the formation of hydrates was studied by spectroscopy. At first, when the gases were deposited, the spectroscopic features resembled solids of methane and water ice.

However, as the hydrate cage formed with methane trapped in it, the molecule became 'free' as in the gas phase.

"The observed changes were compared with theoretical simulations which confirmed the hydrate formation. The results were verified with the hydrate formed by standard methods," IITM said.

Cages of water are not expected to form under such conditions as the water molecules are frozen and cannot move at very low temperatures. Therefore, when they did the experiments initially, nothing surprising was seen.

"Normally, in UHV experiments, spectroscopic changes are monitored only for minutes, maybe an hour. I thought that why not wait for days and keep observing the changes. After all, ice and methane have been sitting in the space for millions of years." Professor Thalappil Pradeep, a senior author of the study was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The excitement happened after 3 days. New features started coming. Then, of course, several experiments were done under controlled conditions. The problem went through several PhD students over a period of five years. Now, a number of opportunities have opened up." Mr Pradeep said.

Such hydrates were also formed with carbon dioxide.

"Trapping carbon dioxide in hydrates is a way to reduce global warming. One can sequester carbon dioxide gas as solid hydrates under the sea bed," Rajnish Kumar, co- author of the study was quoted as saying in the statement.

In hydrates, molecular confinement can result in new chemistry, especially in presence of cosmic light present in interstellar environment.

This may have relevance to the origin of life. The work was performed by Jyotirmoy Ghosh and colleagues under the guidance of Mr Pradeep and Mr Kumar of IIT-M, the statement said.

The paper was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Hindustan Times Edition: Delhi / Faridabad / Noida Page No: 10 Journalist: Anonna Dutt Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: IIT-M researchers explore fuels of future in space URL: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iit-m-researchers-explore-fuels-of- future-in-space/story-0yqZzpSdfiKhi1yqClBv0L.html

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Business Standard Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: Methane in interstellar atmosphere can exist, say IIT Madras researchers URL: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/methane-in-interstellar- atmosphere-can-exist-say-iit-madras-researchers-119010800961_1.html

Methane in interstellar atmosphere can exist, say IIT Madras researchers

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) have formed clathrate hydrates in an environment similar to that of interstellar medium (ISM), according to a statement issued by the institute.

According to IIT-M, such hydrates, especially that of methane, are thought to be the future sources of fuel. Many nations across the world, including India, have programmes to explore hydrates in the ocean bed.

Gas hydrates such as methane hydrate can release combustible gases which could be used as a fuel, the IIT-M said.

This discovery of hydrates is highly unexpected at extremely low pressures and ultra-cold temperatures and may have several implications for the chemistry of such atmospheres, the statement said.

Detailing the discovery, IITM said, an experimental UHV was specially built for such studies, which housed several spectroscopic probes.

According to IIT-M, the formation of hydrates was studied by spectroscopy. At first, when the gases were deposited, the spectroscopic features resembled solids of methane and water ice.

However, as the hydrate cage formed with methane trapped in it, the molecule became 'free' as in the gas phase.

"The observed changes were compared with theoretical simulations which confirmed the hydrate formation. The results were verified with the hydrate formed by standard methods," IITM said.

Such hydrates were also formed with carbon dioxide.

In hydrates, molecular confinement can result in new chemistry, especially in presence of cosmic light present in interstellar environment.

This may have relevance to the origin of life. The work was performed by Jyotirmoy Ghosh and colleagues under the guidance of Pradeep and Kumar of IITM, the statement said.

The paper was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Outlook India Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: Methane in interstellar atmosphere can exist, say IIT Madras researchers URL: https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/methane-in-interstellar-atmosphere-can- exist-say-iit-madras-researchers/1454306

Methane in interstellar atmosphere can exist, say IIT Madras researchers

Gas hydrates such as methane hydrate can release combustible gases which could be used as a fuel, the IIT-M said.

This discovery of hydrates is highly unexpected at extremely low pressures and ultra-cold temperatures and may have several implications for the chemistry of such atmospheres, the statement said.

Detailing the discovery, IITM said, an experimental UHV was specially built for such studies, which housed several spectroscopic probes.

According to IIT-M, the formation of hydrates was studied by spectroscopy. At first, when the gases were deposited, the spectroscopic features resembled solids of methane and water ice.

However, as the hydrate cage formed with methane trapped in it, the molecule became 'free' as in the gas phase.

"The observed changes were compared with theoretical simulations which confirmed the hydrate formation. The results were verified with the hydrate formed by standard methods," IITM said.

Such hydrates were also formed with carbon dioxide.

In hydrates, molecular confinement can result in new chemistry, especially in presence of cosmic light present in interstellar environment.

This may have relevance to the origin of life. The work was performed by Jyotirmoy Ghosh and colleagues under the guidance of Pradeep and Kumar of IITM, the statement said.

The paper was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express- Edex Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: Fuel from space? IITM researchers find ways to use methane hydrates present in space as future source of fuel on Earth URL: https://www.edexlive.com/campus/2019/jan/08/fuel-from-space-iitm-researchers- find-ways-to-use-methane-hydrates-present-in-space-as-future-sourc-4970.html

Fuel from space? IITM researchers find ways to use methane hydrates present in space as future source of fuel on Earth

Researchers from IIT Madras have found that methane in the interstellar atmosphere can exist as clathrate hydrate, thought to be a future source of fuel on earthEdex IIT Madras Scientist Space Fuel The work was performed by Jyotirmoy Ghosh and colleagues under the guidance of Prof. Thalappil Pradeep and Dr. Rajnish Kumar Clathrate hydrates are molecules like methane, carbon dioxide, etc., trapped in well- defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline solids. They are formed at high pressures and low temperatures at places such as the ocean floor, hundreds of metres below the sea level. They are also found in glaciers such as in Siberia. Such hydrates especially that of methane, are thought to be the future sources of fuel. Many nations across the world including India have programmes to explore hydrates in the ocean bed.

IIT Madras researchers formed such hydrates in vacuum, one thousand billion times below the atmospheric pressure called ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and temperature close to minus 263 degree Celsius (10 Kelvin). These are the conditions present in deep space.

The paper was published on Tuesday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

This discovery of hydrates is highly unexpected at extremely low pressures and ultra-cold temperatures and may have several implications for the chemistry of such atmospheres.

An experimental UHV was specially built for such studies, which housed several spectroscopic probes. Nanometre thin layers of ice and methane were prepared by condensing a mixture of the gases on a specially made single crystal of ruthenium metal. The ruthenium metal surface was cooled to low temperatures initially.

The formation of hydrates was studied by spectroscopy. At first, when the gases were deposited, the spectroscopic features resembled solids of methane and water ice. However, as the hydrate cage formed with methane trapped in it, the molecule became ‘free’ as in the gas phase. The observed changes were compared with theoretical simulations which confirmed the hydrate formation. The results were verified with the hydrate formed by standard methods.

“Normally, in UHV experiments, spectroscopic changes are monitored only for minutes, maybe an hour. I thought that why not wait for days and keep observing the changes. After all, ice and methane have been sitting in the space for millions of years.” Professor Pradeep, a senior author of the study said. “The excitement happened after 3 days. New features started coming. Then, of course, several experiments were done under controlled conditions.” “The problem went through several PhD students over a period of five years. Now, a number of opportunities have opened up,” he added. Such hydrates were also formed with carbon dioxide, one of his younger colleague, Dr. Rajnish Kumar, co-author in this study suggested that “Trapping carbon dioxide in hydrates is a way to reduce global warming. One can sequester carbon dioxide gas as solid hydrates under the seabed”. In hydrates, molecular confinement can result in new chemistry, especially in presence of cosmic light present in the interstellar environment. This may have relevance to the origin of life. The work was performed by Jyotirmoy Ghosh and colleagues under the guidance of Prof. Thalappil Pradeep and Dr. Rajnish Kumar of IIT Madras.

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: DT Next Edition: Chennai Page No: 8 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: IIT-M researchers stumble upon future source of fuel URL: https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2018/10/14035605/1092066/IITM-plans-to- improveresearch-activities-by-2020.vpf

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Outlook India Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: IIT-M create 'space fuel' in lab URL: https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/iitm-create-space-fuel-in-lab/1454726

IIT-M create 'space fuel' in lab

IIT Madras scientists have created what they call 'space fuel' by simulating interstellar conditions in the lab, a method that may be used to convert atmospheric CO2 into a next generation energy source on Earth.

The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), could help curb greenhouse gases as well as provide a new, sustainable source of energy.

"What we have found is that molecules like methane and ammonia in space could exist in a completely different form than what is known to us," Thalappil Pradeep of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras told .

Clathrate hydrates are molecules like methane, carbon dioxide, etc, trapped in well- defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline solids.

They are formed at high pressures and low temperatures at places such as the ocean floor, hundreds of metres below the sea level. They are also found in glaciers such as in Siberia.

Such hydrates especially that of methane, are thought to be the future sources of fuel. Many nations across the world including India have programmes to explore hydrates in the ocean bed.

This discovery of hydrates is highly unexpected at extremely low pressures and ultra-cold temperatures and may have several implications for the chemistry of such atmospheres, Pradeep said.

The ruthenium metal surface was cooled to low temperatures initially.

The formation of hydrates was studied by spectroscopy. At first, when the gases were deposited, the spectroscopic features resembled solids of methane and water ice.

However, as the hydrate cage formed with methane trapped in it, the molecule became 'free' as in the gas phase. The observed changes were compared with theoretical simulations which confirmed the hydrate formation. The results were verified with the hydrate formed by standard methods.

Cages of water are not expected to form under such conditions as the water molecules are frozen and cannot move at very low temperatures.

"Normally, in UHV experiments, spectroscopic changes are monitored only for minutes, may be an hour. I thought that why not wait for days and keep observing the changes. After all, ice and methane have been sitting in the space for millions of years," said Pradeep.

"The excitement happened after 3 days. New features started coming. Then of course, several experiments were done under controlled conditions," he said.

Such hydrates were also formed with carbon dioxide, researchers said.

"Trapping carbon dioxide in hydrates is a way to reduce global warming. One can sequester carbon dioxide gas as solid hydrates under the sea bed," said Rajnish Kumar, co-author in this study.

In hydrates, molecular confinement can result in new chemistry, especially in presence of cosmic light present in interstellar environment. Understanding this chemistry may be important to better understand the origins of life.

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: Zee Business Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: Fuel from space? IIT Madras researchers make this big discovery URL: https://www.zeebiz.com/technology/news-fuel-from-space-iit-madras- researchers-make-this-big-discovery-79181

Fuel from space? IIT Madras researchers make this big discovery Indian researchers from IIT Madras have found that methane in the form of clathrate hydrate in interstellar atmosphere can release combustible gases, which can be used as fuel. India, among many other nations, have programmes to explore hydrates in the ocean bed. The researchers said molecular confinement in hydrates may have relevance to the origin of life. What is clathrate hydrates? Clathrate hydrates are generally found on the ocean floor, hundreds of metres below the sea level, and in glaciers such as in Siberia. formed at high pressures and low temperatures, clathrate hydrates are molecules like methane, carbon dioxide, etc, trapped in well-defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline solids. Such hydrates are thought to be the future sources of fuel. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) researchers specially built experimental ultra-high vacuum (UHV) for such studies, which housed several spectroscopic probes. They formed such hydrates in a vacuum, one thousand billion times below the atmospheric pressure UHV and temperature close to minus 263 degree Celsius (10 Kelvin). These are the conditions present in deep space. “Normally, in UHV experiments, spectroscopic changes are monitored only for minutes, may be an hour. I thought that why not wait for days and keep observing the changes. After all, ice and methane have been sitting in the space for millions of years.” said Professor Pradeep, a senior author of the study. Such hydrates were also formed with carbon dioxide, one of his younger colleague, Rajnish Kumar, co-author in this study suggested that “Trapping carbon dioxide in hydrates is a way to reduce global warming. One can sequester carbon dioxide gas as solid hydrates under the sea bed”. The study was conducted by Jyotirmoy Ghosh and colleagues under the guidance of Prof Thalappil Pradeep and Dr. Rajnish Kumar of IIT Madras and the paper was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

Date: 8th January 2019 Publication: India Today Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: This IIT Madras girl's research is revolutionary, shows nanoparticles 'dance' URL: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/iit-madras-girl- research-revolutionary-nanoparticles-1426095-2019-01-08

This IIT Madras girl's research is revolutionary, shows nanoparticles 'dance'

Atoms in small particles of metals move between each other within a blink of an eye, T Pradeep and colleagues at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras have found. Atoms in metals such as gold and silver practically stay at their locations for eternity which make them stable and noble. Chemical and physical processes do not move atoms between particles easily, which explains their stability. However, in nanometre scale particles, this is completely different, recent studies have shown. The work was published on January 3 in the journal Science Advances. Who conducted the research? The research was undertaken by Papri Chakraborty, Research Scholar, IIT Madras and her colleagues under the direction of Professor T Pradeep and Chair Professor Deepak Parekh from the Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras. How the research was conducted In the experiment, researchers prepared 1 nanometre particles of silver composed of 25 atoms, protected with molecules called ligands Such protected metal particles are called clusters and they are made by solution chemistry To test the hypothesis of atom transfer, researchers made identical 25 atom clusters with two isotopes of silver (107Ag and 109Ag) What are isotopes? Isotopes are elements with the same atomic number but different atomic masses, and they are identical in chemical properties Common examples are hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D), which are isotopes of hydrogen with same chemical properties However, they have different atomic masses H2O and D2O are waters with the same chemical properties, formed with hydrogen and deuterium The two isotopes of silver In isolated state, Ag25 made of 107Ag isotope and Ag25 made of 109Ag isotope are equivalent in chemical properties They have the same colour, reactivity and structure, but different molecular masses In an instrument called mass spectrometer, these two clusters show different masses However, upon mixing these two clusters in solution and measuring the mass spectrum in solution, researchers found that the parent clusters disappeared completely and a new cluster of 25 atoms (mixture of 107Ag and 109Ag atoms) emerged. This was identical to the formation of a molecule of HDO from H2O and D2O when they both were mixed Atoms of H and D exchange each other when normal water (H2O) and heavy water (D2O) are mixed Atom transfer rate is similar to that in water Spontaneous atom transfer in nanoparticles implies their molecular nature Atoms at the surface of such particles may be interacting with neighbouring particles similar to that in molecules The properties of nanoparticles such as catalysis, drug delivery, biological sensing, etc, may all be viewed differently in view of this rapid atom exchange.

Date: 10th January 2019 Publication: DNA Edition: Delhi / Mumbai Page No: 9 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T. Pradeep Headline: IIT Madras scientists create space fuel in lab URL:https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-iit-madras-create-space-fuel-in-lab- 2705918

Date: 10th January 2019 Publication: The New Indian Express Edition: Hyderabad / Chennai Page No: 12 Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T. Pradeep Headline: IIT-Madras creates 'space fuel' in lab URL: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/jan/09/iit-madras- creates-space-fuel-in-lab-1922744.html

Date: 9th January 2019 Publication: The Economic Times Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof Thalappil Pradeep Headline: IIT-Madras scientists create 'space fuel' in lab URL: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/iit-madras-create-space- fuel-in-lab/articleshow/67450033.cms

Date: 10th January 2019 Publication: The Sentinel Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: IIT Madras scientists achieve new feat creating ‘space fuel’ URL:https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/iit-madras-scientists-achieve-new-feat- creating-space-fuel/

IIT Madras scientists achieve new feat creating ‘space fuel’

The IIT Madras scientists claim that they have created a particular kind of fuel, called as the ‘space fuel’. As claimed by the scientists, they created this new fuel by simulating interstellar conditions in the lab. This method of fuel creation may be used to convert atmospheric CO2 into a next-generation energy source on Earth. With this new achievement, the IIT Madras scientists have now achieved another new feat which is pretty commendable.

Details on the research and its findings have been mentioned in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The best part of this research is that the creation of space fuel could now help in curbing greenhouse gases along with also providing a new, sustainable source of energy.

Thalappil Pradeep of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, stated, “What we have found is that molecules like methane and ammonia in space could exist in a completely different form than what is known to us.”

Clathrate hydrates are molecules like methane, carbon dioxide, etc, trapped in well- defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline solids. These molecules are formed at high pressures and low temperatures at particular places such as the ocean floor which lays hundreds of metres below the sea level. They are also found in glaciers such as in Siberia. Hence, the creation of these molecules is very a difficult and complicated task along with also being very quite tough. In that case, the feat achieved by the scientists in IIT Madras is out-of-the-box and praiseworthy.

For creating these molecules, the IIT Madras researchers formed hydrates in a vacuum which is one thousand billion times below the atmospheric pressure called ultra-high vacuum (UHV) at a temperature close to minus 263 degree Celsius. As such conditions prevail in deep space; the atmosphere for the creation of these molecules too will have to be simila. Date: 10th January 2019 Publication: News 18 Edition: Online Journalist: NA Professor: Prof T Pradeep Headline: IIT-Madras Scientists Create 'Space Fuel' to Curb Global Warming, Hope to Solve Fuel Crisis URL: https://www.news18.com/news/india/iit-madras-scientists-create-space-fuel-to- curb-global-warming-hope-to-solve-fuel-crisis-1996315.html

IIT-Madras Scientists Create 'Space Fuel' to Curb Global Warming, Hope to Solve Fuel Crisis Indian Institute of Technology, Madras scientists have created what they call 'space fuel' by simulating interstellar conditions in the lab, a method that may be used to convert atmospheric CO2 into a next generation energy source on Earth.