Semester I 2017-18 Towards founding BITS Pilani: Retelling a story at variance The founding of BITS Pilani as a deemed university has been retold in the form of chronological milestones, commemorative books, memoirs, biographies as well as histories - both narrative and critical. Oral testimonies too have been transmitted across generations. In this prefatory note, we recount a page from the history of the founding of BITS Pilani as a university. To read further visit: http://eprints.bits-pilani.ac.in/2007 Institute Activities On July 23, 2017 Convocation was Nirmaan (Pilani campus), celebrated the Joy of Giving week during held at BITS, Pilani ,Pilani campus September 4 to 10, 2017 and was graced by Mrs Manasi Pradhan, in which a total of 1372 students winner of Rani Lakshmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar. Joy of teaching and (out of which 1,028 received their Collection drive were also some of the events organized. first degree, 274 received their Blood Donation Camp - Continuing the trend for the past 37 years, a higher degree, and 70 received Blood Donation Camp was successfully organized at Pilani campus their doctorate) degrees. Dr. Tessy Thomas, Director Advanced from February 17-18, 2018 by the members of the National Service Systems Laboratory, DRDO Hyderabad was the chief guest. For the Scheme (NSS), in association with the Indian Red Cross Society with a first time, a total number of 68 Work Integrated Learning Programmes participation of around 1100 people this year, and a collection of more (WILP) degrees were also awarded. than 800 units of blood. On August 26, 2017, Convocation was held at TEDx BITS Pilani Dubai Campus BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus in which 353 was organized under the banner of students received their first degree, 28 received Centre for Innovation, Incubation and their higher degree and 1 received a doctoral Entrepreneurship, Dubai on November degree. 26, 2017. On August 13, 2017 Convocation was Nirmaan (Goa Campus) organized the Blood donation camp in held at BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa association with Goa Medical College which was attended by more Campus. The Chief Guest for the than 120 volunteers, students as well as faculty & staff. Nirmaan also Convocation was Dr. Ramachandra organised a beach cleaning drive in association with Drishti to clean the Guha, a renowned Historian. This year, Colva beach .To celebrate the Joy of Giving week, a special school 625 students received their degrees of visit and an Evening of Joy was also organised by the organization. which 21 were PhDs. Alumni Achievements On August 6, 2017, Convocation was held at Prof L.K. Maheshwari Foundation BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus in which a total Distinguished Alumnus Award was of 744 degrees were awarded. Dr Rajendra held on November 11, 2017 at Pilani Singh, the renowned ‘Waterman of India’, Campus. The award was presented to graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Shri Sunil Nanda, Founder, Thinkit Technologies. Conquest 2017 - BITS Pilani’s BITS 1975 Trust - The Gurudakshina programme by BITS 75 Trust International Startup Conclave, was organized on October 22, 2017 at Bangalore to felicitate 10 organized by the Center for prominent Gurus. Entrepreneurial Leadership witnessed attendance from the BITS Pilani’s Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) Alumnus likes of Meera Iyer, CMO, Big Mr. Vutla Srinivasa Rao contributed a Micro-Electro Mechanical Basket, Ashish Goel, Head of Product, Zomato and Suvonil Chatterjee, Systems Cleanroom to the Hyderabad Campus in September 2017. former CDO, Housing and Flipkart. The grand finale of the conclave was held on September 3, 2017 at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. Achievements and Accolades BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus was honored with Technology Forum, Govt. of India to carry out Dr Indresh Kumar, Dept. of the Indywood Education Excellence Awards research in USA. Chemistry, Pilani campus, 2017 under the category “Institute of Dr Vishal Gupta and Dr Ashutosh Bhatia, alongwith Prof D. B. Excellence in Innovative Technology Award” at Dept. of CSIS, Pilani Campus received the Ramachary and Dr Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad on December second runner up prize in the event EduHack Kengadarane Anebouselvy 2, 2017. organized as part of Rajasthan IT Day by the from the University of Hyderabad, have published a Prof S.S. Ranganathan Memorial Teaching Govt. of Rajasthan in Jaipur on March 19, book titled Dienamine Catalysis for Organic Excellence Award ceremony was held on 2018. Synthesis from Royal Society of Chemistry, September 4, 2017. Dr P. Srinivasan, Dept. of London in March 2018. Mech. Engg, Pilani Campus was conferred with this year’s award. Prof R. N. Saha, Director Dubai Campus was the Dr Vishal Saxena, Dept. of Biological guest speaker at the Sciences, Pilani Campus was awarded INSA- Conclave Vanoushadhi- CAS International Bilateral Exchange/ 2018 held in Hyderabad Collaboration Award 2017. He was also a where he discussed scientific recipient of ASM-IUSSTF Research validation and enhancement Professorship Award, 2017 conferred by of utilization of phyto-pharmaceuticals and American Society of Microbiology (ASM) in collaboration with Indo-US Science & 1 medicinal plants and other opportunities with Dr Kannan Ramaswamy and Dr Aravinda jointly organized by DSIR, the Govt of India Dr Raman Singh, the Chief Minister of Raghavan, Dept of Physics, Hyderabad and SPMVV, Tirupati at BITS Pilani, Chhattisgarh . Campus have been selected by IISER-Pune to Hyderabad campus on January 27, 2018. Dr Sartaj Rasool, Dept. of HSS, Dubai train STEM teachers in India on Research- Dr D. Sriram, Dept. of Pharmacy, Hyderabad Campus was selected for the prestigious Prof based Pedagogical Tools as part of Newton- Campus has been awarded the “Most M. J. Manohar Rao Award - 2017 by 'The Bhabha programme sponsored by DBT, Outstanding Researcher 2018” in the field of Indian Econometric Society. MHRD, IISER-Pune and British Council. Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics Dr Narendra Nath Ghosh, Dept. of Chemistry, Dr Santosh Mahapatra, Dept of HSS, by Careers360. He has published 354 papers, Goa Campus has been elected as the Fellow Hyderabad Campus was awarded Trinity citations of 8183 and "h" index of 44. of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. College London Language Examination Fellowship for IATEFL 2018. Dr Aruna Malapati, Dept of CSIS, Hyderabad Campus was awarded “Prof. Indira Parikh 50 Dr Regalla, Dept. of Mech. Engg., Hyderabad Women in Education Leaders” citation at 6th Campus got the first prize in the 'Bright S&T World Education Congress on November 23, Innovation Idea Presentation’ competition 2017. conducted as part of the workshop on “Innovation Equity of Science & Technology” Significant Projects Principal Investigator and Co- Principal Amount and S.No. Title of the Project Funding Agency Investigator, Name of the Department, Campus Duration Demonstration of A Waste To Energy Dr M. Srikanth (PI) Dept. of Biological Sciences, INR 161,10,000 1. Project By Anaerobic Co Digestion of Food DBT Goa Campus 2 years Waste And Septage Dr Kota Soloman Raju (PI) - CSIR-CEERI Pilani Structural Health Assessment and INR 70,00,000 2. and Dr S.B.Singh (Co-PI), Dept of Civil Engg., Rehabilitation Framework based on cyber DST-ICPS 3 years Pilani Campus. physical system Strategies against antibiotic resistance in Dr D. Sriram (PI) Dr P Yogeswari (Co-PI) Dept. INR 67,00,068 3. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and ESKAPE DBT Indo Sweden-3 of Pharmacy, Hyderabad Campus 3 years pathogens; new drugs and new targets Development of pH-responsive smart Dr Vamsi Krishna Venuganti (PI), Dept. of capsule containing targeted multilayer film INR 55,54,225 4. DST Pharmacy, Hyderabad Campus for drug delivery: The proof-of-concept study 3 years in colorectal cancer model Development Of Suitable Material For 53,32,000 (BITS Dr Saroj Sundar Baral (PI) Visible Light Induced Photocatalytic SERB share INR 5. Dept. of Chemical Engg, Goa Campus and Hydrogen Production From Industrial 35,83,000) Dr Priyabrat Mohapatra (Co-PI) Bhubaneswar Wastewater 3 years Dr K. R. Anupama, ( PI) Dept of EEE. and Dr A Comprehensive Iot Based Geriatric Health INR 50,00,000 6. Biju K. R. (Co-PI), Care System For Routine Health Monitoring DST-ICPS 3 years Dept .of CSIS ,Goa Campus And Postoperative Care Dr H.D. Mathur (PI), Dept of EEE, Pilani Campus, Dr Nilanjan Chattaraj (Co-PI), Dr Navneet Gupta (Co-PI), Dr Aashish Mathur (Co- IoT based energy management system of a INR 50,00,000 7. DST-ICPS PI), Dr Dheeraj Joshi (Co-PI), Microgrid with V2G (Vehicle to Grid) feature 3 years Dr Shobha Rekh (Co-PI) and Dr Yogesh Krishan Bhateshvar (Co-PI). Dr Anil Bhanudas Gaikwad (PI), Dept of To study the role of hyperglycemia on the INR 47,18,560 8. DST Pharmacy, Pilani Campus progression of acute kidney injury 3 years Design and implementation of content based Dr Lavika Goel (PI) Dept. of CSIS, Pilani INR 40,00,000 9. recommender system for effectively DST – ICPS Campus 3 years answering web-based user queries India & Neighbourhood Sea Ports Dr R. P. Pradhan, (PI) Dept. of HSS and Dr Comparative Vessel, Traffic & Pattern INR 40,00,000 10. Aswini Mishra (Co-PI) Analysis Using Real Time Ship Tracking DST-ICPS 3 years Dept. of Economics , Goa Campus Traffic Intelligence Tool For Commodity Movement & Gdp Correlation Mapping Dr Manjuladevi V. (PI) Dept. of Physics, Pilani Electro-optical response of Nematic Liquid INR 39,20,000 11. SERB Campus Crystals doped with nanorods 3 years Peptide-decorated pH-sensitive nano- Dr Deepak Chitkara (PI) and conjugate hybrid micelles for co-delivery of INR 12. Dr Anil Bhanudas Gaikwad (Co-PI), Dept of temozolamide and an autophagy inducer, DBT 38,32,600 Pharmacy, Pilani Campus rapamycin, for treatment of glioblastoma 3 years multiforme INR Dr Gireesha Thipperudrappa (PI) Dept. of 13.