S P O T L I G H T S S T O R I E S U P D A T E S I N I T I A T I V E S
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NEWSLETTER
APR - JUNE 2023VOL 01 - ISSUE 02
NEWSLETTER
REFLECTIONS: FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR’s DESK
As a PhD student at Cornell University,
I was part of a vibrant ecosystem that
helped me understand the transformative
power of research.
In a pioneering approach, at Plaksha,
the BTech curriculum dismantles the
walls between different disciplines –
it integrates research with core
engineering education. Our students
are taught to identify and understand
human needs and solve problems
creatively through sustained
critical investigation, making them the
future flagbearers of high-impact
research.
I am delighted to announce our
partnership with Cornell University that
provides a framework for academic and
research collaborations in areas of
mutual interest, including sustainability
and agriculture.
I believe that harnessing the power
of global partnerships and building a
community of researchers with diverse
perspectives are critical to pursuing
high-impact research and addressing
the biggest challenges facing our planet.
On a more personal note, April 22 was
a proud moment for me, when ISROs
satellite PSLV C55 was launched in
space. The MEMS gyroscope mounted
on the satellite for attitude control, the
first to be developed indigenously, was
developed by my dedicated research
group and ISRO engineers. It was the
culmination of 14 years of hard work.
As we embark on a journey of discovery
and innovation at Plaksha, my aspiration
is to nurture a community where our
faculty and students will experience the
same joy and pride.
Christened ‘1729’, after Ramanujan - Hardy number, the Plaksha newsletter is a
window into our thriving, interconnected, and learner centered environment
where Plakshans look beyond the obvious, just like Srinivas Ramanujan did with
the seemingly dull number '1729'.
Through this newsletter we share the contribution of each member of our vibrant
community of learners, researchers, leaders, innovators and problem solvers to
reimagining technology education.
Prof. Rudra Pratap
FOUNDING VICE CHANCELLOR
Plaksha University
Prof. Wendy Wolford, Vice Provost
for International Affairs at Cornell
University visited Plaksha in April
to announce signing of an MoA
between the two universities. This
partnership will foster a truly global
classroom environment at Plaksha,
facilitate academic exchange and
support collaborative research
activities. It aligns with our goal of
addressing global grand challenges.
SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT
Our PhD scholars are taking up the
mantle of research on grand
challenges. Under the guidance of
Dr. Prashanth Suresh Kumar and
Dr. Amruta R Behera, PhD scholar
Neelam Sarmah has been advancing
her research on wastewater
monitoring. Neelam wants to empower
communities with a transformative
platform that facilitates behavioral
change within communities.
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NEWSLETTER
S P O T L I G H T S S T O R I E S U P D A T E S I N I T I A T I V E S
PARTNERSHIP WITH CORNELL UNIVERSITY
“The vision behind Plaksha is inspiring – the leadership team,
faculty, staff and students are 100% committed to
interdisciplinary, tech-focused research and teaching
collaborations around grand challenges.” - Prof. Wendy Wolford
Leadership transcends authority; it thrives in enduring partnerships. Plaksha’s first-ever Student Council was sworn in recently
Neelam’s initiative was recognized by NITI Aayog under LiFE
(Lifestyle for Environment) securing a position among
the top 75 ideas
At Plaksha, the aim of research is to
make a tangible impact in the real world
by actively engaging with industry,
government, and local community to
translate our findings into practical
solutions for real-world problems.
Sustainable agricultural practices lay the
foundation for addressing the grand
challenge of food security. Two of our
faculty made noteworthy progress in
this direction. Dr. Amruta Behera’s team
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NEWSLETTER
S P O T L I G H T S S T O R I E S U P D A T E S I N I T I A T I V E S
STORIES OF IMPACT
won the first round of the Onion
Challenge, a hackathon organized by
the Department of Consumer Affairs,
Government of India. They are
currently developing a prototype device
to aid in onion grading.
Additionally, Dr. Navjot Kaur won a
grant from DST iHub – AWaDH
to explore the potential of gene-edited
crops in co-creating sustainable
solutions with farming communities.
Our faculty are not only gifted educators, but also world-class researchers who want to solve
grand challenges. We take immense pride in the passion and dedication exhibited by our
faculty members.
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENTS
Five students from the UG cohort were
on summer internships in top
international and Indian universities
– UC San Diego, SUTD Singapore, Brown
University, IIT Bombay and IIIT Delhi.
Our young faculty, Dr. Amrik Sen
and Dr. Navjot Kaur visited
Purdue University and North Carolina
State University, respectively under
the summer sabbatical program for the
tenure track faculty. These programs
are a step in the right direction as they
train the next generation of faculty
leaders.
The Havells Research Building is where we will create significant impact in the field of technology research