Impact Stories
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Scholarships and Global Experience
At IIT Gandhinagar, practical experience and exposure to the global academic community add a whole new dimension to a learner's knowledge and skills. We strategically foster our students to pursue various industrial and research internships to inculcate the right skill sets and hands-on experience. In the summer of 2022, more than 100 students of the Institute went for internships at prominent institutions and industries in India or abroad to expand their horizons. The Institute also encourages and facilitates students’ participation in international conferences and semester-abroad programs.
“It feels great when internships shape students’ learning patterns and help them take significant strides in their careers.”
A fourth-year BTech student of Computer Science and Engineering at IITGN, Shridhar was selected for a summer program at Lyne.ai in the Machine Learning industry. As an intern in the Research and Development wing of Lyne.ai under the guidance of Mr Saatvik Mohan, CTO, Shridhar’s task was to make day-to-day ML operations at the company cost-effective and efficient.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my internship period as I was encouraged to pitch my ideas as well as work on them. I was fortunate enough to have co-workers who have been passionate and motivated to make things work. Plus, the flexible working hours and learning-while-working philosophy were a bonus.”
Shridhar Pawar
A final-year student of MA in Society and Culture, Sheersha was selected to spend her summer working at the Flinders University (FU), South Australia, under the mentorship of Prof Claire Smith, Professor at College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences,.
“This internship facilitated an enormous understanding of australian aboriginal culture and lifestyle and their current positioning in mainstream society. The guidance and support of prof smith, and iitgn's prof alok kumar kanungo and dr alino made it lucid for the students to grasp the best understanding and learn and work without any hurdles. It was a dream-come-true opportunity, for which i will forever be grateful to iit gandhinagar and flinders university.”
Sheersha Barik
Excellence in Research
The research conducted by faculty at IIT Gandhinagar has been groundbreaking and has contributed significantly to advancing various fields, including engineering, science, social sciences, and humanities. The faculty members at IITGN are renowned experts in their respective fields. Their research has not only resulted in the development of cutting-edge technologies but has also contributed to the growth of knowledge and understanding in their fields. The Institute has been committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and innovation, and its faculty members have been at the forefront of several path-breaking initiatives.
A team of researchers from IIT Gandhinagar and Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) invented a material for anode that enables fast charging of a battery and facilitates its long life. According to the team, the new two-dimensional (2D) anode material was developed using nanosheets derived from titanium diboride (TiB2), a material that resembles a multi-stacked sandwich where metal atoms are present in between layers of boron.
"What makes this work especially useful is the fact that the method to synthesise TiB2 nanosheets is inherently scalable. It only requires mixing the TiB2 particles in an aqueous solution of dilute hydrogen peroxide and allowing it to recrystallise. For any nanomaterial to translate into a tangible technology, scalability is the limiting factor.
"Our method to synthesise these TiB2 nanosheets only requires stirring and no sophisticated equipment, making it highly adoptable," said Kabeer Jasuja, Dr Dinesh O. Shah chair associate professor of chemical engineering at IITGN.
The research teams at IITGN and JAIST aimed to develop a material for an anode that not only enables fast charging of a battery but also facilitates its long life.
"This transformational research innovation has rich potential for translation from the laboratory to a real-life application. Currently, graphite and lithium titanate are among the most widely used anode materials in the commercially available lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that power laptops, mobile phones and electric vehicles. LIBs with graphite anode, which is extremely energy dense, can power an electric vehicle for hundreds of kilometres in one charge cycle," Jasuja said.
"We hope continuous research will contribute to the convenience of EV users, lesser air pollution on the road, especially in cities, and a less stressful, mobile life, which will enhance the productivity of the society," said Noriyoshi Matsumi, professor of materials chemistry at the JAIST.
Community Outreach
The story of IIT Gandhinagar is the story of development – not just in the realm of technology and innovation but also for the welfare of those at the grassroots of society. By engaging with various local communities, we endeavour to have a positive impact with our presence.
NEEV
NEEV is a community outreach program of IIT Gandhinagar. NEEV's mission is to empower grassroots communities, especially women and youth, through workforce development with a focus on entrepreneurship and skills training. NEEV leverages the resources of IIT Gandhinagar by offering comprehensive training and mentoring to surrounding communities.
The Summer Skills Courses offered by the program are attended by hundreds of participants undertaking various vocational skill courses such as the Stitching Skills course, the Beautician Skills course, the Basic Computer Skills course, the Spoken-English Skills course, the Tally Skills course, and the Vocational Skills course of wiring and CNC machining. This program has enabled many participants to start earning immediately after gaining these skills.
For instance, eight women from Palaj and Basan, villages in close proximity to the IITGN campus, stitched 219 curtains, which now hang proudly in IIT Gandhinagar hostels, and earned around ₹500-1000 in about 15 days. After the specialised training and professional support from NEEV trainers, these women could stitch about three to five curtains per day on their own sewing machine, as per their convenience, and from the comfort of their homes.
NYASA
Nyasa is a student-run social initiative and community outreach programme supported by the IITGN community. Construction workers in India traditionally toil under some of the most miserable housing conditions. Many build ramshackle housing on the roadside, and their children squander their days loitering at the construction site. The Institute community resolved to take up the challenge to improve the working and living conditions of construction workers and their families. One such initiative is 'Nyasa' – an informal school to support and educate the children of migrant construction workers in and around IITGN.
A total of hundred to two hundred students attend the school and are taught various subjects like Mathematics, English, Drawing, Hindi, and Sanskrit. Every year, IITGN students also celebrate the birthday of Nyasa kids. Apart from providing good quality education to the children of construction workers, the Nyasa School also distributes various essential items like clothes, uniforms, books, stationery, bags, and footwear to the students from time to time.
The school lays stress on the overall development of children, and hence many activities like an introduction to the world of computers, origami sessions, sports sessions, cultural activities, and medical camps are organised on a regular basis.
Worker Welfare
IITGN has been particular about ensuring the well-being of construction workers for its projects. The Institute considers it essential to enable workers to lead their life with dignity. It is not uncommon in India to see construction workers living in deplorable housing and living conditions, and this has been a major concern to IITGN since its inception.
Through the multiple phases of its construction since 2013, clean, hygienic and well-ventilated labour housing has been constructed at the IITGN Palaj campus. In its most recent phase of construction, specifications for housing 128 construction workers, with toilet blocks containing a water closet, a washing and bathing area, and arrangements for sewage disposal through appropriate septic tanks have also been incorporated in the contracts, in addition to special conditions and drawings.
More recently, the Institute joined hands with Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to launch a series of welfare measures for the benefit of migrant labourers working on construction projects. The Institute constituted a ‘Shramik Kalyan Samiti’ (Labour Welfare Committee) to interact with, educate and help construction workers fight against the pandemic.
The Institute volunteer groups regularly sensitise the workers and create awareness about preventive measures against COVID-19, such as frequent hand wash and social distancing. Breathing techniques have been explained to the labourers. All the workers’ colonies are equipped with a first aid box.
The IIT Council in 2013 recognised IITGN’s labour welfare and community outreach practices at IITGN and stated: “The exemplary practices of IIT Gandhinagar should be introduced in all IITs and be shared on the IIT Council website.” The construction workers’ welfare program was recognised with the national HUDCO Award for ‘Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment 2013-14.’
Developing World Class Research Infrastructure
World-class infrastructure plays a crucial role in creating a conducive environment for academic and research excellence at an institute. It not only attracts the best students, faculty, and researchers but also enhances their productivity, creativity, and innovation.
By bringing state-of-the-art facilities to the doorstep of an innovation-rich environment, IIT Gandhinagar has made significant strides in impacting the research capabilities of the Institute and the state of Gujarat as one of the most industrialised economies of the country.
Laboratory For Passive Fire System Testing
Recently, The Centre for Safety Engineering (CSE), on the occasion of its decennial celebration, unveiled its new facility, “Shah Bhogilal Jethalal Laboratory for Passive Fire System Testing”. This has been possible due to the generous contribution of Shri Mukeshbhai Shah, Managing Partner in the Ahmedabad-based Shah Bhogilal Jethalal & Bros. (AAAG India).
The state-of-the-art fire system testing lab at IITGN, inaugurated by Shri Shah and Prof. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, aims to augment CSE’s efforts in Fire Safety Engineering by undertaking multiple scholarly activities to boost research and development in the area of fire safety in the country.
Artificial Intelligence Lab
In recognition of Shri Gordhanhai S Gelot’s generous support, IIT Gandhinagar has named its AI Lab The Gordhanbhai B Gelot Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. This lab nurtures a high-functioning ecosystem by bringing together computer scientists and applied mathematicians working on the advanced, emerging field of machine learning and artificial intelligence together with researchers from various other disciplines.